From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET
THE FIVE HURLERS OF THE METROPOLIS
The Dominant Rotation That Never Was
Matt Harvey ~ Zack Wheeler ~ Jacob deGrom ~ Noah Syndergaard ~ Steven Matz
2012 - Harvey
2013 - Harvey; Wheeler
2014 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom
2015 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz
2016 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz
2017 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz
2018 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz
2019 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz
2020 - Harvey; Wheeler; deGrom; Syndergaard; Matz
There was a three year window (2015-2017) earmarked for greatness. Unfortunately it never materialized. Injuries first and foremost would prevent the Mets from unleashing a full-on assault upon the National League East. Otherwise there's something to be said for the Mets front office failing to seize the moment. In fairness, the team won a National League flag in 2015 and qualified for a Wild Card playoff the year after. Even then, Zack Wheeler missed two full seasons, and Syndergaard one. In 2017 Syndergaard and Matz would only make 20 starts combined. Without a reliable number two, Jacob deGrom has essentially been a one man gang. We fans are left lamenting over what could have been ...
RISE AND FALL OF THE DARK KNIGHT
On July 26, 2012, a 23-year old Matt Harvey makes his major league debut against the Diamondbacks at Arizona. He throws 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks, while striking out eleven en route to his first career victory. Five starts later he strikes out nine Colorado Rockies through six innings at Citi Field. Three starts later, he strikes out ten Washington Nationals through five innings in front of a now rabid New York fan base. And just like that, the Dark Knight is born. The following season Harvey is named the National League's starting pitcher in the 2013 All-Star Game held at Citi Field. Otherwise he makes 26 regular season starts, posting a 9-5 record with a 2.27 ERA and 0.931 WHiP, while fanning 191 batters over 178.1 innings pitched. The Dark Knight finishes fourth in the Cy Young voting but not before his sophomore campaign comes to an abrupt end when in late August he is diagnosed with a partial tear of the UCL in his right elbow. He misses the entire 2014 season rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery. Then in what appears to be a promising return to form Harvey helps the Mets win a division title and capture the 2015 National League flag. He posts a 13-8 record and 2.71 ERA with 188 strikeouts through 189.1 innings pitched. However his superhero powers prove fleeting. Midway through the 2016 season Harvey is diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome which requires season ending surgery. In 2017 the clearly ailing Dark Knight is suspended by the Mets for violation of team rules. Said another way, he is suspected of blowing off work after a supposed night of partying. But that winds up being the least of his troubles. By June Harvey is back on the injured list with a stress fracture in his right shoulder bone requiring yet more surgery. Finally on May 18, 2018, Matt Harvey is traded to the Cincinnati Reds. And just like that, the Dark Knight era ends in Flushing.
WHEELIN' DOWN I-95
On June 18, 2013, Zack Wheeler joins Matt Harvey in the Mets rotation. He finishes his rookie season with a 3.42 ERA in 100 innings pitched. The next season he posts an 11-11 record and 3.54 ERA, with 187 strikeouts in 185.1 innings pitched. Unfortunately like Harvey health is not Wheeler's ally. He misses all of 2015 and 2016 while recovering from both Tommy John surgery and a flexor strain. Although he returns to the mound in 2017 his efforts are still beset with injury. Wheeler is twice placed on the injured list and finishes his comeback season with a 5.21 ERA through 86.1 innings pitched. On Sept. 26, 2019, Wheeler throws his last pitch as a member of the New York Mets at Citi Field. Seven years after his acquisition from the San Francisco Giants the club allows him to simply walk away. Although Wheeler last March made it very clear to all that he welcomed free agency and that the organization would need to meet his price, I was hoping against hope the Mets would re-sign him. The Mets let the regular season play out and apparently were dissatisfied with his performance. Granted, Zack posted a somewhat unsightly 3.96 ERA and 1.259 WHiP through 195.1 innings pitched. But despite turning 30-years old this coming May, I believe Wheeler's arm is finally sound and that his best days are still ahead. Over the last two seasons he's made 60 starts with 374 strikeouts through 377.2 innings pitched. Fangraphs had his 2018 velocity pegged at 95-mph, while last year's velocity remained steady at 96-mph. Be that as it may the Mets make him no offer. Wheeler winds up signing with Philadelphia for $118 million over five seasons. The general manager within me would have been agreeable negotiating a $100 million package. However I would have tried chewing him down from the other $18 million. I'm inclined to believe Wheeler and his agent just to stay in New York would have agreed to a five year $105 million dollar deal. Lastly, Zack Wheeler I feel is better than any available replacement sans Gerrit Cole. Simply put, the acquisitions of Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha have yet to sway my opinion regarding the starting rotation having been weakened.
TOTAL deGROMINATION
Jacob deGrom joins Zack Wheeler in the starting rotation on May 15, 2014, at Citi Field. Alas, Matt Harvey is out recovering from Tommy John surgery. Jacob knows a thing or two about that. As a minor leaguer back in 2010 he too suffers the seemingly obligatory partial tear of the UCL and misses the entire 2011 season. Now two months shy of his 32nd birthday, the seventh year Met is a back-to-back Cy Young award winner, par excellence. Rookie of the Year; an ERA title; a strikeout title; tying the MLB record with 25 straight starts allowing three or fewer runs; we are witnessing modern day elite. Problem is when Matt Harvey comes back in 2015 the Mets lose Zack Wheeler for two seasons. Then in 2017 with both Harvey and Wheeler back on the active roster, Noah Syndergaard is effectively lost for the season.
THOR'S HAMMER YIELDS TO TOMMY JOHN
Noah Syndergaard is going under the blade. That's right ... Tommy John surgery. Who didn't see this coming? A throw-in pitcher as part of the R.A. Dickey/Travis d'Arnaud trade, Syndergaard joins the Mets rotation on May 12, 2015, at Chicago's Wrigley Field. He makes 24 starts for the National League champs, posting a 3.24 ERA and 166 strikeouts through 150 innings pitched. He's since been his own worst enemy. An unsupervised and ruinous workout regimen following the 2016 regular season ends in utter folly. A torn lat muscle in his arm limits him in 2017 to just seven starts. When Noah returns in 2018, Matt Harvey is traded signifying the rotation's first permanent casualty. Then there's the matter of last season, easily Syndergaard's worst. I'll say it again, the man lacks craftsmanship. Now this ...
MATZ IN THE MIDDLE
The Mets enter the 2020 season (as if...) with only Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz in the fold. They've been a constant in the rotation for five seasons now. Like Syndergaard, Steven Matz debuts in 2015 but only makes six starts. He joins the rotation in earnest in 2016 posting a 9-8 record and 3.40 ERA through 22 starts. But arm ailments compromise his 2017 season to the tune of a 6.08 ERA through just 13 starts. That being said, he presently stands as the only pitcher discussed here to not yet undergo Tommy John surgery. As the rotation's lone left-hander, Matz is coming off back-to-back seasons with 30 starts. I think most would agree when I say his biggest problem has always been between the ears. Therefore the hope for Matz who turns 29-years old in May and entering his physical prime is that he grows into a more composed, mature, and polished hurler.
