React to last night’s loss the way you want. No matter what your reaction may be, we can all agree that the Mets have some work to do. This includes the pitching staff.
Before last night’s loss, the Mets lead the National League in ERA. After Steven Matz‘s dud last night, the Mets are now ranked sixth. They went from a 2.08 ERA to a 3.40 ERA. It’s a warning of overlying on small sample sizes. It’s also a reminder that it’s really about the process. While it’s a results oriented business, the pitching coach needs to focus on things like the pitcher’s mechanics and not his ERA.
In that respect, Dan Warthen has some work to do as three of his starters have some mechanical issues.
Steven Matz
Last night, Matz was terrible. There are a number of things you can point to as the reason like the long layoff. However, as Kevin Kernan reported in the NY Post, Matz’s mechanics may have been to blame:
He looks like a young guy who needs a month in Triple-A to clean up some things,” one veteran scout at the game told the Post.
Looking at last night’s game, there was no doubt Matz needs some work. He wasn’t fooling anyone last night, and the Marlins were on top of his pitches. Preferably, Matz can do that work with Dan Warthen instead of Triple-A. Regardless of where he does it, Matz needs to need to get himself right.
Jacob deGrom
The talk throughout Spring Training was Jacob deGrom‘s fastball ranging between 91 – 93 MPH. That is down from the 96 MPH fastball he averaged last year. There were a number of reasons posited why that was the case from him starting getting ready for the season later to him saving bullets for the regular season to him getting nicked up a couple of times during Spring Training.
In his first start of the season, deGrom was still averaging 92 MPH. Some said there was no need for caution because he looked dominant at times even without the extra MPH on the fastball. Some later speculated it might’ve been the result of his lat injury. However, on the April 11th edition of MLB Tonight, Pedro Martinez stated that deGrom was dropping his arm angle. It was his belief that if deGrom fixed his arm angle the extra MPH could return to deGrom’s fastball.
Matt Harvey
This season is supposed to be the season for Matt Harvey. He’s another year removed from Tommy John surgery. He’s got his slider back. The only thing he had to worry about was going out there and dominating like he did in 2013.
It hasn’t started out that way. Harvey was 8-0 in April coming into this year. This year he’s 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.463 WHIP. At times, he seems to have difficulty locating pitches. Harvey isn’t blaming his bladder problems. As Neil Best of Newsday reports on Opening Day, it’s a mechanical issue:
“I felt alright,” Harvey said. “There were times I felt fine and other times when it was hard finding a rhythm and getting my release point.”
After Sunday’s loss to the Phillies, Harvey’s day changed on one pitch he left out over the plate. Again, as Kevin Kernan of the NY Post reported, it was a mechanical issue as, “Harvey said he didn’t get the arm extension on the killer 1-2 slider.” As Kernan further reported the coaching staff is concerned enough for Dan Warthen to start “studying film to see what the issue is with Harvey.”
Dan Warthen is going to study film for at least three of his starters. Fortunately, it is still early in the season. The Mets have plenty of time to figure things out. The pitching is going to be there, and yes, the offense will as well. However, while the offense is figuring things out, the Mets need their pitching. As we saw last year, this Mets staff can keep even the most abysmal of offenses afloat. As we saw last year, the Mets pitching can carry them to the World Series.
It’s the Mets pitching that is going to win them the World Series this year.
Editor’s Note: this article first appeared on metsmerizedonline.com
The late, great, Hall of Fame Manager Earl Weaver used to say, “Momentum? Momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher.” With that said, the Mets should have momentum all throughout 2016.
With a 2-4 start, it hasn’t always worked out that way, but tonight Mets fans get to see Noah Syndergaard take the mound. Last time we saw him, he was doing things like this:
GIF: Did we just witness @Noahsyndergaard throw a 95 MPH SLIDER?! pic.twitter.com/v5BGdNGKLp
— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) April 5, 2016
He’s become unhittable. He makes you want to jump out of your chair and scream:
Fact is, whenever you have Thor on the mound, your team has momentum. They can go out there and beat the ’27 Yankees. They can go out there and beat the Big Red Machine just like Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Jon Matlack did. When any member of a power triumvirate of Mets pitchers takes the mound, you have to like your chances of winning. You’ve got momentum.
Tonight, momentum, thy name is Thor.
At a time when Mets fans were still clamoring for Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets made a move designed to sure up their bullpen when they signed Antonio Bastardo to a two year $12 million contract.
Generally speaking, the move was well received. While Bastardo was a left hander, he was not a LOOGY. For his career, he actually holds righties to a very respectable .211/.307/.331. Bastardo was a guy that the Mets could slot into the seventh or eighth inning. He was supposed to be a very important part of the Mets bullpen. So far, in 2016, it hasn’t happened that way.
After a terrific stint with the Mets last year, Terry Collins handed the eighth to Addison Reed. After a terrific Spring Training and an even better start to the season, Jim Henderson has locked down the seventh. To date, Bastardo’s role has been much less glamorous.
Bastardo’s first appearance came in a Mets 7-2 trouncing of the Phillies. It was Bastardo’s job to mop up the ninth inning. Last night, Bastardo was called upon to eat up a many innings as he could after Steven Matz only lasted 1.2 innings. Bastardo was the second guy in after Hansel Robles pitched the first 2.2 innings. Essentially, Robles is the seventh or last guy in the bullpen, and Bastardo is the sixth.
Somewhat surprisingly, Bastardo has become the forgotten man in the bullpen. Collins feels more comfortable going elsewhere when he’s looking for a guy to get some important outs. It’s too early to say or suggest that’s he’s in the doghouse, especially since the season’s only six games deep. The fact is Collins feels more comfortable looking to Reed and Henderson. It’s not what anyone had in mind when the Mets signed Bastardo this offseason.
With all that said, there’s still a lot of games left to be played. As the season progresses, Bastardo is going to get some important innings. After he shows this Mets coaching staff what he can do in those situations, he will be put into more and more high leverage situations.
However, until that time, Collins is going to continue looking elsewhere when the game is on the line.
Editor’s Note: this was also published on metsmerizedonline.com
The Mets sent out Steven Matz, who is the proverbial fourth member of what had been touted as the Big Four. Mets fans all hope each of these pitchers will be future Hall of Famers. Tonight, Matz did a pretty good impersonation of Tom Glavine.
Like Glavine, Matz allowed seven runs to the Marlins. At least Matz lasted a little longer. Matz’s final line was 1.2 innings, six hits, seven earned, two walks, and one strikeout. Before the game, Matz was 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA. This year, he’s 0-1 with a 37.80 ERA.
In the fateful second inning, seemingly every Marlin got a hit including Barry Bonds and Don Mattingly got hits. Of course, Giancarlo Stanton provided the exclamation point:
.@Giancarlo818 puts an exclamation point on the 2nd inning!#StantonSmash | #LetsGoFish pic.twitter.com/rTwMWtl5HI
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) April 12, 2016
It needs to be constantly reiterated, but Bonds seems to be having a very real impact on this Marlins team. Six of their eight regulars are hitting over .300. They had no problem hitting Matz. This is a young Marlins club with a lot of offensive talent. If they realize that potential, it’s a definitive blow to the Mets chances to return to the postseason . . . especially with how this club plays the Marlins.
As for the Mets, their bullpen did a yeoman’s job. Hansel Robles pitched 2.1 innings allowing four hits, one earned, one walk, and three strikeouts. Antonio Bastardo pitched 1.1 innings allowing four hits, two runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. Addison Reed pitched 1.2 innings with no hits, no runs, and four strikeouts. Jeurys Familia was pressed into action even though he has the flu. Jerry Blevins pitched the ninth. The night was such a disaster that Blevins finally allowed a hit in his Mets career. It was an infield single to Dee Gordon with two outs in the ninth.
The Mets might’ve avoided burning through their entire bullpen like that if they would’ve just put Jacob deGrom on the DL. Sean Gilmartin, who was very effective as the long man last year, could’ve soaked up some of those innings. It would’ve been all the more imperative with Logan Verrett going on Wednesday.
Offensively? Well the Mets had seven hits and three runs. All of the runs came after the game was over. Two of those hits were from David Wright, who despite his career being declared over, has been the Mets best offensive player so far this year. He’s hitting .333 with a .478 OBP. Perhaps that’s the reason why the man with the bad back played all nine innings in a 10-3 blowout.
All kidding aside, the Mets decision making in this young season has been perplexing. Terry Collins bats three lefties bunched up together every day (with his splits, Neil Walker is effectively a left handed hitter). Jim Henderson leads the Mets in appearances despite not having pitched in two years and coming off a second shoulder surgery. Remember that next time Collins gets emotional over Johan Santana. At least Collins isn’t to blame for the team’s mismanagement of the deGrom/bullpen situation.
With all that said, this is a game the Mets should just forget about. It’s another game to forget in what has been a mostly forgettable start to the season. Fortunately, momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher, and Noah Syndergaard is scheduled to pitch tomorrow. So, in that sense, the Mets have some momentum going.
There’s no blaming the Mets for Jacob deGrom‘s right lat injury. Injuries happen. However, we yet again have to question how the Mets handle injuries and their roster.
At the outset, the Mets are skipping deGrom’s start on Wednesday. He also isn’t going to throw in the bullpen for the time being. This is a very reasonable course of action. There’s no need rushing deGrom back in April possibly causing him further injury. With that said, there’s no reason why deGrom hasn’t been sent for an MRI.
It was just last year the Mets dealt with Steven Matz and his lat. The Mets thought he was fine. They didn’t send him for an MRI, and they let him make his next start. As we discovered, he shouldn’t have made that start. He wouldn’t throw another pitch for the Mets for another two months. The Mets treatment of Matz follows a pattern. It’s at this point, we’re obligated to review Jared Diamond’s breakdown in the Wall Street Journal of how the Mets downplay injuries:
For a second, let’s be optimistic about deGrom’s injury. Let’s assume it really is tightness and not worse. Let’s assume an MRI really isn’t needed. Why not put him on the DL anyway?
With deGrom missing a start, Logan Verrett will take his spot in the rotation. This is the same Verrett who pitched yesterday. This means he will be starting on two days rest on Wednesday. He also isn’t fully stretched out. He only threw 15.2 innings in eight Spring Training games. Long story short, the Mets bullpen is going to be taxed.
The bullpen is also going to be one man short as Verrett rests from his start.
Instead of having a short bullpen, the Mets should just put deGrom on the DL. He’s already missing one start. If deGrom were to go on the DL, he would be eligible to make his next start on Sunday, April 24th instead of Tuesday, April 19th against the Phillies. Despite the Mets losing two out of three to the Phillies this past weekend, the Mets should still be able to win with Verrett on the mound.
In turn, deGrom can use that time to rest, not rush back, and not exacerbate his lat injury. He can be home when his wife gives birth. He can spend some quality time home with his newborn son before going back on the road. deGrom can get his mind and his body in the right place before pitching again.
The Mets need to put deGrom on the DL right now.
Editor’s Note: this was first published on metsmerizedonline.com
The season has gotten off to a rocky start and increasingly, it is becoming apparent that there are two types of Mets fans – Optimistic and Pessimistic. Here’s the breakdown:
Optimistic: the Mets won in 1969 and 1986. They win in years which have a 6 in them. It’s 2016!
Pessimistic: Tell that to the 1962 – 1968 Mets and the 1976 Mets. Also, someone probably should’ve told that to Carlos Beltran when he didn’t swing the bat.
Optimistic: The ’86 Mets began the year 2-3, and they lost two games to the Phillies.
Pessimistic: The 1992 Mets were also a high profile team people thought were World Series contenders that opened the year 2-3. By the way, the 1986 Phillies were a decent team. The 2016 Phillies are horrendous.
Optimistic: Yoenis Cespedes seemed to get off the snide. He went 2-4 with a homerun and two RBI.
Pessimistic: He’s still batting only .200, and did you see him drop that ball in Kansas City?
Optimistic: The Mets have the best ERA in baseball.
Pessimistic: Matt Harvey has been terrible. It’s only a matter of time before we discover Jacob deGrom needs surgery or he will be out half the year. By the way, the Mets have the best ERA, faced an awful Phillies team, and they’re still under .500.
Optimistic: The bullpen has been off to a terrific start.
Pessimistic: You must’ve missed yesterday’s game when Addison Reed melted down like it was Game 5 of the World Series.
Optimistic: David Wright has looked good to start the year.
Pessimistic: His throws have been terrible, and he’s already had to miss a game.
Optimistic: Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera have looked great up the middle.
Pessimistic: Anything would’ve been an upgrade. By the way, they’re not hitting, and it hasn’t translated to wins. Speaking of wins, the Nationals are 3-1. Coincidentally, they have Daniel Murphy, the guy who carried the Mets in the postseason, is a National. He’s hitting .462/.611/.923.
Optimistic: This team is built to win the World Series, and I’m going to enjoy every single part of the ride.
Pessimistic: I don’t know what team you’re watching.
In Jacob deGrom‘s first start of the year, he went out and dominated the Phillies. Normally, this would be reason to celebrate because it’s a sign deGrom is picking up where he left off last season. Unfortunately, there were some real problems with the start.
Most importantly, deGrom left the start with right lat tightness. This was the latest injury deGrom has had this year. During Spring Training, deGrom also a sore thigh and a stiff back. Neither of the latter two injuries prevented him from getting ready for the 2016 season or taking the mound against the Phillies. He’s been nicked up, but as of right now, there is no discussion of putting deGrom on the disabled list.
There’s something important to note here. deGrom is suffering from a TIGHT lat, not a TORN lat like Steven Matz suffered last year. Any discussion of deGrom missing any period of time is very premature.
With that said, you are left to wonder if any one of these injuries, or a combination thereof, has helped cause deGrom’s drop in velocity.
After a 2015 season in which deGrom averaged a 96 MPH fastball, his velocity has noticeably dipped this year. During Spring Training, deGrom was throwing his fastball between 91 – 93 MPH. Despite hopes that he could ramp it up during the regular season, deGrom’s fastball only averaged 93 MPH. So while he ramped it up a bit, we was still three MPH slower than where he was last year.
It’s natural to question if the dip in velocity is due to deGrom getting nicked up here and there. On MLB Tonight, Pedro Martinez presented an alternative theory. He thinks deGrom is dropping his arm when he’s pitching thereby causing the decreased velocity. Therefore, if deGrom improves his mechanics, he should be able to regain his velocity.
Even if deGrom never finds his velocity, he can still be a very effective pitcher. In 2014, deGrom’s fastball averaged somewhere between 93 – 94 MPH. That year, he was 9-6 with a 2.69 ERA in 22 starts. By the way, this was good enough for him to be named the National League Rookie of the Year.
While deGrom’s health and velocity is something to keep an eye on, we do know that deGrom can pitch very effectively even without the 96 MPH fastball. Most likely, deGrom just needs a day or two off to get some rest. Hopefully, he gets it now because once his son is born, he’s not getting any rest or sleep.
This has been a difficult start to the season, and I don’t mean just because of the Mets perplexing series loss to the Phillies.
No, with the early season schedule it has been difficult to watch the games. I caught Opening Day and Saturday’s game. However, I had to listen to the two weekday games on the radio at work. Today, it was a nice sunny day, and I couldn’t sit inside all day inside with my son. He wanted to go out and do things. He may love watching the Mets, but it’s very difficult to get a toddler to sit still inside on a nice day.
So, instead we drove to the Boardwalk and had some fun. Through the miracles of technology, I was able to listen to the game on the radio. However, my main focus was my son. It has to be. I got distracted from the game. I was aware that the Mets were losing. I had a concept of what was happening. That’s the benefit of listening to Howie Rose instead of John Sterling. By the way, Howie was again great today. However, I didn’t get a feel for the game.
Instead, my son and I were getting a good feel for the rings at the ring toss:
We were told that only 10-15 people win a year. We were told no one has won this year. We were undeterred. Unlike the Mets batters against what can be a historically bad Phillies bullpen, we came to win. As the Mets were going down meekly in the bottom of the ninth, a ring was floating in the air. When the ring landed, we were the Top Banana:
It’s funny. In 2012 and 2013, I couldn’t imagine listening to a Mets game on the radio when I wasn’t at work. My wife and I would’ve run our errands after the game was over. She would be rolled her eyes, but she understands. And that’s when the Mets were bad.
Now, when the Mets may be in their way to winning another World Series, I couldn’t have been happier being out and about with my son. I’m thrilled to have this giant banana that I have no room for in my house. Normally, the Mets losing two out of three to the Phillies would’ve ruined my day, weekend, and/or life. Now, I’m very irritated at the losses, but I was able to quickly get past it because I had a great day out with my son.
There are days where being a parent is trying. However, an average run of the mill fun day like this makes it all worthwhile. You’re able to put things in their proper perspective. You can still enjoy your day after the Mets do all they can do to ruin it. Fatherhood makes you a better person. You get so many positive things out of the experience.
And sometimes, if you’re lucky, you go home with a giant banana.
Well, that happened quickly. I think Mets fans took longer to boo Bobby Bonilla and Jason Bay than they have Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes has gone from a conquering hero to getting booed within just four regular season games.
Part of this is created by the fans’ unrealistic expectations. Cespedes came to the Mets last year, and he hit .287/.337/.604 with 17 homeruns and 44 RBI in just 57 games. Everytime he stepped to the plate last year, you expected magic. Whether Mets fans admit it or not, they’re expecting [or desperately hoping] for more of the same this year. It’s just not going to happen. Cespedes is a career .270/.319/.484 hitter. Prior to 2015, he averaged 24 homeruns and 81 RBI. He’s a career .234/.298/.477 hitter at Citi Field.
What Mets fans saw last year was not the real Cespedes. To hold him to that standard is unfair and unrealistic. Similarly, Cespedes’ struggles so far this season is also not the real Cespedes.
There is no doubt Cespedes has had a rough start to the season. On his first play of the season, he dropped an easy out giving Mets fans flashbacks to the inside-the-park homerun created by his lacksadasical play. At the plate, he has not been good, and at times, he has appeared overmatched. So far, he is 2-16 with seven strikeouts. With all that said, Mets fans have an awfully short leash if they’re starting to boo him.
Yes, it is too soon to boo him. However, it is not too soon to be concerned.
Last year, Cespedes removed himself from Game Four of the NLCS with an aggravated AC joint. With the shoulder injury, Cespedes would hit .150/.143/.150 with son extra base hits and six strikeouts in what was for him a forgettable World Series.
During Spring Training, Cespedes felt a twinge in the same shoulder. Additionally, he dealt with a sore hip. These two issues caused Cespedes to only miss one game. However, Cespedes was dealing with some injuries that could affect his ability to make solid contact. In fact, he’s one of a few players in baseball who have yet to have one hard hit ball this season.
Another issue that could be affecting Cespedes is his approach at the plate. Hitting Coach Kevin Long worked with Cespedes to focus on driving the ball up the middle and the other way rather than pulling the ball as ferociously as he did with the Mets last year. At times this year, Cespedes has looked lost or crossed up at the plate.
So no, it is not time to boo Cespedes. It is way too soon in the season. However, with his injuries and changing approach at the plate, it’s not too soon to get nervous about Cespedes.
Editor’s Note: this was first published on metsmerizedonline.com
It was a cold windy night at Citi Field. If you’ve been to one of those games, especially in the Promenade, you’re freezing. About the only thing colder than those fans tonight were the bats.
While the Phillies are going to be terrible this year, perhaps ’62 Mets terrible, we did get a glimpse of the hope for the Phillies future. Vincent Velasquez started for the Phillies, and he absolutely dominated the Mets. He allowed only three hits, three walks, and he struck out nine in six innings.
It’s not fluke for Velasquez. He’s a prospect with a high ceiling. Tonight, he featured a filthy curveball and a fastball with life. More importantly, he was locating those pitches. While facing the Phillies 19 years will be fun, facing Velasquez both this year and the years to come will be unpleasant.
As for Velasquez’s counterpart, Bartolo Colon, Mets fans were treated to the full Colon experience. He dominated a bad ballclub. He pounded the strike zone while fastballs in the high 80’s. Shockingly, he did get one up to 92 MPH. He didn’t allow a walk while striking out seven. He also lost his batting helmet while swinging and missing at a pitch. Furthermore, Colon made a terrific play in the field:
They don’t call him #BigSexy for nothing! pic.twitter.com/WP9FLaqvuT
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) April 10, 2016
The only mistake he made was a pitch to Ryan Howard that was deposited in the left field stands for the Phillies only run of the game.
Now, this run should not have held up. The Phillies have an abominable bullpen. In the eighth inning, David Hernandez was erratic. Asdrubal Cabrera, Yoenis Cespedes, and Lucas Duda got to three balls in the count. None of them reached base.
The Mets are allowed to lose a game. They’re allowed to not hit when a pitcher like Velasquez is just dealing. However, this Phillies bullpen is dreadful. They were wild and gave the Mets very hittable pitches. If the Mets want to win the division, they need to take advantage of these opportunities. You cannot be shut out by this Phillies team. It’s inexcusable.
Some important notes on the Mets. The team was smart in sitting David Wright on a cold windy day. Travis d’Arnaud threw out another would be basestealer. Teams seem to be adjusting to Michael Conforto by pounding him inside. Conforto would go 0-3 with a strikeout against Velasquez. Hansel Robles pitched to Cameron Rupp without any incident. Cespedes continues to struggle starting the year 2-16 with seven strikeouts. He received some boos.