The Mets have scratched star righty Noah Syndergaard from his scheduled start today, manager Terry Collins told reporters including MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo (Twitter links) and SNY’s Steve Gelbs (via Twitter). Syndergaard is dealing with discomfort in his right biceps, likely caused by tendinitis, leading to what Collins phrased a “tired arm.”
At this time, it’s not known whether this is more than a single-start blip, or whether there’s cause for greater concern. The Mets will surely take a cautious route regardless; as Collins put it, “we can’t take a chance on this guy.”
Matt Harvey will take the ball in Syndergaard’s place. This is the second time that Harvey has been moved up to cover for an injury. Fortunately, the last time, Jacob deGrom needed only a bit of extra rest. Harvey, deGrom, and Syndergaard have been excellent even as the club has staggered to an 8-12 record to open the year. Clearly, the Mets can scarcely afford to lose any of the three; though it’s plenty early, the club is already 6.5 games back of the Nationals in the NL East.
It’s certainly possible that Syndergaard could follow deGrom in making a swift return. Indeed, Syndergaard could be cleared to throw by this weekend, which seems to be his own expectation. (Twitter links via DiComo.) But the organization has ordered up an MRI to make sure there isn’t a more significant problem causing the discomfort.
More broadly, rotation depth continues to be a concern for the Mets, who received a dud of an outing last night from Robert Gsellman. He and Zack Wheeler haven’t produced quite the results hoped for, though their peripherals suggest cause for optimism moving forward. Of greater concern, the organization seemingly still doesn’t know when it’ll welcome back Steven Matz and Seth Lugo to the rotation mix.
the mets have a team batting average of .208, that’s unacceptable, and they need a back end starter, and another bullpen arm
Is it just me, or does it seem like the Mets can’t have anything nice without totally destroying it?
That’s the NY way. Trust me.
Mets*
This off season, Nationals, who won the division, did what they had to do to improve their team for championship contention. The Mets, on the other hand, who finished a distant second, spent the minimum to fill out the roster to look a little like a team (in a best case scenario) that could compete, playing to the Wilpons low end goal of “playing meaningful games in September”. Not a single element of the team was upgraded. No team that really wants to contend goes into a season with what the Mets did at 3B or C. The window with these young pitchers (even if they stay healthy) is closing as the Wilpons’ gloat over pennies saved. Every Met fan that’s followed the team since the Wilpons ascended to control (1991) know what’s coming in the next cycle.
Is this because they’re skinflints or because they are still hurting from the Madoff debacle?
Madoff was another Wilpon excuse not to spend. At one point during the trial it looked like the Wilpon/Katz group might owe something substantial due to the collusion element, but the net amount they’ll end up paying (due to later offsets due to being net losers in 2 other funds and greater than expected collections on both ends) will be about 60 mm total. 16 mm was paid last year (2016), and 45 mm is due in 4 installments over the next 4 years (about 11 mm a year). This isn’t even Neil Walker money, and certainly not an excuse for a NY team to spend like a middle market team and prior to last year a small market team.
That’s not fair. Mets did upgrade their 3rd base and catching coach
Well, this seasons lost already after they did nothing in the offseason.
Tommy Juan Surgery
Time to bring Bobby Bonilla back and slot him at 3B. Make him earn the paycheck the Mets are still giving him.
he’s getting paid 1.19 million every July, so why not
While we’re at it, I wonder if Vince Coleman can still play CF.
Aren’t we at the time that people should stop calling them one of the the best starting rotations in baseball and start realizing that they have health issues, whether it’s because they have been coddled too long, are much too cautious with their discomforts or perhaps the pitchers themselves are too fragile?
Or maybe they just aren’t healthy and strong enough or have been misused/overused/rushed to be able to handle a full load as starters in this league?
Or that throwing a ball 100 miles an hour is hard on an arm. Period.
And now Cespedes goes down. Ouch.
Nat’s reportedly will sign Bernie Madoff to a minor league contract as the Nat’s will use him to be their closer only when there’s a save opportunity when they play againest the MET’s!!!
Having a “Tired Arm” a month into the season is always a great sign…