New York Mets: Someone save Jacob deGrom from this mess

It’s time to save Jacob deGrom from this mess that is the New York Mets, no matter how it is going to make the fan base feel.

Most members of the New York Mets fan base are going to find this idea abhorrent. We’ve had enough trouble with Sandy Alderson putting together a team, why would we want him to get rid of a superstar in his prime? It seems even more far-fetched when that superstar is a flame-throwing starting pitcher. However, the way the season is working out, that is exactly what the Mets need to do.

It’s time to save Jacob deGrom. It is simply the right thing to do. Jacob deGrom deserves better than the Mets.

We can look at his overall stats: 5-3 record, 1.69 ERA, 126 strikeout vs. only 27 walks. That is only the tip of the iceberg as to why deGrom deserves far better. A deeper dive tells us much more. In 14 out of 16 starts, deGrom has pitched at least five innings. In 13 of his starts he has gone at least six innings. deGrom has been as much of a guarantee to put in a quality start as anyone in baseball.

His 1.69 ERA leads the major leagues. In 15 starts deGrom has allowed three earned runs or less. Now that is the picture of consistency. Prior to Saturday night’s game against the Dodgers, the last time deGrom allowed three earned runs was April 16th against the Nationals. Anyone who saw him pitch on Saturday night knows he wasn’t at his best. So, what was a bad deGrom? Six innings and three runs allowed. That’s a pretty good night for most.

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The problem is that the team just can’t find a way to perform well behind him. Mets fans already know this, it’s no secret. He has pitched to the hardest luck we have seen in recent memory.

New York is 6-10 in deGrom’s starts. Since May, the Mets have only played more than three runs in one of his starts. On June 18th, it seemed like a mirage as the Mets plated 12 runs to get deGrom a rare victory, his fifth on the season.

To his credit, deGrom hasn’t said a word about wanting to leave New York. Instead, he has been a good soldier, loyal to the team that brought him to the majors. There are many pitchers who would have mouthed off by now. Not deGrom, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t consider setting him free.

The defense is not turning balls in play into outs. On balls put in play, opposing hitters are hitting .294 against Jacob deGrom. When the opponent puts the ball in play they are getting on base. That puts on the pressure to record the strikeouts, and a pitcher putting that type of pressure on themselves never ends well.

Saturday night against the Dodgers, we finally started to see some well-deserved frustration out of deGrom. We saw him get annoyed at some of the calls he wasn’t getting from the home plate umpire. Rare anger came out of deGrom as he went into the dugout and slammed his glove hard.

What was he angry about? The home plate umpire? Throwing a bad inning? The way his season has been so hard luck? It also could have been a combination of all of the above. But whatever it was, clearly he was angry and it showed.

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Jacob deGrom has put in a herculean effort in 2018. He is clearly in the running for the Cy Young, but his team is blocking him from the recognition he truly deserves. The Mets aren’t going anywhere in 2018. That is more and more obvious by the day. It’s time to back up the truck and rebuild.

Get deGrom somewhere so he can have success. It’s time. He deserves it. Save him from this team, he simply deserves better.

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