Jacob deGrom mild shoulder soreness is another reminder of the fragility with pitching
Jacob deGrom's sim game has been pushed back until Thursday out of an abundance of caution
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾
The 2022 All-Star Game was held in Los Angeles on Tuesday night - Jeff McNeil started at second base for the NL All-Stars, and was hit by a pitch in the second inning by Blue Jays RHP Alex Manoah
Pete Alonso entered the game at first base in the fourth inning and drew a walk in his only plate appearance
Mets closer Edwin Díaz did not appear in the game, and OF Starling Marte was present but not active
Mets 1B coach Wayne Kirby underwent prostate cancer surgery on Tuesday - he is expected to return to the Mets soon (New York Post)
Former Met Michael Conforto is drawing interest from several teams now that he’s not tied to draft pick compensation, per his agent Scott Boras (New York Post)
The Mets selected seven pitchers on the third and final day of the 2022 Amateur Draft. For a summary of their selections, click here
Injury Updates 🏥
Jacob deGrom (stress reaction in scapula) was scratched from his scheduled sim game Tuesday with mild shoulder soreness - the sim game has been moved to Thursday
Jacob deGrom’s setback serves as a reminder of a need for more starting pitching… 📝
It seems like almost every year, the Mets are making news during the All-Star Game, and often times, it’s not good.
Not that I want to sound over-dramatic of course, but this year’s All-Star Game news for the Mets once again came in the form of Jacob deGrom who was supposed to pitch in a sim game on Tuesday in Port St. Lucie, but did not because his shoulder was a little sore.
Now, all signs point to this being a small bump in the road and as of now, the team insists scratching him was out of an abundance of caution and he might pitch in his sim game tomorrow in Florida.
But it’s deGrom’s arm, and his shoulder at that. Again. It’s the same part of the arm that felt a little tight back in March and, well here we are.
And remember that time a year ago when deGrom had that minor elbow problem? Yeah, we haven’t seen him since.
Of course, I’ve always written about deGrom’s path to his return with a regular disclaimer that included phrases such as, if all goes well,” and, “if there are no setbacks.” Well, this is a setback, even if it’s a minor one and again, it’s an arm issue so the Mets and the player have little choice but play this cautiously and not risk further injury or another injury to another body part as a result of compensating for this injury.
Disclaimer exercised.
But let’s turn positive, shall we? Lets assume he starts tomorrow in his sim game, and there are no setbacks and everything goes well. That would put him on a five-day course to start against the Yankees at Citi Field next Tuesday. However, the Mets could feel another rehab start is necessary in light of this minor setback for deGrom, and of course what matters most is how he feels the next day anyway which determines how the Mets proceed with him no matter what.
Another rehab appearance might not be the worst thing in the world right now. Assuming all goes well tomorrow, of course.
Even so, this setback for deGrom once again serves as yet another reminder of the fragility of starting pitching and they can never have too much of it. And despite a rosier outlook for their rotation in recent weeks, the Mets really don’t have enough of it.
They’ve been served well by deGrom’s primary replacement in David Peterson (5-2, 3.48 ERA, 13 starts in 2022), but as I’ve said (too) many times the Mets don’t have a whole lot behind him in terms of big league caliber pitching. The Mets also have to be mindful of the workload and stamina issues that might befall Peterson, Carlos Carrasco and even Taijuan Walker down the stretch of the season, and need more bodies to off-set those workloads.
With the trade deadline 12 days away and the second half pennant race before them, as I said last week the Mets might be wise to procure more starting pitching, especially now that deGrom’s path back to the big league rotation has become a little rocky. And if history is any indication, his fragility clearly demonstrates such a need even when (or if, to be fair) he is back.
Yes, the Mets must improve their bullpen, they must get at least another bat. There’s also the Juan Soto poker game, that which they must be present for as well. They might be in a better position with an upgrade or two on the bench as well.
But pitchers break and in some cases, are already broken.
Stories to Read 📕
Juan Soto - the Hope Diamond of Baseball (Michael Baron)
The three areas the Mets must address at the trade deadline (Michael Baron)
Despite some obvious flaws the Mets had a successful first half (Linda Surovich)
The Mets shouldn’t make assumptions with their rotation (Michael Baron)
DH targets for the Mets to consider (Justin Mears)
Around the League 🚩
Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run home run and won the 2022 All-Star Game MVP Award in the American League’s 3-2 win over the National League
Clayton Kershaw picked off Shohei Ohtani in the first inning of the 2022 All-Star Game
Astros RHP Lance McCullers, Jr. will begin a rehab assignment this week with hopes he can pitch this season - he has missed the entire year with an elbow injury (FOX 26)
The Royals appear unlikely to move RHP Zack Greinke ahead of the trade deadline (KC Star)
OF Steven Souza, Jr. announced his retirement on Tuesday
I thought the Mets were a bat and an 8th inning reliever away from being fully armed heading into the post-season, but this is just a reminder that a team should always be on the look out for starting pitching. Good read. Thanks, Michael.