Noah Syndergaard came up in 2015 and was pretty darn good. He was even better the following year. Prior to the 2017 season, Syndergaard decided that the way to become even better was to bulk up so he could throw even harder. It didn’t sound good at the time and the results were pretty much as predicted, as he missed most of the year with a lat injury. This year, despite two trips to the DL, Syndergaard has a terrific record at 12-3. But he has come under fire for numerous things.

We know about the stuff and we know the results. But somehow we’re disappointed. He doesn’t do “this” enough. Or he doesn’t do “that” well at all. Or it’s too easy to do “something” off him. We’re so busy nitpicking Syndergaard to death that we’ve lost sight of the big picture. And that big picture, or bottom line if you will, has Syndergaard with a 3.8 fWAR, the 15th-best mark among all pitchers in the majors. And that’s with him making nine fewer starts than Max Scherzer. Imagine what his numbers would look like without the two DL trips!

Why do you have to say there there’s always someone
Who can do it better than I can?
But don’t you think that I know that walking on the water
Won’t make me a miracle man?

Before contracting hand, foot and mouth disease and going on the DL for the second time, Syndergaard was 6-1 with a 2.89 ERA. But when he came back, he had a four-start stretch where he had a 4.85 ERA and all of the nitpickers came out in droves. He doesn’t pitch up in the zone enough, he takes too many pitches to put guys away, he’s too easy to run against, he gives up too many hits – these complaints have come from all corners. There’s not one person who said they were happy with Syndergaard and left it at that. It always came with a “but,” and then fill in the blank with whatever complaint this particular person held dear.

In his last five starts, he has a 2.86 ERA with a 1.212 WHIP and is 4-0.

You’d think that would turn the “buts” around. However, you’d be wrong. “But” two of those starts and wins came against the Giants. “But” he gave up four runs against the Cubs. “But” he gave up 12 hits and 5 walks against the Phillies. “But” he allowed six steals, including three against the Red Sox. “But” September starts and stats are meaningless. And so on and so on.

If my teenage son was a Mets fan, he’s probably pick Syndergaard as his favorite player. He’d empathize with the guy who performed incredibly well yet had to hear over and over again about the things he didn’t excel in. Sure, you’re a straight A student, a gifted guitar player, a dedicated actor and a kind person to others. But would it kill you to pick your clothes up off the floor and how many times do I have to tell you to close up the bread so that it doesn’t go stale?

And we’re doing the same thing to Syndergaard. This is his age 25 season, he’s easily one of the top starters in the game and he’s ending the season on a high note. And somehow we’re not happy with that.

We want the best for the Mets and we can see the areas that Syndergaard can improve upon to be even better than he is at the present moment. But if you didn’t freak out about the stolen bases allowed by Dwight Gooden, can you cut Syndergaard the same slack? If you didn’t fret about the hits allowed by Jerry Koosman, can you extend the same courtesy to a guy here in 2018?

My choice for the remaining three starts that Syndergaard has here this season is to focus on what he does incredibly well, rather than what he might not be so hot at doing. I’m going to focus on the strikeouts he piles up and the walks and homers he typically does a great job of avoiding. And my focus will be on the runs the other team doesn’t score, rather than the hits and stolen bases they might get. And hopefully that entire Syndergaard package will lead to three more Mets wins.

In a time when we’re rightfully downgrading the importance of individual pitcher wins, it still would be good, for me at least, to see a 15-win season for Syndergaard. Chalk that up to cognitive dissonance if you will. My thinking is it would be a nice validation to a challenging season for the young Mets ace in a year where he battled both injuries and over-the-top nitpicking.

11 comments on “Noah Syndergaard and the over-the-top nitpicking

  • Madman

    Syndergard is the last of the four aces I would trade! I’m in favor of trading one or two of them because I don’t think signing long term extensions is a good idea and I think there is a need for more young talent in the organization.

  • Metsense

    Brian, as for the bread being open, just make French toast. I’ve had the pleasure to meet your son and he is a great person. I can’t wait to see him and his band.
    As for Dwight Gooden, I’ve never seen a dominant pitcher like him except Koufax. I was there when Sciosa hit the homer off of him and still to this day I can’t believe it.
    As for Jerry Koosman, he was the best career pitcher for the Mets besides “The Franchise”.
    As for Noah Syndergaard, he is third-best starting pitcher on the Mets but he would be the ace on the majority National League teams. I am glad they have him and I know when they make it tothe World Series we will be very happy to have him for the short series.
    Maybe some readers find that I’m too optimistic for the Mets but I don’t think so. I predicted the 15 and 16 runs to the playoffs. I’m a fan so why trash your team. Instead, root for them. You Can’t Always Get What You Want but if you try sometimes well you just might find you get what you need.

    • Brian Joura

      With the plethora of pessimists that show up here, it’s nice to have a counterbalance.

  • Mike Walczak

    This has been a good year for Syndegaard. He is going in the right direction. Now, all that matters is 2019. He could be poised for a big year in 2019 and that is good for us.

    • Metsense

      Editor’s Note – If you want to discuss something besides the article, please post in the Open Threads, which are published on Mondays and Fridays.

  • Eraff

    I believe that the bulk of discussion on Noah was spurred by your own recent comments (was it a full column?) in which You discussed Noah’s (disappointing?) results regarding BABIP, Pitch Counts, Base Runners….. a variety of Statistical data points that were Vailid–Not Pessimistic!

    I framed my own belief that He’s been a Great “Stuff Thrower”…Not a Great Pitcher!

    So, now we hear from Noah that He believes his Stuff is better than his Results. This is a very interesting and important development, and I believe he’s already acting on the idea that deploying his own Stuff is a next step for him. I have seen him apparently changing his mix and approach…and he’s been attempting some variety of Location on Fastballs—specifically, more attempts at Elevation Changes.

    He has not Mentioned Velocity…good.

    I do think it’s unfair to grade players on “de-merits”. I like to embrace the “Isness”…and his Isness is very good. I also like that he’s comsumed with being a Great Pitcher, amd He seems to have recognized the next addition to his own pitching.

    • Brian Joura

      The bulk of the discussion has been in Game Chatters and Gut Reactions where people are going apocalyptic about the SB allowed.

      • Eraff

        The stolen bases are less of a problem than what he does against hitters with runners on base

        • Chris F

          Those 2 are linked Eraff if you ask me.

          • Brian Joura

            It’s long been said that you can’t steal first base.

    • Mike Walczak

      I think he will only get better. He has to fine tune his approach and will improve. He has all of the tools. 2019 could be a real breakout for him.

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