PITTSBURGH -- For the last few seasons, the Pirates have become noteworthy for being a place that has restored a large number of cast-off pitchers to a level that met or exceeded their previous career highs.
A.J. Burnett, J.A. Happ and Francisco Liriano all came to Pittsburgh and exceeded expectations under the tutelage of pitching coach Ray Searage.
Jon Niese was supposed to fit that mold. He already threw the Pirates’ preferred offering: the two-seam fastball. He had a career ERA (3.91) that seemed to line up with a number four starter and his FIP (3.84) was right in line with that figure.