PORT ST. LUCIE — Jon Niese's plan this spring is to spend more time concentrating on pitching and worrying less about his health.
"I haven't been this confident in my arm in probably three years, so I feel good," the Mets left-hander said Thursday, on the official reporting date for pitchers and catchers at Tradition Field.
Last year's "spring training from hell" included two MRI exams for Niese, who battled sharp shoulder pain and admits he probably could have benefited from sitting out the first month of the season.
But Niese managed to survive the entire season, finishing 9-11 with a 3.40 ERA over 30 starts and 187 2/3 innings. The Mets will count on him this year as the only lefty in a rotation that includes Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler, with Bartolo Colon the probable final component over Dillon Gee.
Niese began attending Mike Barwis' offseason conditioning camp last month and credits that change for his improved outlook.
"It's huge," Niese said. "I never worked out like that in my whole career, so getting off the mound the first time the other day I could tell a night- and-day difference. My arm angle is up, a lot different from last year and my shoulder feels great and now I'm just ready to go."
The 28-year-old Niese is the third-longest tenured Mets player, behind David Wright and Daniel Murphy. But as much as the Mets value Niese's leadership in a relatively young rotation, his job could be on the line as the season progresses.
Not only is top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard expected to compete for a rotation spot this year, but promising lefty Steven Matz is right behind him.
"I don't think any of us take it for granted now that we're up here," Niese said. "We know that there's guys below us trying to beat us out for a job and it drives you a little bit more, but at the same time we have a job to do and our focus is getting ready for the season and not worrying about the extra-curriculars."
Niese was sometimes mentioned as potential trade bait over the winter, but the lefty said the organization all but assured him he was staying.
"I was told that they really wanted me here, they didn't want to move me," Niese said. "But obviously they will move anybody if the deal is right."
Niese said escaping his native Ohio for Florida over the last two months has helped
escalate his early throwing program. He also is spending more time in the gym than last year. The fact he has been surrounded by teammates in offseason conditioning only has helped.
"We've always said, when we're at Barwis' place, kind of working out with each other, we have the same goals and it kind of just drives us," Niese said.
"It's tough to work out by yourself because there's really nobody behind you driving you, so all of us working together, kind of all fighting for the same goal, that kind of drove us to actually work out harder, and we kind of were actually competing with each other so it made it fun."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Why a healthier, fitter Jon Niese is taking nothing for granted
Dengan url
http://makananrasaenak.blogspot.com/2015/02/why-healthier-fitter-jon-niese-is.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Why a healthier, fitter Jon Niese is taking nothing for granted
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Why a healthier, fitter Jon Niese is taking nothing for granted
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar