Rockin Robin
03-10-2004, 01:39 AM
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nym/news/nym_news.jsp?ymd=20040309&content_id=647628&vkey=spt2004news&fext=.jsp
Diaz catching on as a pitcher
By Kevin T. Czerwinski
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Jose Diaz, who began his career behind the plate in the Dodgers organization, is now using his arm strength to dazzle from atop the mound. His fastball clocks in at around 95 mph and he has great late movement on his pitches.
Jose Reyes' eyes widened when he was asked to recall if he had ever tried to steal a base against current Mets pitching prospect Jose Diaz.
"Just once," he said.
Reyes then mimicked throwing a baseball and snapped his fingers as he completed his imaginary throw.
"He got me," he said. "He's got a cannon. What a great arm. That was the only time I ever ran against him."
Diaz, whom the Mets acquired from Los Angeles last summer, smiled when reminded that he had thrown out Reyes when they were playing against each other in the South Atlantic League.
At the time, Diaz was a catcher in the Dodgers organization, though his career behind the plate did not appear very promising. His arm was strong but his bat was weak, and the latter was what scouts and front-office types brought up more often when discussing Diaz's chances of advancing.
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It was the power in Diaz's arm, though, and a game he had in 2001 that the Dodgers development staff kept going back to when looking at the youngster's future. Diaz was playing for Great Falls in the Pioneer League when a game against the Billings Mustangs went into extra innings.
Having run out of pitchers, the manager pressed Diaz into service, and he threw a scoreless 13th inning to earn a save. From that moment on, the Dodgers knew what they wanted to do with Diaz, as his fastball clocks in at around 95 mph and he has great late movement on his pitches. Diaz, however, wasn't quite as sure what he wanted.
"They ran out of pitchers, so I said, 'Give me the ball, I can do it,' " said Diaz. "And I got the save. After that, all the coaches kept after me about pitching, but I wasn't ready for that. When they asked me to be a pitcher, I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to make the decision if that was what I wanted to do.
"The next year, though, after I went to Spring Training, I was ready to be a pitcher. I went to extended [Spring Training] for two months to work on it."
Diaz, 23, had missed the entire 1999 season with a fractured right index finger he sustained during extended Spring Training. Though he only hit .219 when he returned in 2000, he was named to the Pioneer League All-Star team after leading the league's catchers in putouts (479) and assists (62).
In 2001 he again led all Pioneer League catchers in putouts (359) and assists (52) while throwing out 45 percent of base stealers. He made his pitching debut on Sept. 1 of that year, striking out two in that one inning of work.
"At the beginning, at heart I was still a catcher," he said. "I wanted to play every day. Now I feel this is what I want. I think I'm a better pitcher than I was a catcher, and I feel comfortable. I think being a catcher helped, because I can figure out how the hitter thinks and how the catcher calls pitches. You know, pitchers and catchers are real close -- not like shortstops and second basemen, but real close."
Diaz appeared in 19 games in 2002, striking out 33 in 25 2/3 innings. He fanned 76 batters in 69 1/3 innings last year before coming to the Mets. The Dodgers were reluctant to part with Diaz, infielder Victor Diaz and pitcher Kole Strayhorn, but Dan Evans -- then Los Angeles' general manager -- sensed his tenure was coming to an end. Knowing that his club needed a bat in order to jump back into the Wild Card race, he shipped off three of his brightest prospects for Jeromy Burnitz.
Jose Diaz pitched in 11 games for St. Lucie, posting a 2.97 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings late last summer. Thus far this spring, he has had his ups and downs. He's primarily looked good, though on Monday against St. Louis, he allowed four runs in the ninth inning. The Mets held on for a 6-4 victory.
"He's more of a long shot for the 'pen," said general manager Jim Duquette. "We're excited by the way he's pitched so far, but realistically, he pitched last year in A-ball. He's made some nice adjustments since he's been here, though, and he's been impressive with his strength and his breaking ball. I'd hate to rule anything out, but he's a long shot."
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Diaz catching on as a pitcher
By Kevin T. Czerwinski
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Jose Diaz, who began his career behind the plate in the Dodgers organization, is now using his arm strength to dazzle from atop the mound. His fastball clocks in at around 95 mph and he has great late movement on his pitches.
Jose Reyes' eyes widened when he was asked to recall if he had ever tried to steal a base against current Mets pitching prospect Jose Diaz.
"Just once," he said.
Reyes then mimicked throwing a baseball and snapped his fingers as he completed his imaginary throw.
"He got me," he said. "He's got a cannon. What a great arm. That was the only time I ever ran against him."
Diaz, whom the Mets acquired from Los Angeles last summer, smiled when reminded that he had thrown out Reyes when they were playing against each other in the South Atlantic League.
At the time, Diaz was a catcher in the Dodgers organization, though his career behind the plate did not appear very promising. His arm was strong but his bat was weak, and the latter was what scouts and front-office types brought up more often when discussing Diaz's chances of advancing.
Enter the Hotels.com
Think Spring Sweepstakes
It was the power in Diaz's arm, though, and a game he had in 2001 that the Dodgers development staff kept going back to when looking at the youngster's future. Diaz was playing for Great Falls in the Pioneer League when a game against the Billings Mustangs went into extra innings.
Having run out of pitchers, the manager pressed Diaz into service, and he threw a scoreless 13th inning to earn a save. From that moment on, the Dodgers knew what they wanted to do with Diaz, as his fastball clocks in at around 95 mph and he has great late movement on his pitches. Diaz, however, wasn't quite as sure what he wanted.
"They ran out of pitchers, so I said, 'Give me the ball, I can do it,' " said Diaz. "And I got the save. After that, all the coaches kept after me about pitching, but I wasn't ready for that. When they asked me to be a pitcher, I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to make the decision if that was what I wanted to do.
"The next year, though, after I went to Spring Training, I was ready to be a pitcher. I went to extended [Spring Training] for two months to work on it."
Diaz, 23, had missed the entire 1999 season with a fractured right index finger he sustained during extended Spring Training. Though he only hit .219 when he returned in 2000, he was named to the Pioneer League All-Star team after leading the league's catchers in putouts (479) and assists (62).
In 2001 he again led all Pioneer League catchers in putouts (359) and assists (52) while throwing out 45 percent of base stealers. He made his pitching debut on Sept. 1 of that year, striking out two in that one inning of work.
"At the beginning, at heart I was still a catcher," he said. "I wanted to play every day. Now I feel this is what I want. I think I'm a better pitcher than I was a catcher, and I feel comfortable. I think being a catcher helped, because I can figure out how the hitter thinks and how the catcher calls pitches. You know, pitchers and catchers are real close -- not like shortstops and second basemen, but real close."
Diaz appeared in 19 games in 2002, striking out 33 in 25 2/3 innings. He fanned 76 batters in 69 1/3 innings last year before coming to the Mets. The Dodgers were reluctant to part with Diaz, infielder Victor Diaz and pitcher Kole Strayhorn, but Dan Evans -- then Los Angeles' general manager -- sensed his tenure was coming to an end. Knowing that his club needed a bat in order to jump back into the Wild Card race, he shipped off three of his brightest prospects for Jeromy Burnitz.
Jose Diaz pitched in 11 games for St. Lucie, posting a 2.97 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings late last summer. Thus far this spring, he has had his ups and downs. He's primarily looked good, though on Monday against St. Louis, he allowed four runs in the ninth inning. The Mets held on for a 6-4 victory.
"He's more of a long shot for the 'pen," said general manager Jim Duquette. "We're excited by the way he's pitched so far, but realistically, he pitched last year in A-ball. He's made some nice adjustments since he's been here, though, and he's been impressive with his strength and his breaking ball. I'd hate to rule anything out, but he's a long shot."
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.