In what is likely his last start of the year, Jacob deGrom pitched seven more shutout innings and his teammates had an offensive explosion, giving him a nine-run lead after three innings, en route to a 10-3 win over the Marlins Wednesday night. However, the Mets were eliminated from the postseason with the Brewers win.

deGrom allowed just three baserunners in his seven innings and he extended his scoreless streak to 23 IP. He likely finishes the year with a 2.43 ERA and an 11-8 record. He went 7-1 in his last eight decisions and in his final 23 starts, deGrom put up a 1.89 ERA.

Jeff McNeil and Michael Conforto had RBI doubles in a three-run first inning for the Mets. In the second, Pete Alonso had a three-run homer and in the third, Amed Rosario and Brandon Nimmo added run-scoring doubles.

After getting hit by a pitch in the hand in the sixth inning, McNeil left the game. It was later announced that he had a broken wrist and would miss the rest of the year.

8 comments on “Mets 10, Marlins 3 (9/25/19)

  • Name

    First there was the mythical 100 pitch limit that made everyone believe a starter’s arm would fall off if he got above that.

    Now it seems like there’s another magical barrier – the 7 IP limit. deGrom has exactly 1 game this year where he pitched in the 8th inning. One! He pitched exactly 7 IP 17 times but just one time more than that.
    And this isn’t just a Mickey problem – Kershaw also competed 7 IP 11 times but none more than that. And 3 of those 11 times he completed 7 IP with under 91 pitches.
    Noah and Scherzer were a bit better, they got into the 8th 3 and 5 times respectively, but even Noah had 3 games where he completed 7 in under 100 pitches but wasn’t allowed to start the 8th. Absolutely mind boggling to me.

    If a pitcher is struggling but haven’t completed 6, he’s ok to be pushed 110-115. But god forbid he cruises and dominates a team for 7 Innings in under 100 pitches? – Gotta get him out ASAP for that all mighty setup reliever.

    Yea. I’m pissed at watching this stupidity night after night.

  • footballhead

    I agree with Name. If a fear managers have is to not be held responsible if a pitcher gets injured because of “overuse”, then I can follow their logic. Yet it hasn’t stopped pitchers from getting blown arms & shoulders.

    Of course, it makes no sense, starting pitchers seem to be more fragile then what I saw in the late 60’s & all through the 70’s.

    I guess I should be fair to point out that ballparks are smaller, the balls are juiced, and that today’s lineup that a pitcher has to face doesn’t include the automatic outs/no power batters like a Bud Harrelson or Ed Brinkman. A pitcher today can’t let up on a single pitch to any batter these days it seems.

  • Brian Joura

    In the great majority of cases, the 100-pitch and 7 inning thing are designed to eliminate the manager from being criticized. It’s kind of amazing with how many things are done in baseball today that are done as a CYA strategy, that managers still do things to get questioned on a near-daily basis.

    However, there have been reports of a few games where deGrom has told the manager that he was out of gas after 7 innings.

    • Name

      “However, there have been reports of a few games where deGrom has told the manager that he was out of gas after 7 innings.”

      The problem also extends to the pitcher themselves. Would a player dare to use the out of gas excuse if he has only pitched 4 innings and 95 pitches? Would be laughed about relentlessly in the clubhouse…
      And If you never push yourself to go more than 7 in any setting, how will you condition your body to be able to absorb a larger workload? At some point you have to break the cycle and try to go further even when you think you are tired.

  • TJ

    I agree with Name that the barriers are primarily artificial, and as a fan very frustrating. Now, last night’s game was not a good example of the issue due to the circumstances – the game was a blowout (I know, the Met pen can blow any lead), the Mets had been eliminated by the Brew Crew, deGrom had put in seven scoreless to all but cement the Cy Young (I hate the focus on awards but once eliminated from playoffs and game in hand, fine). Why risk injury at all to the franchise player at that point? A job well done, Jacob.

    Brian also makes a good point that at times the pitchers say they are spent. Old schoolers have a hard time with this, and there certainly may be “soft” pitchers nowadays checking out after 100 pitches or 7 innings. I don’t consider deGrom one of these, he clearly is a competitor. Modern pitching is different than it was in the past, and we have to accept that to an extent. May effort on virtually every pitch is now required and it does take a toll. But, the bottom line is, from my opinion, the manager needs to use the numbers as a guide, but the manager needs to make decisions based primarily on the events of the game – as in how much gas does the pitcher have left, how has the pitcher been dominant, how many days of rest upcoming, etc. Watching on TV, it is difficult to tell if this is being done, but it certainly looks like the decisions are just based on a flow chart in most occasions.

    • Name

      If you were going to use the blowout and injury reasoning, why did he have to go to 7? The game was a blowout by the 3rd – going 5 innings is sufficient for the win, why push him any further than that?

      Why was it ok to risk injury in the 6th and 7th innings but not the 8th if not for the artificial limits?

  • TJ

    Name,
    All good questions for sure. In the case of last night’s game, which was primarily to cement the Cy Young for deGrom given the 0.1% playoff chance and Brewer 6 spot to start their game. So, going 7 with 0 runs in today’s baseball is seen as dominant and doing your complete job. Everyone got to check their box. Everyone CYA’d to the fullest extent. All is good in Metville, lol.

  • Metsense

    June 1, 6 2/3 IP, 89 Pitches, score 4-1, Mets lose 5-6
    June 23, 7 IP, 97 Pitches, score 3-2, Mets lose 3-5
    Sept 14, 20, 25 zero runs, 7 innings each, 2 wins and one no decision, 101,96 and 95 pitches.
    That could have been 3 more wins, and possibly 3 complete shutouts and it would have been a no brainer who is the Cy Young Award winner.
    A manager has to know his players. Callaway apparently doesn’t.
    A manager who pulls a starter pitcher at 7 innings and/or100 pitches just because, is not a good manager.
    Great comments by Name. Great discussion by all. Thanks.

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