Dysfunctional New York Mets: A Jacob deGrom Case Study

The New York Mets do a lot of things right. But, it’s becoming ever more obvious that they do not handle player injuries well. The latest episode revolves around Jacob deGrom, but at its core the dysfunctional Mets becomes all too clear.

This is what it’s like with the New York Mets these days.

Let’s start with a given. Every major league pitcher wants the ball. It’s in his nature, and it’s been that way ever since he picked up a baseball and realized that pitching was something he could do well.

Take someone like a Jacob deGrom. At every level he’s pitched a baseball, he’s been wildly successful. He feels invincible with an attitude that says, “I can do this,” because he always has. And for the most part, his body has never betrayed him.

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So what happens when he takes the mound and finds that his fastball doesn’t have its usual velocity, and every time he tries to spin off his signature slider he feels a little twinge in his shoulder.

The pitch breaks flat instead of sharply down. “Huh, that fell different. Let me try that again,” he says to himself. And so he does, with the same result.

Now, we have to wonder what will happen with all of them, including Syndergaard who continues to pitch with bone spursAnd I don’t know about you, but I’m rather angry with the Mets these days

So far, everything is normal. That’s what pitchers do. They don’t go running to Mommy crying “It hurts.”

But mommy, if she has any parenting sense at all, should know that something is wrong with her child, and the kid needs to be removed from that situation. And therein lies the problem with the Mets. They don’t act like the adult in the house.

Let’s backtrack for a second now. At the end of July, Jacob deGrom’s ERA stood at 2.27. He was cruising along and on his way to another deGrom-like season. Supposedly, the Mets were being mindful of the 200-plus innings he had logged last year and were on the lookout for any signs of tiring or weakness.

August rolls around. DeGrom’s ERA for the month is 4.45 over 30.1 innings in five starts. He walks seven and gives up a very unusual five home runs over the same timeframe. Do you think that’s noticeable?

Apparently, not to the Mets who listen to deGrom’s “I feel fine” mantra and send him out there last Thursday for his first start in September. In full view of SNY’s cameras, here is the entirety of their account of what happened next from SNY’s website.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

"In the moments after deGrom left Thursday’s game, he called for head athletic trainer Ray Ramirez to join him in the tunnel leading from the dugout to the clubhouse."

Collins said he was not aware of the meeting when asked about it by reporters, per SNY.tv:

Everything’s fine,” said deGrom, who acknowledged talking to Ramirez, but said it wasn’t about an injury. “I was frustrated with how I pitched. I didn’t feel great out there tonight. I just wanted to talk to Ray. … I just got out of sync out there. There’s nothing wrong. … I can’t throw the ball where I want to right now. I’ve got to figure it out. I think it’s mechanical. Like I said, I feel fine.

So, we’re supposed to believe that deGrom sought out Ramirez who has an outstanding ERA in the majors of 0.00 because he’s never pitched in the majors for advice on his mechanics? Even though Dan Warthen was sitting right there? And we’re supposed to believe that Terry Collins knew nothing about this clandestine meeting until the next day? I don’t think so.

But wait, it gets better. Again, here’s SNY’s full account of what happened the next day.

“Terry Collins avoided questions from reporters Friday about deGrom’s health and when the pitcher will make his next start.”

DeGrom said he’s not hurt after losing his third straight start in Thursday’s 6-4 loss, during which he allowed three runs, six hits and four walks in five innings.

Collins said there was a reason for the meeting between deGrom and Ramirez, but he was not at liberty to discuss it with media, per SNY:

“We know about it, but we can’t talk about it just yet,” he explained, when asked to elaborate. “I have nothing to say at this time about Jake.”

Matt Harvey (33) reacts in the dugout during the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Marlins won 1-0.” width=”300″ height=”186″ /> Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

You can’t make this stuff up. We’re supposed to believe that the conversation between deGrom and Ramirez may not even have been about baseball? But the Mets can’t tell you about it, because you know, it’s a secret.

By now, we all know that deGrom was given an MRI, and he will miss his next start. The Mets assure us that there is no structural damage, and everything will be fine after their wonder child has a bit of rest.

My question and the question of many others is this, why didn’t the Mets notice anything was off or different about deGrom two weeks ago? And maybe even worse, is it possible that the Mets did notice and decided to do nothing?

Next: New York Mets: 5 Reasons They Will Miss the Playoffs

This is serious stuff, folks. And I don’t know about you, but I was kind of looking forward to seeing these young thorobreds pitching over the next five or six years.

Now, we have to wonder what will happen with all of them, including Noah Syndergaard who continues to pitch with bone spurs.

I don’t know about you, but I’m rather angry with the Mets these days.

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