We all know the saying about the certainties in life: death, taxes, yada yada yada. But the truth is, there are hundreds of other things that may not be literal certainties by the true definition of the word, but we take them as certainties every single day, because they’re as close to certain as they come. When we flick the switch, the lights will come on. When we turn the key, the car will start. Press the power button, and the television comes on. And when Jacob deGrom starts, the Mets will not get him a win.
And wouldn’t you know it? deGrom pitched yesterday, and the Mets couldn’t get him a win! This time, they didn’t even bother scoring a courtesy run. In fact, they didn’t even get a hit until the seventh inning when Michael Conforto reached on an infield single. Their second hit came with two outs in the ninth inning when, down 2-0, Brandon Nimmo doubled down the right field, advancing Conforto to third (he had previously walked) and set Nimmo up as the tying run at second base. That scoring threat lasted about as long as it took you to read that sentence, because the next batter, Jay Bruce, popped out on the first pitch he saw to end the game, lowering his wRC+ to 74.
There are really no more ways to describe it at this point. There are no more adjectives. There’s really no use in even lamenting it anymore. It is what it is. This is the team we were given this year, and this is what they’re doing. We know what the situation is. Fifteen runs in their last 11 games. 17-35 in their last 52. We are well aware.
deGrom took the loss and is now incredibly 4-2 on the season with a 1.55(!) ERA in 13 starts. The man is truly in the midst of a historic season. He is having a 1985 Doc Gooden type of year, and I’m not exaggerating one bit; he’s been that good. And we can’t even enjoy it because they still can’t win with him on the mound. Look, we know the team isn’t going anywhere this year, and I think we’ve all accepted that at this point. But they can’t even get deGrom three runs a start to at least make his outings more enjoyable. It’s honestly the worst part about this season so far.
Hell, yesterday actually felt like it was just him against his own team out there. In the fourth inning, all three outfielders misplayed balls, leading directly to deGrom’s only run allowed. First, Bruce couldn’t run down a ball he should’ve got to in the gap that went for a double. Then Nimmo couldn’t handle a hop that allowed the run to score from second. And later in the inning, Conforto overran a ground ball that allowed the runner to take second on a single. Then in the seventh inning, Bruce blew two more plays, first coming in flat-footed on a hit by Ender Inciarte, allowing the speedster to take second base on what was just a routine ground ball single, and then blowing another easy ball over his head that any good right fielder gets to later in the inning. So basically, deGrom gave up seven hits in total, and five of those hits were either the result of, or assisted by, misplays behind him in the field.
At this point, deGrom really just looks like someone playing in a league he’s too good for. He has basically become the travel-team kid on a fall ball rec team, and he’s carving up the other 10-year-olds with 60 mph heat while his right fielder is picking daisies, the second baseman and shortstop are arguing over Fortnite, the catcher is ducking the pitches and the first baseman is wearing jeans. He doesn’t really want to be there and he doesn’t really care, but hey, his parents are paying for it and it’s easy for him.
Unfortunately though, deGrom can’t afford to not care like the travel-team kid can. He clearly cares, and obviously has to be quite agitated at this point. How much longer can it go on for before he snaps? Who knows. But if the offense doesn’t start giving him support, their asses are in the jackpot.
OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY
Instead of calling up Drew Smith, or any of the other relievers Sandy Alderson acquired last year to serve as bullpen depth this year, the Mets claimed Chris Beck off waivers from the White Sox, and he’s a reliever with a 5.94 career ERA and a 14.7% career strikeout rate. Again, he was cut from the White Sox, who are losing on purpose.
Steven Matz’s start was pushed back to Saturday because of a blister. Jason Vargas, who was supposed to be skipped, will pitch tonight instead.
The good news keeps on rolling in as it always does in Mets world, as Noah Syndergaard was confirmed to have a strained ligament in his right index finger. There is no timetable for his return.
WHAT’S NEXT
In case you still care, the Mets will travel to Arizona to take on the Diamondbacks. Vargas will go tonight against former Mets farmhand Matt Koch at 9:40 p.m. ET.
Photo credit: Jason Getz – USA Today Sports