In judging players, managerial moves, and the like, sometimes we forget that players are human beings. It was something I was again reminded of when I read about Jon Niese‘s statements in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the 2016 season:

I should never have played that game. It [stunk] that I wasn’t there at the hospital.  That’s when it all went downhill. I think that’s the thing guys don’t really realize with sabermetrics. If I wouldn’t have pitched in that one game, I probably would have stayed the course, stayed in a rhythm, but that just kind of knocked me off. 

Now, Niese has a history of making excuses for his poor performances. However, he may not be off-base here. 

Niese had a rough May, but he was turning things around. In June, he had a 3.00 ERA. Including the aforementioned start, Niese had a 2.87 ERA in the month of July. In that July start, he pitched three innings allowing six earned on eight hits. Looking at his stats, he’s right. His 2015 season went completely off the rails at that point. 

After his son was born, he made 10 starts. He had a 4.99 ERA. Batters were tattooing him hitting .282/.344/.418. With Steven Matz returning from the DL, he was put in the bullpen. To his credit, it was a move Niese wanted to make. 

There are several legitimate reasons why Niese had a terrible 2015. He claims it was being taken out of his rhythm. It’s possible. It’s also possible that it all had to do with the birth of his first child. I’m sure he was racked with guilt for not being there for his child’s birth. He had to do what he could do to help his wife when she was in another state. 

Being a new parent is hard. It’s got to be even more difficult when you are so far away. You’re unable to see your child, to hold him, to see that little hand grab your finger. 

This is what Niese was dealing with last year. A player who was renown for being a head case had even more on his plate. He then went on to have an absolutely miserable August and September. He was adjusting to life as a new father. 

Niese is now in Pittsburgh. He’s with a new, perhaps better, pitching coach. His new pitching coach had shown he can work well in getting pitchers to resurrect their careers, to be better than they ever were before. He’s primed to have a much improved 2016.

By being in Pittsburgh, he’s also closer to his family. Things are settling down more at home. It’s bound to put him in a better frame of mind. It might be all Niese needed. 

He’s only human after all.