Tag: Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom was throwing completely unfair 96 mph sliders against the Braves

This should NOT be possible.

Jacob deGrom went into Sunday’s series finale with the Atlanta Braves on a 75-pitch limit as he’s coming off an injured shoulder. Well, he almost gave Buck Showalter a difficult decision to make because deGrom was flirting with a perfect game into the sixth inning.

He’s in a league of his own.

The way deGrom’s slider was working against the Braves, it was easy to see why Atlanta’s hitters struggled against the Mets ace. His stuff was simply on a different level.

Of the 33 sliders that deGrom threw on Sunday, Braves hitters made contact just twice — a pair of foul balls from Michael Harris II in the sixth inning. On top of that, deGrom threw the two fastest sliders for strikes this season on back-to-back pitches to Austin Riley. One was clocked at 95.3 mph, the other at 95.7 mph.

Just absurd. And the overlay of that slider with his fastball explains why hitters were swinging at pitches that broke wildly out of the zone.

At 95-plus mph, the pitch looks like a fastball before breaking, and the batter simply does not have time to adjust. And even when deGrom doesn’t get the break he wants, it’s still a 95 mph pitch. There was almost nothing Braves hitters could do until Dansby Swanson broke up a no-hitter with a home run in the sixth inning off of a fastball.

Understandably, MLB fans were in awe with deGrom’s slider on Sunday.

Mets should win big in Jacob deGrom’s season debut against unrecognizable Nationals

These aren’t the same Nats deGrom is used to facing.

When Jacob deGrom takes the mound Tuesday for his first major league game in more than a year, he’ll be pitching against a Nationals lineup without any semblance of the one he’s used to facing.

The last time deGrom played his division rivals in Washington, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Bell were all in the lineup, and Juan Soto was still on the team nursing an injury. The previous time he played them was a matchup against Max Scherzer, who is now his Mets teammate. After Tuesday’s reported blockbuster deal sending Soto and Bell to the Padres, none of those players remain in Washington.

Instead, deGrom will face a lineup that more closely resembles a Triple-A ball club, a team that ranked bottom five in slugging percentage and run production even before the trade. It sets up for the two-time Cy Young winner to have a strong season debut. The Mets are favored by 2.5 runs and have the shortest moneyline odds of the day, -350 at Tipico Sportsbook.

Not only do I expect the Mets to win and cover, I think deGrom has a good chance to reach his six-inning limit imposed by the team and eclipse his 6.5 strikeout line at a paltry -155 odds. The Nats have been especially bad since the All-Star break, scoring just 32 runs in 10 games with a .217 average and .292 OBP, both bottom five numbers in that span.

The Mets aren’t the most explosive offense but they’re title contenders for a reason and shouldn’t have too hard a time against Nats starter Cory Abbott in his second career start.

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The New York Mets executed the perfect news dump of Jacob deGrom’s latest setback

Take notes, fellow PR departments.

Just as breaking news has become its own niche market in the sports world, dumping news teams would rather not talk about too much has really, truly evolved into an art form.

Anyone who has worked in a newsroom can tell you copious stories about the dread and horror of watching the clock strike 5 p.m. on a given Friday, not because it’s time to go sit in rush hour, but because more often than not you’re about to get hit with a press release on a relatively important story. A story that needs to get reported further despite the fact most sources have already left the office and the majority of readers are already enjoying their weekend, not scanning the latest headlines. Which is, of course, the whole point.

Some news dumps are less subtle than others. Tom Brady announcing his un-retirement on Selection Sunday last March comes to mind immediately. Some teams, like the New York Mets, however, understand the modern news dump requires an air of imagination. You’ve got to kick fans in the gut when they’re at their most susceptible, the most relaxed, preferably on a day when the team isn’t playing. But more than that, you’ve got to add a little misdirection. Make sure your entire fanbase is focused on the absolute best of the best before you sucker punch them.

You’ve got to wait until, say, the first pitch of the MLB All-Star Game between Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani at Dodger Stadium to really drop a bomb.

Kaboom.

Look at that time stamp. Two minutes before the first pitch was officially recorded on Tuesday night. Perfection. 10/10.

Nothing says “Our most valuable pitcher is fine” like burying news that his shoulder hurts and his rehab stint has been paused underneath an exhibition between the game’s biggest stars.

Here’s hoping Jacob deGrom returns soon, but you’ve really got to hand it to the Mets’ PR team, who understand the best way to present bad news is to make sure as few people notice it as possible.

Anyways, the American League defeated the National League, 3-2 on Tuesday. Giancarlo Stanton was named MVP after hitting a mammoth two-run homer in the third inning. No additional Mets were injured in the process.

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How to bet Max Scherzer’s strikeout prop in long-awaited return to Mets

Scherzer will make his first start since May 18.

Max Scherzer is scheduled to make his long-awaited return to the New York Mets rotation Tuesday in Cincinnati against the Reds. It’ll be his first appearance in more than a month since suffering a strained oblique on May 18.

If the plan is to ease Scherzer back into action, his return couldn’t come against a better opponent. At 27 wins, the Reds are tied with the Oakland A’s for the fewest in the majors. And their below average offense has been especially futile more recently, striking out at a rate higher than every team but the awful Angels in the last week.

This puts tremendous value on Scherzer’s strikeout prop Tuesday. The line is 7.5, and I’m hammering the over for plus money on Tipico Sportsbook.

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A minimum of eight strikeouts is a lot to expect of someone in their first start back from injury, but Scherzer is up to it. He threw 80 pitches in a rehab start last Wednesday, striking out eight in 4.2 innings. The pitch count suggests he’ll be able to work deep against the Reds. The last three starters Cincinnati has faced all tallied at least nine strikeouts, including the Mets’ Taijuan Walker on Monday.

SNY reports that Scherzer will throw for around six innings and 90 pitches, depending on how he feels. That’s more than enough opportunity.

Additionally, and most obviously, Scherzer’s return bolster’s New York’s title chances. The team won the same amount of games in the time it was without him as it did before he was injured. At 20 games over .500, they’re tied for the most wins in the NL and are now getting a three-time Cy Young winner back. And let’s not forget, they have another two-time Cy Young winner who hasn’t even pitched a game this season returning soon in Jacob deGrom.

Their World Series odds can be had at +750 on Tipico, fourth-shortest behind the Yankees, Astros and Dodgers. And we haven’t even seen the full potential of the Mets just yet, adding to the appeal in their futures odds.

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Sandy Alcantara deserved so much better than the Marlins’ offense against the Cardinals

He got deGrom’d. Again.

In case you thought Jacob deGrom was the only pitcher in the National League East who’s unreal performances are spoiled by an offense that can hardly muster a run, allow us to venture down to South Florida, where the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara is owed a few apologies in the locker room today.

Alcantara faced his former St. Louis Cardinals team for the fourth time in his career on Wednesday night and absolutely dominated their lineup yet again. Despite throwing 27 pitches in the first inning, Alcantara finished with eight scoreless frames, six strikeouts, one walk and four hits allowed. Only one of those hits left the infield.

It was a masterclass. Except he was forced to hand the ball over to Anthony Bender in the ninth inning and promptly watched the reliever allow a two-run homer to Nolan Arenado to hand the Marlins a 2-0 loss. And somehow that’s not even the worst part for Alcantara.

No, the worst part is that this exact same thing just keeps happening against the Cardinals.

That is just astonishingly cruel and in no way does Alcantara deserve to have losses attached to his name after those outings.

In 27.1 innings, the Cardinals have only come up with 18 hits and three earned runs against 29 strikeouts when facing Alcantara. The Marlins lost those games by a scores of 4-2, 1-0, 4-1 and 2-0.

Granted, the Marlins are not a great team year in and year out. But they are averaging 3.64 runs per game in 2022—in other words, more than the Cardinals scored Wednesday. And when you’ve got a pitcher who clearly owns a specific opponent, you’ve got to do more to get on the scoreboard. Even Miami manager Don Mattingly agrees.

“It’s a shame,” Mattingly said. “You hate to waste one like that.”

And yet it just keeps happening. Welcome to the deGrom Club, Sandy. We’re so sorry you’re here.

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Shohei Ohtani just showed off an amazing Jabob deGrom impression and MLB fans loved it

Imitation is the best form of flattery, isn’t it?

Shohei Ohtani can absolutely do anything on the baseball field. That’s why he’s the best player in the game, of course, and the reigning AL MVP.

But he’s also pretty good at things off the diamond, too. And one of those things seems to be impressions. Because he put on an absolutely fantastic impression of NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom as he warmed up during a bullpen session.

Cameras caught Ohtahni doing his deGrom’s signature glove to the face look before tossing an absolute burner. He also got in deGrom’s signature leg kick, too.

Ohtani is clearly someone who appreciates details and we love to see it.

If imitation is the best form of flattery, deGrom should be absolutely thrilled. MLB fans loved this, too. ESPECIALLY the deGrom fans out there.

Jacob deGrom was relieved to see he passed MLB’s first check for foreign substances

Jacob deGrom passed inspection with flying colors.

Jacob deGrom has had an All-Star quality 2021 MLB season full of firsts for a pitcher. And now, he’s the first MLB pitcher to be checked in-game for foreign substances after being searched by the umpires during Monday’s game.

After deGrom’s scoreless first inning for the New York Mets against the Atlanta Braves, the pitcher was stopped by the umpires on his way off the field for a random search for foreign sticky substances like Spider Tack. This is the first week of MLB’s crackdown on sticky substances that help facilitate grip for pitchers, which act as an aid to throw the ball better and faster.

Now, all starters and relievers will be searched randomly during their time on the mound, starting with deGrom, who showed off his glove, hat, and belt to the umpires.

DeGrom was clearly relieved to see he passed inspection, as he took the check in stride as he laughed it off with catcher Tomas Nido upon leaving the field. And good thing too that he passed, as he made quite a catch for the Mets at the top of the third.

Pitching, fielding, and passing MLB’s new sticky substance checks. Is there anything deGrom can’t do?

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Jacob deGrom has now driven in more runs for the Mets this season than earned runs allowed

Jacob deGrom continues to add to his MVP resume.

We haven’t seen a pitching performance this dominant in some time in the MLB like the one we’re getting out of Jacob deGrom right now. Coming into Friday, deGrom had a 5-2 record for the New York Mets, with a 0.57 ERA in 10 games and over 63 innings pitched, making him an early — but very legitimate — MVP candidate for this season.

DeGrom’s MVP status grew on Friday during a game against the San Diego Padres, as the pitcher went six innings with one hit and 10 strikeouts. Oh, and he drove in two runs for the Mets on a single in the fifth, giving him five driven in runs this year in the batter’s box, one more than the four earned runs he’s accrued this season.

Yes, deGrom now has more runs batted in (5) than earned runs (4) this season.

The record-breaking stats continue to pile up for deGrom as well, as his 100 strikeouts in 61 and two thirds innings earlier in the game were the fewest innings pitched by a starter to hit that mark in over 100 years.

Mets fans gave him the MVP chant treatment as well before his two-run single, letting him know how much he means to this team.

It’s only mid-June and deGrom is already performing at a monster level. What a talent.

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Jacob deGrom had some hilarious infield pointers for Freddie Freeman from the Mets dugout

Jacob deGrom, bench coach? It’s more likely than you think!

Jacob deGrom may still be injured for the New York Mets, but that doesn’t mean he can’t participate in baseball shenanigans. On Monday, during the Mets game against the Atlanta Braves, deGrom was seen hanging out in the New York dugout giving very serious position coaching to his opponent’s first baseman Freddie Freeman.

The Mets broadcast, SportsNet New York, captured a handful of moments between deGrom and Freeman over the course of the game, which included deGrom waving Freeman forward into a better position and telling the first baseman that a bunt was likely incoming.

Overall, it’s a hilarious exchange that lasted multiple minutes between the two in the midst of the game.

Given deGrom’s instant chemistry with Freeman on the field, Braves bench coach Walt Weiss better watch out or the 32-year-old pitcher may be coming for his job soon.

Hilarious stuff! Keep it up, deGrom, and you likely have a career in this business before long.

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This overlay of Jacob deGrom’s fastball and slider shows just how impossible he is to hit right now

Jacob deGrom is really impossible to hit

Jacob deGrom has absolutely been the best pitcher in baseball so far this season. It feels like he’s making history every night.

The Mets’ pitcher struck out a career-high 15 batters against the Nationals on Friday night. And with that epic performance, he made a bit of history to go along with it.

He has 50 strikeouts through four starts so far which is the most by a player through their first four starts since 1900, per ESPN. He also has three straight games with at least 14 strikeouts, which is the longest streak in the modern era.

But those numbers only just begin to show how dominant he’s been. You have to actually see pitch to understand how good he is right now.

This overlay of a 100 mile per hour fastball and a 93 mile per hour slider (!!!!!) from the Rob Friedman show us just how impossible it is to hit his pitches.

More power to any batter who can actually identify the difference between those pitches before they break and then actually make contact with the ball, let alone get a hit.

This dude is just nuts right now. Here’s another, featuring a fastball, a slider and a 92 mile per hour changeup.

Fam. What are you supposed to do with this? That’s just wild. Masterful pitching from deGrom.

Good luck to the rest of baseball, man. Y’all are going to need it.