Juan Nieves had a promising career cut short by a shoulder injury. A 21-year-old when he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in April 1986, the southpaw from Santurce, Puerto Rico pitched three major league seasons before a tear in his rotator cuff was diagnosed. With 490.2 innings, 32 wins, and no hits under his belt, Nieves threw his last pitch at baseball's highest level before celebrating his 24th birthday.
He entered the coaching ranks not long after. Nieves has been coaching pitchers since 1992, most recently as an assistant coach for the Detroit Tigers, a position he has held since November 2020. He also looked back on his playing days when the Tigers visited Fenway Park earlier this season.
———
David Laurila: You faced some great hitters in your short time in the majors. How did you view those matchups then?
Juan Nieves: “It's fun. I'm from Puerto Rico, I grew up watching the Pirates because of Roberto Clemente, and because of Turner Broadcasting we saw a lot of Braves. It was the National League, and I ended up in the American League [the Brewers joined the senior circuit in 1998].
“I was actually talking to the kids in the barn and I mentioned how I got to the big leagues when I was young, and how there seemed to be five or six Hall of Famers on every team. Luckily I never thought like that because they were still playing. But when I look back at some of the guys I had the privilege of playing with – Rollie Fingers, Don Sutton, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor – I appreciate them more now, after the fact, than I did then. It's the same with other guys I've dealt with.”
Laurila: What do you remember about facing Kirby Puckett and Dave Winfield?
Nieves: “Puckett was a nightmare for me. He beat me really well.”
Laurila: Both Puckett [13-for-21 with one home run] and Winfield [7-for-11, two home runs] you have good numbers against you. Not that they didn't have good numbers against most strikers.
Nieves: “Of course, of course. Not just me. And they crush lefties. I think I was on the uneven side of it – it was a little bit of a mistake – because they knew I threw fastballs. It's not like they had other pitches to worry about. I was a fastball guy, because I was very young. I didn't really get a chance to be a complete striker; I never had a chance to prepare myself to have different second games. I wouldn't say I was in a hurry, but I got to the big leagues quickly, and it was because of the fastball.
“Now that I look back on what a perfect pitcher is… Anyone who asks me, 'What does it take to run in the majors?' – well, it takes good things. You need to have speed and a good breaking ball. But being a perfect pitcher, at any time in history, is the ability to throw any pitch in any count. Back in the countdown, forward in the countdown, wherever it is. Not being able to do that was a bad situation for me. And those guys hit the ball hard against me.”
Laurila: For a long time, people believed that Fenway Park was the toughest place for lefties. You actually jumped well here, especially on your first few chances.
Nieves: “I'm fine. I loved pitching here. I don't know why. I know I didn't look at the Monster, because my energy was going in. But then again, I loved pitching here at Fenway. It felt like home, I guess.”
Laurila: The Red Sox had great hitters back then. Wade Boggs, Jim Rice…
Nieves: “Oh, man. Dewey Evans, Don Baylor. Many boys. But I felt really good here. There was also knowing that you could always keep up with Roger [Clemens].”
Laurila: There was one game, on September 16, 1986, in which Clemens hit his 23rd game of the season, beating the Red Sox 2-1.
Nieves: “Yes. We faced each other well in another game. It was in Milwaukee [on July 30, 1988]. I think Joey Meyer hit a home run against him in the ninth inning to get the win for us.
“One of the most interesting matches I ever saw was Teddy Higuera playing Roger, in Boston [on April 24, 1988]. I think both of them were waiting for the other to give them the ball in the middle of the innings. I couldn't believe it. It was a really fast game [2:10]. You know how cute Teddy was. “
Laurila: Higuera and Clemens were very different vessels.
Nieves: “They were, but you know what? Teddy didn't throw as hard as Roger, but he was 93-94 [mph] and ordered it, and a big breaking ball. He was an impressive striker. When he came here as a rookie [in 1985], he had been running for a long time in the Mexican League. It's a shame he never played in California.”
Laurila: As Fernando Valenzuela…
Nieves: “Really. He wouldn't believe it.”
Laurila: How hard did you throw?
Nieves: “I'm not sure. Back then, people didn't really talk about how hard he threw, but I'd say 92-94. Somewhere around there. But it was a little different game. It was also a different clock in the way they measure. Now, as soon as the ball comes out of the hand, they measure it. At that time , it was a radar gun and I think that was when the ball came to the plate.”
Laurila: Going back to the hitters you faced, what do you remember about Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker?
Nieves: “Oh, those teams in Detroit were a nightmare. They were really good. I did better against Whitaker [3-for-18]but the Tram was difficult [5-for-17 with a home run and six walks]. I don't get along well with him. He was a high ball hitter and I threw it high. I wasn't really good down there. And he had Kirk Gibson right behind him, so I had no problem going around Trammell to get to Kirk. Lefty-on-lefty was better for me. “
Laurila: You have to face big league hitters for three years.
Nieves: “Yes, and my first two years were like a blur. It was almost an instant read. It was an old league, and you didn't spend much time talking to veterans. It was a different era. A little game now. My third year was probably the most fun I had. Before I got hurt, I really started to be able to throw second pitches in any count. One thing I remember about that year was the save, then I started and threw a complete game [shutout]. I said, 'Oh my god.' And it was easy. It was, 'Throwing is easy.' Unfortunately, I went back home to Puerto Rico, I didn't throw winter ball, and when I came back I broke it.”
Laurila: As soon as it's fun, isn't it?
Nieves: “It's over, yes. But I am blessed. I'm so thankful I'm still in the game. I've been coaching longer than I've been playing, and I'm honored and grateful for this sport. I was able to meet a lot of great people. I have seen many young men not only become good players, but do things like being parents. I have seen them become good people.”
Laurila: There's more to life than baseball…
Nieves: “Definitely. There is more to life than baseball.”
Source link
