Jacob deGrom

New York Mets: Weighing the Possibility of a Six-Man Rotation

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yankees, New York Mets, Luis Rojas

Depth was the top priority during the New York Mets offseason, and it shows the most with their rotation options. With the new depth, they consider using six starting pitchers with Taijuan Walker joining the rotation.

We know the top three starters are Jacob deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, and Marcus Stroman, with Walker as the fourth. David Peterson has the upper hand on Joey Lucchesi and Jordan Yamamoto going into camp, but all three are fighting for the last rotation spot.

The Mets might look to conserve Peterson’s innings because he only has two seasons over 100 in the minors with a career-high of 128. Around baseball, teams are considering the extra starter because of the shortened 2020 season. Pitchers will get extra rest without making shorter starts, and it lessens the innings jump from last season.

All five Mets starters were healthy in 2020 and are amongst the fittest in the sport. Despite the great physiques, the Mets expect to play deep into October. A long playoff run requires pitchers to log 20-40 high-leverage innings. Pitchers like Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, and Max Scherzer saw these innings’ taxing effect the following year. If Lucchesi or Yamamoto pitches well in spring training, the Mets should not be afraid to tack on another starter.

Syndergaard’s Return 

If the Mets have a six-man rotation to being the season, Syndergaard would slide right in and conserve innings for the rest of the rotation. With a five-man rotation, he would tack on and potentially save the Mets from holding Peterson back in September. The one drawback is the one less arm in the bullpen, but a strong rotation solves any bullpen issues.

In October, the Mets would love a rotation of deGrom, Carrasco, Stroman, and Syndergaard. Allowing Syndergaard to save his innings early in the season will allow him to avoid injury and stay fresh for a playoff run.

Despite missing out on an expensive free agent, the Mets finally have starting pitching depth with respectable MLB track records. This accolade alone deserves an A grade for the offseason.

 

Mets’ pitcher Marcus Stroman talks about Jacob deGrom’s mechanics

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New York Yankees, Marcus Stroman

Marcus Stroman has been an incredibly successful pitcher in his career. He has a 3.76 ERA and a 3.64 FIP in more than 800 innings in the bigs, and with an excellent 58.6 ground ball percentage. The New York Mets traded for him in 2019, and after sitting the 2020 season due to COVID concerns, he is ready to help the rotation in 2021.

He is known for his drive to improve. He is constantly studying the game and its best pitchers. Luckily for him, arguably the best hurler in the game, Jacob deGrom, is his teammate in the Mets.

It’s only natural, then, that Stroman is trying to model some things after his highly decorated teammate.

During an interview with Rob Friedman, the famous “Pitching Ninja” on Twitter, Stroman explained that he’s been picking deGrom’s brain and has watched him in bullpen sessions.

“I’m excited to be around him. I literally go out and just watch his bullpens like a little kid,” Stroman said. “I sit right behind him in his bullpens. He lets me sit there, chill, ask him questions. He’s the man, bro. He’s so low key, but he’s the man and he’s always open to helping and always just wants you to be your best as well.

The Mets’ starters understand the value of pitching mechanics

“I’ll go into a bullpen and pick his mind. To be honest, people don’t understand but I have a lot of little tweaks I’m going to be coming out with this year that deGrom inspired, whether it be maybe where my foot position is on the mound or where my hand pump is or what it is that deGrom’s thinking about when he has his hand pump or when he lifts his leg. I’ve incorporated a lot of things that he’s doing that have helped me stay more compact and more stable and fluid in my delivery.”

The Mets’ starter knows, however, that deGrom sets the bar high when it comes to performance. And this is originated from flawless mechanics.

“DeGrom’s got the best mechanics, I tell anybody, and a lot of it’s his body, how much of an athlete he is. A lot of it is also physical and what he was born with,” Stroman said. “I think deGrom has the best hip disassociation out of any pitcher or anybody in the league, and you can’t replicate. This is why you can’t say ‘Oh, go have deGrom’s mechanics.’ Nobody can have that. His hip disassociation, his ability to open up his hips on his stride length and keep his top half still loaded back is f—ing incredible. You can’t teach that.”

New York Mets: Baseball (Supposedly) Returns This Month

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Even though a nor’easter is sweeping through the tri-state area, the New York Mets hope to play baseball this month. Luckily for the Mets, they will be in the warm, COVID-19 filled, sunshine state of Florida. With plenty of dirty laundry surrounding the Mets at the moment, here are some things to look forward to this month.

Pitchers and catchers officially report to Port St. Lucie on February 17, and position players join them on February 22. Five days later, the Mets open up their 31 game spring training schedule against the Miami Marlins.

Thor’s Return

Even though he is unlikely to pitch in a Spring Training game, Noah Syndergaard‘s, likely shirtless, presence in camp will be a welcomed sight. Syndergaard is on pace to be ahead of schedule to return from Tommy John surgery, and we will see how much progress he has made.

Carlos Carrasco and Francisco Lindor are amongst the newcomers joining the 2021 roster. The big trade with the Cleveland Indians brought them the starting pitcher and shortstop they were looking for. The big question remains whether their former Indian teammate, Trevor Bauer, because the most expensive newcomer for the Mets.

James McCann will get his first opportunity to work with and learn the Mets pitching staff. After two years of Wilson Ramos, the pitchers can breathe a sigh of relief with McCann behind the plate. McCann is known for his ability to call a game, understanding his pitchers’ tendencies. He also improved as a pitch framer to go along with his solid defense. The most interesting dynamic will be with Jacob deGrom as he tries to retake his Cy Young crown.

Off The Field Distractions

Between Jared Porter’s scandal and Steve Cohen’s deleted Twitter account, the Mets have been in the headlines for plenty of reasons. Let us not forget about Robinson Cano’s suspension, which goes forgotten after many January events. Those questions may not linger past the first week of camp, but the New York media will be ruthless. The off field issues are a non-factor or perpetrated by media figures with an agenda against the franchise.

Mets fans have a legitimate reason to be excited about the season for the first time in years. They have a new owner, a combination of retained and new talent, and they are the favorites to win a very competitive NL East. Along with all of this, the Mets could have more additions to rev up excitement, and maybe controversy, for the 2021 Steve Cohen owned Mets.

New York Mets Player Evaluations: Pitcher Jacob deGrom

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

What more can we say about Jacob deGrom? The New York Mets ace put up another Cy Young caliber season in the shortened 2020 season. Unfortunately, unlike the last two years, deGrom is not the front runner for the Cy Young as he will likely finish second in the race.

deGrom cruised through his first nine starts of the season. He had a 1.67 ERA through 54 innings and held opposing hitters to a .173 batting average. deGrom also led the was in strikeouts with 79 through those first nine outings. deGrom battled through a couple of small injuries to continue his dominance of the league.

The last three starts of deGrom’s season did not match the same dominance. deGrom allowed eight runs in 14 innings, which inflated his ERA to 2.38, and he finished the season at that mark. The September 16 start against the Phillies cost him the most. deGrom only made it through two innings and allowed three runs before leaving with an injury.

In a full season, that start would be a forgotten memory, but it became the forefront of his Cy Young candidacy.

Absolute Dominance

Whether or not deGrom wins the award, there is no denying how great he was. One of the amazing components of his season was the increase in fastball velocity. The four-seamer jumped from an average velocity of 96.9 in 2019 to 98.6 in 2020. deGrom reached back to get to 101 a couple of times this season as well. Hitters already struggled with the fastball from deGrom, but in 2020 batters .186 against the pitch deGrom threw 45% of the time.

Of course, the stuff alone makes deGrom an amazing pitcher, but it’s the deception that makes him elite. All of his pitches come from the same arm slot and looks the same. deGrom’s fastball, changeup, and slider at speeds far above average, combining all of those factors make deGrom the best in the game. He also operates at a level of perfection that draws back to the likes of Tom Seaver.

Tough to Beat

Overall, the numbers were tremendous, going 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA in 68 innings, leading the NL with 104 strikeouts and a 13.8 K/9. deGrom also had his lowest H/9 of his career at 6.2 and his third straight season of allowing less than one home run per nine innings. To support his case of a Cy Young, 8 of 12 starts for deGrom came against playoff teams. 6 of 11 Bauer’s starts came against playoff teams, but all were eliminated during the wild card round.

As a starting pitcher heading into his age-33 season, it is amazing to look at him and see him continuing to get better. He is just reaching his peak as an ace, and the Mets need to take advantage of deGrom’s elite years. Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Clayton Kershaw all got their rings, and in 2021 it is time for deGrom to get his.

2020 Grades On 20-80 Scale (2021 Projection)

Fastball: 80 (80), Consistently at 98-100 and is close to unhittable.

Slider: 80 (80), Comes in at 91-93 and has an extremely late break. Usually only thrown to the left-handed side of the plate.

Changeup: 75 (75), At 90-92, it moves just like a sinker.

Curveball: 55 (55), Only threw 30 of them but is a good change of pace in the mid-80s.

Command: 80 (80), Truly a master of his craft.

Endurance: 80 (80), As good at pitch 110 as he is during pitch 10.

Overall: 80 (80), The best pitcher in baseball.

 

 

New York Mets: Jacob deGrom once again in the National League elite

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

New York Mets‘ ace Jacob deGrom has been named a Cy Young finalist for the third time in a row, according to an announcement made by MLB on Monday night. He won the award in the previous two seasons, and has a very good chance of taking it home for the third consecutive year.

If he wins, the Mets’ ace will join a select group of hurlers with three consecutive Cy Youngs: Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson. Yes, they are both in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The “Big Unit” won it four years straight from 1999-2002.

The Mets’ righty will have some fierce competition this year, in the form of Cincinnati Reds (now a free agent) pitcher Trevor Bauer and Chicago Cubs’ frontline starter Yu Darvish.

In 12 starts with the New York Mets, deGrom went 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA and 104 strikeouts. He was as dominant as ever, with 13.76 strikeouts per nine innings and only 2.38 walks per nine frames. He had an excellent 2.26 FIP and was second in the National League in fWAR with 2.6.

The Mets’ ace has some stiff competition

Bauer made one less start than deGrom, but compiled a 5-4 record and an NL-leading 1.73 ERA. However, he benefited quite a bit from the luck factor (2.88 FIP and .215 BABIP) and if voters pick up on that, deGrom should earn some votes.

The Mets’ hurler also has a formidable foe in Darvish. The talented Cubs’ ace went 8-3 (which could convince some of the more traditional voters) and also had a better ERA (2.01) and fWAR (3.0, top of the league.)

To the contrary of what it happening in the American League, in which Shane Bieber has a clear advantage over the other two nominees, the National League will likely be a much closer race.

The winner will be announced on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. Will the Mets have one reason to celebrate after a rather disappointing 2020?

New York Mets: Nats Sweep Doubleheader to End Mets Playoff Hopes

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

The New York Mets needed an amazing start from Jacob deGrom to keep their postseason hopes alive, but he was only average on Saturday. In game one of the doubleheader, the Washington Nationals won 4-3 and took game two 5-3 against the struggling Rick Porcello. It became the fourth consecutive season that the Mets missed the playoffs.

Jacob deGrom came out firing bullets in the first inning. He hit 102 mph with his fastball, the fastest pitch of his career, and tying the fastest pitch of the season. deGrom ran into trouble from the third inning on, as he lost command, allowing a run in each of the final three innings he pitched. While striking out 10, his ERA went up to 2.38 and knocked out his chances of winning the Cy Young.

The Mets offense got to Max Scherzer early with a two-run home run from Wilson Ramos and a solo homer from Amed Rosario. Unfortunately, the Mets offense went dead late in the game as they left the lead run at third with one out in the sixth inning. Back-to-back strikeouts killed the rally and were followed by the Nationals taking the lead in the bottom half of the inning.

The Mets also lost Andres Gimenez to an oblique injury, which caused Rosario to enter the game. Dominic Smith also suffered a crushing blow, running face-first into the left-field fence. It allowed Andrew Stevenson to round the bases for an inside the park home run for his second homer of the game.

Porcello Struggles Again in Game Two

Rick Porcello towed the rubber for a meaningless game two of the doubleheader. He could not replicate the success from his last start allowing five runs over three innings. All the Nationals runs came in the third inning, as ten men went to the plate.

After the game, Porcello was disappointed in his poor season. He likely will not remain with the Mets for next season, and it is hard to see him landing with another contender in 2021. Porcello was not the only disappointed Mets starter as deGrom also voiced his frustrations with the underachieving Mets.

The Mets offense struggled outside of Pete Alonso. He hit a line-drive home run, which added to a good rebound day at the plate. Alonso showed better discipline at the plate and emphasized hitting the ball hard instead of just hitting it in the air.

Seth Lugo gets the final start of the season as he faces off against Austin Voth. Game 60 starts at 3:05 p.m. ET from Nationals Park as the Mets hope to avoid last place.

 

New York Mets: Jacob deGrom has four rivals in the Cy Young race

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The New York Mets depend on a miracle to advance to the playoffs in the shortened 2020 MLB season. They can’t lose anymore and other teams in the race would have to lose, which makes it even more complicated.

What they do have, even if it doesn’t represent such an appealing consolation prize to the Mets’ fanbase, is a firm Cy Young candidate. Jacob deGrom has the resume to fight for his third consecutive award, something that only Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson have achieved in the history of the game.

On Monday, deGrom pitched seven innings of two-run ball, striking out 14 hitters and retaking the National League lead in the latter category. He has, to this day, a 2.14 ERA, which is fifth in the NL, and 94 punchouts, tops in the circuit.

“He’s probably the top pitcher in the NL,” Mets third baseman J.D. Davis said to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “We’ve played against a lot of great pitchers, hit against a lot of great pitchers, and it’s been unbelievable to watch Jake.”

The Mets’ ace has some serious rivals

Let’s examine the foes that the Mets’ ace would have to top in order to finish with his third straight Cy Young:

Trevor Bauer: The Cincinnati Reds ace has a 1.80 ERA, 88 strikeous and a 2.0 fWAR in 65.0 innings. With a sub-2.00s ERA and a chance to eclipse 100 fanned batters, the controversial righty has a good case for the award.

Yu Darvish: The veteran Chicago Cubs’ ace is seventh in ERA with 2.22, but is tied in the NL lead with 2.7 fWAR while fanning 88 hitters, just like Bauer. He has been a big reason behind the Cubs’ amazing season.

Dinelson Lamet: The Mets’ ace has a formidable foe in San Diego’s Lamet. He is the owner of a 2.07 ERA, the fourth-best in the National League, and his 89 strikeouts are second. He also has a 2.3 fWAR in 65 1/3 frames.

Corbin Burnes: Perhaps the biggest surprise in the group, Burnes has been Milwaukee’s ace and just recently started qualifying for the ERA title because he started the year as a reliever. He currently leads the NL in ERA with a tiny 1.77 and has 83 strikeouts. He is a little short in innings (56.0) but has managed to put a great fWAR (2.6.)

DeGrom himself has been the unquestioned New York Mets’ ace once again. He is fifth in ERA, first in strikeouts and is tied for first in fWAR, with 2.7. He is liking his chances.

“I feel like everything is where I want it,” said deGrom. “It’s just a short season — what is that, 11, 12 starts? You’re used to making 30-plus, so I feel like I could keep going and keep improving. But I don’t have that opportunity.”

“He can do some special things,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said, “that can definitely put him back at the top of that race for sure.”

New York Mets: deGrom’s 14 Strikeouts Wasted in 2-1 Loss Against Rays

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The New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays displayed why each team sits in their respective positions in their respective divisions. Tampa Bay used their opener method and heads up baseball to win while the Mets failed to make the most of Jacob deGrom‘s stellar start. The 2-1 loss was the third straight game a Mets starter struck out at least ten batters.

deGrom showed no ill-effects from his hamstring spasms that hampered his last start. His strikeouts stuff was on display with 14 strikeouts over seven innings and allowing two runs. deGrom threw a season-high 112 pitches and, most impressively, was still throwing over 100 mph when he reached the century mark.

Bullpen Dominance

The Rays revolutionized the opener for the rest of baseball and showed its worth again. Six pitchers combined to keep the Mets to one run. Josh Fleming had the longest outing with three innings, striking out two while allowing the only Mets run.

The game-changing play came from Willy Adames in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Rays up 2-0. Jeff McNeil lined a ground ball up the middle with the bases loaded and two outs. Adames dove to stop the ball from trickling to the outfield, preventing two runs from scoring. Fleming ended up getting J.D. Davis to fly out, keeping the 2-1 lead. It was the last scoring opportunity the Mets put together.

The lone Rays runs came from Manuel Margot‘s sac fly, and Nate Lowe‘s home run off deGrom. This was the type of game the Rays were built to win. They came into the game with winning records in both one-run and two-run games.

The Mets try to get back in the win column on Tuesday with Seth Lugo on the mound. He faces former Cy Young winner Blake Snell for the 7:10 p.m. ET start from Citi Field.

New York Mets Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (9/21-9/23)

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

The New York Mets try to hold on to their small hopes of making the postseason as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game series. The Rays are the best team in the American League, and the Mets need a sweep to keep their chances alive.

Probable Pitching Matchups:

Monday, (9/21) @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Pete Fairbanks (5-3, 2.74 ERA) vs. Jacob deGrom (4-1, 2.08 ERA)

Tuesday, (9/22) @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Blake Snell (4-1, 3.05 ERA) vs. Seth Lugo (2-3, 4.34 ERA)

Wednesday, (9/23) @ 7:10 p.m. ET: Tyler Glasnow (4-1, 4.21 ERA) vs. TBA

Jacob deGrom makes his first start after hamstring spasms forced him out after two innings. The poor start dropped him back in the Cy Young race, but two more great starts from deGrom could do plenty to get him his third straight Cy Young. Also, the Mets need a great start out of him as he tries to contend with the tough Rays offense.

Injuries were not the cause of reason for Seth Lugo’s last start. Balls flew all around Citizens Bank Park, and it was evident his swing and miss stuff was non-existent. Despite the Mets winning the game, it put the rotation for game one against the Braves in shambles.

Rays Pitching Depth

The Rays pitching is one of the biggest reasons they are a World Series contender this season. They have a 3.66 ERA and rank second in the AL in strikeouts. Twelve different pitchers have started games for them, and the same amount have recorded saves. Manager Kevin Cash has weapons to use at any time and is not afraid to use them in big moments.

Young upstart Brandon Lowe is emerging into a start this season. He leads the Rays in all three triple crown stats, hitting .272 with 13 home runs and 33 runs batted in. Lowe also leads the Rays in hits, walks, runs, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.

Key Stats

Blake Snell vs. Todd Frazier: 1-for-8 (.182), Walk, Strikeout

Michael Conforto during Wins in 2020: .419/.537/.756, 8 Doubles, 7 Home Runs, 15 Walks, 17 Strikeouts

Brandon Nimmo w/2-Out during 2020: .341/.400/.610, 3 Doubles, Triple, 2 Home Runs, 3 Walks, 5 Strikeouts

Jacob deGrom Career vs. Rays: 2 Starts, 1.88 ERA, 14.1 IP, 15 Strikeouts

 

New York Mets: Jacob deGrom is ‘good to go’ and will take the ball on Monday

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New York Mets‘ ace Jacob deGrom received some great news this weekend, thinking about his chances of helping the team in its quest for a playoff spot and securing a third straight Cy Youn award in the National League.

The right-hander, who left his last start after just two innings with some issues on his hamstring, will be able to take the ball on Monday in a crucial game for the New York Mets against the AL East leaders Tampa Bay Rays.

If he was forced to miss time, deGrom’s chances of a third consecutive Cy Young would have virtually vanished. Thankfully, that will not be the case. The Mets will now have their ace for two more starts this season, which (they hope) will be a boon to their chances of taking one of the Wild Card spots. They are currently 2.5 games out of a place in October baseball.

The Mets will have their star pitcher back

By throwing bullpen sessions on Friday and Saturday at Citi Field, the Mets’ most prominent pitcher was declared ready for the last week of the 2020 regular season.

What he suffered was deemed as hamstring spams. He said he felt the ailment the start before the one in which he abandoned early.

“I talked to him and he said, ‘I’m good. I’m good,’” manager Luis Rojas said to MLB.com. “He’s good to go and he’s lined up for Monday.”

The New York Mets are counting on deGrom, who has a 2.09 ERA in 10 starts this year, to keep them in the game tomorrow and then over the weekend in Washington. As far as the Cy Young race is concerned, he will have to impress to boost his chances of winning, because Yu Darvish, Trevor Bauer and Max Fried have all been pitching very well recently.

The Mets will send Rick Porcello on Sunday, deGrom on Monday, and Seth Lugo on Tuesday.