Steven Matz Is Clearly The Mets Fourth Best Starter
All offseason, we’re hearing Steven Matz is in a competition for a spot in the rotation. This is despite the fact he’s very clearly the team’s fourth starter. Anyone who takes the time to look at the data and trends can see it.
Remember, it’s 2020.
Rick Porcello‘s 2016 Cy Young Award is irrelevant. Michael Wacha‘s 2013 NLCS MVP is irrelevant. Neither pitcher is that pitcher. Not anymore.
What matters now is Matz is better than those two. Fact is, the ONLY reason why he wouldn’t be in the rotation is the GM didn’t acquire him. Yes, it would be the only reason, and if that happens (much like Robinson Cano batting third much of 2019), it’s unacceptable.
It’s time the Mets stop this nonsense, and stop the flood of tweets, including those from reporters well connected to the Mets, and just say Matz isn’t just in the rotation, but he’s the team’s fourth starter.
After all, of the three, he’s the only pitcher guaranteed to be here in 2021, and more than that, right now, in 2020, he’s the best pitcher of the three. Considering the strides he made last year, he may even prove to be more than that.
Oldbackstop says:
“No need to take the pressure off Matz he needs it.”
Here, here, I totally agree. Physiologically, as fans, we all want to feel that everything is hunky dory with each player so we get their best. But that impulse is wrong. Competition at each position is the best way and most time tested way to get the best out of a player. A guy who can produce under those circumstances is the guy you want out there and Matz, for me at least, has really taken the reins here.
He just looks different out there. He is working faster and with much more confidence. In fact I see that in many players including
Alonso´s work around the bag at first, Gimenez swing and approach at the plate, Familia, Nunez, Dom, Conforto, Nimmo. They are focused and showing improvement or at least working to improve in specific areas of their game.
Say anything you want about management, their history is their history but I see a team that is engaged and united. The defense, (admittedly its been mostly non everyday players) has looked much improved. They are hitting their cutoffs, throwing to the right base and executing. 3 weeks in and its all been positive and competitive. As Old backstop would say, no snowflakes need apply.
Matz’s looking faster and more confident comes from a mixture of confirmation bias and his working with a new pitching coach. It’s not the result of Spring Training competition.