So, Kodai Senga will open the year on the IL, making this the fifth straight year that the Mets will begin the year with one of their five starting pitchers sidelined. Last year it was Jose Quintana and Justin Verlander. In 2022 it was Jacob deGrom. In 2021, it was Carlos Carrasco. And in 2020 it was Marcus Stroman. We’ll call it the curse of Mickey Callaway. Starting pitching for the Mets under Callaway was a strength, as the five guys they wanted starting went to the post virtually all of the time in the 2018-19 seasons.
Now the big question is who gets the first crack at replacing Senga? We saw the three main contenders a bunch last year. The favorite is likely Tylor Megill, who has spent the past three years teasing us with some really good outings while still being unable to display consistency. Now we’re told about how good his new pitch – the American Spork – will be for him. Let’s hope so! But the limited time we saw the pitch a year ago it was not a pitch upon which you’d want to base any hopes or expectations. Maybe with the entire offseason to refine it, Megill’s spork will be better than last year.
Meanwhile, Jose Butto pitched really well in September and deserves a shot to see if that was a small-sample fluke or if he can be a solid member of the rotation. The interesting thing about Butto is that he’s succeeding without having a ton of success with what was supposed to be his best pitch – his changeup. Butto had positive run values with his two-seam and four-seam fastball last year, along with his curve. Even his cutter – a new pitch for him – was a decent pitch. But hitters were not fooled by his changeup. The good news is that, according to Statcast, hitters managed just two extra-base hits (2B, 3B) in 43 PA that ended with his change. The not-so-great news was that there were also 10 singles and five walks. That’s a .395 OBP against what’s supposed to be his best pitch.
And there’s also Joey Lucchesi, who it seems the organization hates. Megill and David Peterson get oodles of chances, while Lucchesi is viewed as a last resort. In 20 games – 17 starts – with the Mets, Lucchesi has a 3.60 ERA and a 1.247 WHIP. Meanwhile, Megill has a 4.72 ERA and a 1.416 WHIP while Peterson has a 4.51 ERA and a 1.405 WHIP. Hopefully a new manager and a new front office will give Lucchesi more of a fair shake going forward.
Before the Senga injury, there wasn’t a bunch of news about these three depth starters. Outside of Megill’s spork, it’s difficult to remember anything specific about these three since the end of last season. Most specifically, are the Mets considering an Opening Day bullpen spot for any of these pitchers or are they headed to SYR as starters? Now, at least we know one will be in the rotation.
David Stearns has said that young guys need a shot. And while that’s been in reference to hitters, it applies to pitchers, too. Megill received 25 starts last year, which is a real shot. Peterson wasn’t far behind with 21. Butto had seven starts last year and Lucchesi had nine. Will either of those two crack 20 starts for the Mets, either in this year or a future season?
With Peterson and now Senga likely to miss two months, it seems like this would be a good year for Butto and/or Lucchesi to get their shot. Let’s just hope we don’t see another year of Megill getting an extended trial without extended good pitching.
Lucchesi, Lucchesi, Lucchesi! Megill should have the shortest leash of the three mentioned above. Severino will really have to start strong to make a believer out of me, but between his “pedigree”, his contract, and his old Yankee coach as his manager now, he’ll be given a Carrasco load of lousy starts before he is pulled from the rotation.
So I guess that’ll mean another opening on the staff up for competition. Good, I like the depth that we have this year. Let’s Go Mets!
Here’s the spork we’re supposed to be excited about.
This is unreal. Pure Mets. The team cat have good things even when barely has any good things. Let’s not pretend that a shoulder problem won’t manifest itself as heading for something serious no matter what we are told (via The Athletic).
We have heard the hype about Megill’s spork…but I would like to note for the record that his is in the best shape of his life as well. Then again, so is Butto. Lucchesi, the Rodney Dangerfield of the Mets for sure, may have had the best quote of last season when he said it was easier to pitch with the Mets vs big leaguers than it was to pitch at Syracuse. Now that’s a guy I want in my rotation!
Well, they need a starting pitcher so there sould be competition this spring. If the competitors have similar results then Lucchesi and his Met career stats, along with his previous experience has a back end starter with San Diego, make him the obvious choice. The depth chart should be Lucchesi, Butto and then Megill
If in fact Megill picked up a new pitch from Senga, it can make a huge difference in his performance. He three two innings today giving up 2 hits, 1 run that scored on a ground out and had three Ks. like Lucchesi next in line.