No, I doubt that Nieve can maintain that kind of ERA over the long term. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns into a serviceable 5th starter with a low to mid-4’s ERA. The Astros didn’t wait long enough to see if his performance would return from TJ surgery. (I’m not suggesting they gave up on him quickly…just that he apparently took awhile to get his command back and the Astros gave him up before he did.)

I have the feeling that he was let go for some kind of conflict with the management or coaching staff. That would explain why he was cut so early in minor league camp.

Nieve’s Spring Training Stats
4.2 Innings Pitched, 6 Earned Runs (11.45 ERA), 8 Hits, 6 Walks, 1 Strikeout, 1 Wild Pitch, 1 Balk

If that’s the kind of stuff you’re bringing to "high noon," then maybe we’re better off giving more looks to the Royals Rejects.

Just for some additional perspective, here’s his stats from AAA last year:
72.1 Innings Pitched, 5.72 ERA (5.04 Fielding Independent Pitching), 1.58 WHIP, 4 Wild Pitches, 3 Hit-By-Pitches. His strikeout and walk rates were pretty decent, but he’s been unable to get results in the run-prevention department.

At this point in the pre-season, we need pitchers, not just "pitching candidates". And despite all the talk from management about him being a starter, he’s long been viewed as more bullpen material, an area that we’ve got pretty well covered. [6/20 Heh. Boy was I wrong – AstroAndy]

I hope he does well for the Mets, just not against us.

so he can still help out the Astros.

:-(

the regression towards the mean…

didn’t see the game, but since 9 of the 12 baserunners he allowed didn’t score in the four innings he worked, it appears he was lucky to get away with only 3 runs.

i don’t want the kid not to succeed, but i’d hate for him to turn into an example that people will turn to as a blunder of Astros management mistreating young talent, when of course all context will be lost by then (as for many, it already has).