Long Beach State University Athletics
Muniz Could Not Have Pitched Better for Mets
4/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 19, 2008
After saving the first two games this season for the Zephyrs, Muniz was called up to replace Matt Wise, who was injured. In three relief appearances spanning four innings for New York, Muniz allowed two hits and no runs.
But on Tuesday the Mets activated reliever Duaner Sanchez after he completed a rehab assignment with the Zephyrs, and Muniz headed back to New Orleans.
Muniz, 27, understands that he's building credit with the Mets. An impression that he makes with them might pay off the next time they need to promote a relief pitcher.
"I went up there and pounded the strike zone," he said. "I threw strikes, not just this year but last year. I understand what went on. Guys were going off and on the roster. It's a numbers game."
Zephyrs pitching coach Dan Warthen said, "They're not going to be reluctant whatsoever to want him back again."
Muniz, who was the Mets' 13th-round pick in 2003 out of Long Beach State, made his Triple-A and big-league debuts last season. He didn't allow a run in 5 2/3 innings with the Zephyrs late in the season, helping them in their playoff run.
A day after going home to Los Angeles after the Zephyrs lost the PCL Championship Series to Sacramento, Muniz received a call from Tony Bernazard, the Mets' vice president of player development.
"They called and said: 'Congratulations, you're going to the show. Grab your stuff, get a suit and meet us in Miami,' " Muniz said.
Mets closer Billy Wagner gave him good advice about facing major-league hitters.
"He said, 'You probably grew up idolizing these guys,' " Muniz said. " 'Don't take that approach. This is a left-handed pull hitter. This is a right-handed pull hitter. Don't think this is Chase Utley. This is Pat Burrell. Don't think of the name. Just trust your stuff and do what you do.' "
Muniz, a right-hander, throws a fastball, split-finger fastball, changeup and slider. Pitching a scoreless ninth Thursday night in the Zephyrs' 5-1 victory against Iowa, he was working on his changeup. Five of his 24 pitches were changeups.
"Out of those five, I probably had three swing-and-miss down in the zone," he said.
"(Thursday) night was a perfect situation for him to work on his changeup," Warthen said. "We had a four-run lead. If we had a save situation, I would have liked to see him use his fastball more."
Warthen said that Muniz and Nate Field "will be closing most of the games" for the Zephyrs. Willie Collazo might close sometimes, but Warthen said he wants Collazo to pitch longer stretches, "because he might start at some point this season."
Changes on the Zephyrs' and Mets' staffs are inevitable, Warthen said.
"The major-league club will go through 20 pitchers, whether we like it or not," he said.
The first Zephyrs' pitcher called up this season was Nelson Figueroa, who left the Zephyrs before their opener to replace Pedro Martinez on the Mets' roster. Figueroa, who allowed three hits and two runs in seven innings in a no-decision Thursday night against Washington, is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in four games, including two starts, with the Mets.
Jonathan Niese, a 21-year-old left-hander pitching for Double-A Binghamton, is expected to reach New Orleans this season, and his early-season results have been promising. He's 1-0 with a 0.57 ERA, having allowed eight hits in 15 2/3 innings with 14 strikeouts and four walks.
"To me, he's a lot like Andy Pettitte," Warthen said of Niese's delivery. "He has a nice, easy arm action."
