Noah Syndergaard Right To Defend Himself Against Anthony DiComo
The Mets loss on Thursday to the San Fransisco Giants took a number of twists and turns, and the immediate focus was how Chris Mazza gave up the lead from Pete Alonso‘s 16th inning homer. To his credit, despite blowing the biggest game of his life in what was just his fourth Major League game, Mazza stood there to answer the questions from the media. He received credit for it while others were chided:
After one of the tougher Mets losses of this season, there was a pretty stark difference between losing pitcher Chris Mazza, who stood in front of his locker and answered every question, and starter Noah Syndergaard, who bolted the clubhouse without answering any.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 19, 2019
At that point in time, you almost forgot Noah Syndergaard had started the game and was great in his seven innings. Considering the step he took forward, you could see why reporters may want to ask him questions as opposed to say a Luis Guillorme who was unnecessarily burned for an inane pinch running appearance.
The reporters couldn’t ask the questions because as DiComo noted Syndergaard had left the clubhouse. It should be noted this was not the first time Syndergaard left the clubhouse not answering reporters’ questions. The other time was after he had left his June 15 start with an injury. DiComo would note that as well:
Noah Syndergaard (hamstring strain) was in the clubhouse when reporters entered postgame. He took one look at us and bolted for the back room, pursued by members of the Mets' PR staff.
Through a team spokesman, Syndergaard later refused to comment on his injury.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 16, 2019
Now, there are a couple of ways of looking at this. First, it is Syndergaard’s responsibility to answer reporters questions, especially after his starts. While you can understand his not sticking around after an injury, he should have made himself available after a game he pitched, and he was not seeking treatment for an injury he sustained during the game. Really, no one should be defending him for not fulfilling this part of the job.
On the other hand, this criticism has been a one way street. The Wilpons have always made themselves unavailable for comment for all Mets related matters. It should also be noted DiComo has no criticisms of the Wilpons for their not being available to the media.
Similarly, DiComo has not criticized Brodie Van Wagenen for his lack of availability. When Sandy Alderson was in charge, he met with the beat writers before every homestand. For his part, Van Wagenen has abandoned that practice, and he has on multiple occasions declined to make himself available to answer questions about the state of the team.
With that as the backdrop, you can certainly understand why Syndergaard would publicly respond to DiComo telling him their relationship is now forever changed:
This is what you go with after a tough 16 inning marathon loss? Anthony, I have been nothing but respectful and professional with you over the years. If you had issue w me, talk to me in person like a man. This is below you, you’ve changed our relationship in 1 tweet. Congrats
— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) July 19, 2019
On the relationship between Syndergaard and the press, only they can comment. That said, to the extent it was poor at all prior to yesterday, it would be fair to characterize the relationship as not deteriorating to the levels it was between Matt Harvey and the press corps. Who knows now?
In the end, we should not be defending Syndergaard for not answering questions. That’s his job. However, we should also note how the criticism on media availability is very one-sided with the players being held to a much higher standard than the people actually in charge of the team. When people like DiComo are going to act with a double standard like that, they absolutely deserve to criticized in response by the players. To that extent, good for Syndergaard.
Agree daddy. Oh yesterday’s game: The offensive approach has gone to shit as the Mets are swinging at everything starters allows have low pitch counts against them and the Mets are hitting too many grounders all things that happened to the Red Sox and Cubs in the second halves of Chilli’s seasons there.The Mets have been last in pitches seen per at bat the last two months. Good hire Fred.
Well said
I don’t care whether players stick around after games. I’m sure I would if I was a beat writer who needed nightly material for my column, but I can’t bring myself to care tbh.. Is it their job? I suppose, if it’s contractual, but I still can’t care. It’s not infrequently a 10, even a 12 hour day at that point. Enjoy your showers, guys.
Wags hiding from the media, though, when it surely is his job? Yeah, that chicken is squawking.
Mets lost their 2nd x-inning game in a row last night. Even fivethirtyeight, which is overly optimistic, had them back down to 6% to make the postseason and less than 0.1% to win the WS. BBRef had them at 1% to take the wildcard, <0.1% to win the division, <0.1% to win the WS.
Metsdaddy is a beat writer also.
I am? Since when?
Alonso had another HR tonight, maybe his first ph HR. With one at-bat up he essentially cured his post-ASB “slump.” 36 PA, 13K, 3HR, 7RBI. Still has a BAbip in the cellar, at .063, Even so, if you had 8 of him only hitting the way he’s hit since the ASB, you’d probably win the division.
Nice for Harold Baines and Lee Smith to make the Hall, but it doesn’t help the Hall as an institution with standards. You could find at least 100 players as deserving as those two without spending a lot of time at it. BBRef has Baines as the 74th best RFer in baseball history. A Hall of Fame where Harold Baines was a deserving inductee would have something like 900 players in it. Baines shouldn’t even be in the “Hall of the Very Good.” He’s a shockingly bad choice.
Baines induction is a mockery and another reason to despise Tony La Russa.
The Hall of Fame is space constrained, has employees there for easy paychecks, employees are not engaged, the bathroom for kids is out of the way, the navigation is not intuitive nor a predictable counterintuitiveness, there are few signs, there is no audio programs, the shop Help is aloof and concerned with leaving at the hour hand, the village is nice, but nicer for it is a pain in the ass to get there, surrounded by farms, lower middle class and hicks.
I went to Canton, would never go to Springfield but went to the Hockey Hall of Fame,… this HOF has changed so little in the decades, the multimedia is not creative, they have these exhibits for negroes, Hispanics, women, Mo Berg, Hank and the Babe and the great without being slighted or without the great milestones like Clemente, Robinson, Mays etc the great pitches have at best a glove and a photo.
The progression of uniforms should be brief and if expanded, in the basement.
This is one sorry unprogressive management of a HOF.
I was very disappointed with Baines induction. My only hope is he’s not used to lower future voting standards.