A number of writers, including this one, pegged Matt Harvey to be a Cy Young candidate this season. He’s a year removed from Tommy John surgery, looked excellent at the end of last season and through most of the playoffs, and seemed to rediscover the earlier life on his fastball and bite on his slider. After three starts, Harvey is a very disappointing 0-3 with a 5.71 ERA, 9 strikeouts and seven walks in 17.1 innings. That’s brutal. If he were a rookie he’d be in danger of losing his rotation spot the way Logan Verrett has been pitching.
A deeper look at the numbers reveals something interesting. Harvey has been pitching like Sid Fernandez and John Maine – terrific the first time or two through the order and then he falls apart. In his first three starts, Harvey has a 2.40 ERA in the first five innings and then a 27.00 ERA in the sixth. He’s yet to make it to the seventh. The good news is, pitching coach Dan Warthen thinks he discovered a fixable issue with Harvey’s mechanics from the stretch. Maybe he’s tipping his pitches? If Warthen can help him figure this out and Harvey can get a little more support from his offense (averaging 3 runs per start) the Dark Knight should turn it around. We’ll find out tonight in Atlanta.
Harvey is far from alone in his slow start. As posted last week, Travis d’Arnaud has really been struggling at the plate. Through 10 games played, he is now batting .171. It probably hasn’t helped him that Terry Collins has been inexplicably batting his catcher 8th, but it’s still disconcerting. d’Arnaud is also the only regular starter who hasn’t homered yet. d’Arnaud, who typically hits his share of doubles and homers, in addition to getting on base at a decent clip, could really help lengthen the lineup. Hopefully, he gets it sorted out soon.
Curtis Granderson is doing his typical slow-out-of-the-gate routine. Whether it be cold weather or just needing time to get going, Granderson has always been bad in April. In 2014, his first season as a met, Granderson hit .196 in April. Last year, he hit .231, which is actually pretty good for him. This year he’s at .175 so far. The good news is he seems to have woken up this past week, slugging two homers and drawing a couple of big walks. His presence at the top of the lineup was one of the most valuable aspects of the Mets’ team last year. We need him back, setting the table for the rest of the lineup.
Wilmer Flores may be out of sorts as he adapts to his new role as the super sub. Flores, who hit .263 with 16 homers last season, is 1 for his first 17 at bats. Now, that’s a dreadful start. Given that Flores is one injury to any of four players away from joining the starting lineup, he needs to find his stroke and soon. He’s an important part of this team so hopefully hitting coach Kevin Long can help him the way he’s helped out Neil Walker.
While most of the rest of the Mets players have had their ups and downs, it’s these four that are really yet to get it going. When they start contributing, this team can get back to fighting for first place.
Harvey is almost 3 years removed from Tommy John. He’s been gassing early, hopefully just needs to regain his stamina.
And you can’t really blame TC for batting TdA 8th. Cabrera has been on fire and really, who else would bat there? Deep lineup
Correction: another year removed…
Deep lineup is nice just wish the lineup had a bit more dimension – speed, more high OBP guys and situational hitters who could go opposite field or get the sac fly when you need it. In other words, not so boom or bust. Tired of seeing guys strike out with men on base. Need to keep the ball in play to make things happen.
Matt, Ia m so with you on this. Was talking with another Mets fan about it. THere is a ton of frustration and all we could come up with is this: that may be the baseball a lot of folks want, but that is simply not this team. This is bash bros v. 2.0. I hate it. All the Ks are simply a result of swinging for the fences by at least 6 batters. Its home run or die. I dont like it because the result is mostly unrelated to home runs. But this is a team without speed, solid baseball skills, or bat handling skills. As a result, taking a defensive opposite field single with a guy on second base will never be what we see – instead we have the attempt to launch a HR. The other night we spoiled multiple lead off doubles that never saw the person leave 2B. Call it anything you like, and I use appalling, but this is your 2016 NY Mets. We all better get used to it.
I am absolutely not concerned with d’Arnaud’s slow start. The man can hit, and he will hit. In fact we’ve seen evidence that he is about to hit.
Flores hasn’t had a chance to get into any rhythm, which, if last year is any indication is a big deal for him. The combination of not many lefthanders faced plus Neil Walker’s hot start has kept Wilmer off the field. I’m pulling for him; after last year I’ve come to think of him as this team’s Mookie.
Harvey: tonight’s game will be of interest to say the least.
As for Granderson, he’s a formerly excellent player who has been in decline for a number of years now. Curtis is a hard worker who keeps himself in top condition, but there has always been the problem with making contact in his game; the question becomes how well can he overcome it? Some great players were able to stem their declines for a year or so — I’m thinking Eddie Matthews, Brooks Robinson, Eddie Murray I guess, among others — which is great, but who can say for how long? Curtis seems to be a great guy; I’m pulling for him to do it again.
I’m not worried about either TDA or Granderson.
Granny had an 81.6 Contact% rate last year, the highest of his career. This year it’s at 77.5% which is essentially even to his 77.0% lifetime rate. There’s nothing wrong with him right now, he had his typical Mets slow start and there just haven’t been enough games to overcome that, yet. Granny started the year 1-24 but since then he’s got a .273/.385/.606 mark with a .304 BABIP.
Flores can’t be blamed – he’s hardly played. 4 starts in a month? If he was a super-sub, he’s be getting regular starts at various positions. But as it is he’s just your regular sub/pinch-hitter
I doubt Flores gets the 400 ABs many predicted for him. COuld he be traded with a Verrit,Montero or Gilmartin at the trade deadline?
Granderson tries to will the Mets to victories with determination, hustle and situational intelligence. He may lead off with a patient walk and intelligent advancement on a long fly like the other night or hit the clutch grand slam like last night. He can always play on my team.That being said, he should get regular rest, especially against LHP so that he doesn’t wear down.
TDA should be batting sixth, but not because he earned. Cabrera is a more intelligent hitter an would not be taken advantage in the 8th spot. Batting 6th would also split Duda and Walker so that a LHP relief specialist may be neutralized in the late innings.(yes, I know they have been hitting LHP).
Harvey will click soon. Flores will get less at bats than was expected because of the starters hitting LHP. It will be difficult for him to untrack with the reduced playing time.
I agree with all of it, Metsense.
I do think that TC has been so focused on getting the regulars in rhythm, that he’s neglected the bench.
Cabrera needs regular rest, so does Granderson. Rest is a good thing. It’s a long season.
It would be so easy to get Wilmer 2-3 games in a row at different positions. And while it is easy to identify Lagares’ strength against LHP, he should be reduced to such a strict platoon.
Now that the team is in gear, it’s time for TC to start doing a better job of managing the full roster.