Jon Niese admitted the obvious yesterday.
“I don’t think we really have an ace on this staff,” Niese said. “Everybody contributes equally to this rotation and that’s all we’re really counting on.”
With Johan Santana out for the year because of upcoming shoulder surgery and R.A. Dickey with the Blue Jays, the Mets are left without a clear No. 1 starter.
So while Niese will take Santana’s spot on Opening Day today, the Mets are still waiting for someone to take Santana’s place at the top of the rotation.
“We just have to pitch quality innings and keep the team in the game,” Niese said before the Mets held a voluntary workout at Citi Field. “It’s a bummer to hear about [Santana], but we have to move forward with the guys we have.”
Guys like Niese, and especially Matt Harvey.
“Sometimes you look at that guy every fifth day and you know what he’s going to do,’’ manager Terry Collins said. “Well, you know what? It’s Jon Niese’s turn. He’s now that guy. It’s going to be Matt Harvey; it’s going to be Dillon Gee and Jeremy Hefner. It’s time for those guys to be the mainstays.”
Easier said than done. Niese pitched well a year ago but hasn’t won more than 13 games in a major league season. And Harvey is about to start his first full season in the majors.
“They need to have the mindset of a No. 1 and No. 2,” David Wright said. “I think Niese certainly has done that and Matt Harvey has done that. Those are two guys that have that confidence … They truly believe that stuff-wise, they deserve to be top of the rotation-type guys.”
And that’s even more important without Santana.
“They’re taking on that role and preparing themselves to be those workhorses,” Wright said. “I think once we got word of the Johan situation, they’ll try to become that Johan Santana, become that R.A. Dickey,” Wright said, “where you can rely on them to not only eat innings, but be stoppers. I think both of those guys truly believe and I believe they are those types.”
Whether that’s a new captain trying to be optimistic remains to be seen, but Collins had similar thoughts about his team.
“I know the feeling is on the outside, especially when we lose Johan and we’ve got some guys that aren’t here, R.A.’s not here,” Collins said, “but you know what? They’re major league players.
“I’m sorry. The minute you think you can just show up because you’re a major league player, that isn’t going to fly here. We’re going to find people who are going to play the game the right way, do things the right way and if they’re not in that clubhouse, we’re going to find them. If they’re in Las Vegas we’re going to find them.”
That search starts today.
“We’ve rebuilt the bullpen and we’ve got a great blend here of young and old,” Collins said. “They’ve got great energy. That’s all we can give our fans, is some effort.”