Jerry Manuel said he thinks Fernando Nieve has earned a chance to start, and in a revelation, the manager said yesterday Nieve is the front-runner to fill Saturday’s rotation void in Milwaukee.
This, despite the fact that Nieve has been a reliever all season, and began the year as the Mets’ eighth-inning specialist. In a sense, the Mets would be attempting what the Yankees did in 2008 with Joba Chamberlain — transitioning Nieve from relief to the rotation during the season without sending him down to the minors.
“He deserves a shot in my opinion,” Manuel said before the Mets’ 5-0 victory over the Phillies last night at Citi Field. “I thought he pitched very well here last year.”
The move isn’t certain just yet. Manuel called Nieve “the leading candidate” to start on Saturday, saying there were others as well. He didn’t name the rest of the derby members, though lefty reliever Raul Valdes seemingly is the other option, unless the Mets want to recall somebody. Potentially, they could do something like bring up Pat Misch (4-1, 3.02 ERA at Triple-A Buffalo) or Dillon Gee (5-1, 3.86) and send down Elmer Dessens without moving Nieve.
Nieve said the Mets told him he would “probably” be the guy on Saturday. If so, that likely would not be his only opportunity.
“Anytime we do this we try to think long-term,” Manuel said. “If he does well, he continues to get the ball.”
Manuel added he was not worried about having a starter surplus.
But the move would come at a cost. Nieve entered last night having made 26 appearances, second-most in the majors. Removing him from the bullpen would put an added strain on the remaining relievers. However, Ryota Igarashi, who just came off the disabled list during the Subway Series, could absorb some of the extra work.
Also, it might not bode well for John Maine’s health. Manuel said Jonathon Niese is due to make a rehab start soon, so he potentially could return from the DL in 10 days or so. But if the Mets are going to transition Nieve into a starter, they presumably don’t have too much faith that Maine will be back, or effective, anytime soon. They would also have insurance should R.A. Dickey or Hisanori Takahashi begin struggling or get hurt.
“A big part of it is to continue to create depth in the starting rotation,” Manuel said.
Nieve, who said he thinks he can throw 70-80 pitches on Saturday, went 3-3 with a 3.12 ERA in seven starts for the Mets last season. The righty also entered spring training in the rotation derby, but he was beaten out by Niese.
The 27-year-old Nieve said he prefers starting, though he will have to learn to pitch a little differently in that capacity. He has four pitches — fastball, slider, curveball, changeup — and said he would have to incorporate the curve into his starting repertoire. It’s worth noting that Nieve, who entered last night with a 1-2 record and a 5.32 ERA this season, has struggled lately, posting a 12.00 ERA in his last 10 games.
Manuel said Nieve was available to pitch an inning in relief last night, and that actually affects his pre-start work. Nieve said if he didn’t appear in last night’s game, he would need to throw a side session in order to gear up for Saturday’s potential start.