EXPECTATIONS for 18: Zack Wheeler

[Edgy MD]

I don't know about you, but I was totally expecting to make this team. (I mean, you probably weren't expecting yourself to make the team, but this is a thread of expectations about me.) But we came in with nine guys looking to join a rotation. Two of them got hurt, and six of them outpitched me. To the Mets thinking, anyhow.

To my thinking? I think this is bullshit. But what are you going to do. Go down to Vegas and pitch your way back in a run-scoring environment that is actually tougher on pitchers than the big leagues are. So far, I've thrown five innings in my first start, allowing one run on three hits and one walk, striking out six. That's the way you do it. I even went 2-2.

More of that, and who knows? Either I work my way home or they trade me for pinch hitter or a prospect or something. Which way is it gonna break for me? I'm a big leaguer!

[fimg=388]https://sports.cbsimg.net/images//visual/whatshot/Zack-Wheeler-Mets-shut-down-092113.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=312]https://www.rawlings.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-rawlings-Library/default/dw4e73726b/images/advisors/players/zack-wheeler-480-400.jpg[/fimg]
[fimg=367]http://dailystache.net/wp-content/uploads/zack-wheeler-020717-getty-ftrjpg_5ys9zn5c64v51vaodej678oi5-660x400.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=333]https://www.baseballessential.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Zack-Wheeler-600x400.jpg[/fimg]
[fimg=237]https://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/wheeler.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=183]https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/822896752156114944/3i-W8c5W_400x400.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=276]https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/wheelernew1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=618&h=410&crop=1[/fimg]

Remember when my skipper had my back? GOOD TIMES!

t9COWKK_xjg

[Guest d'Kong76]

The alphabet gods saved the two of hardest to expect with the V-W one-two
punch. Wheeler will mostly be the odd man out in '18 and get spots starts and
long reliefs? Traded in July.

[Edgy MD]

You think he sticks?

It would be something for Lugo to lose his spot in the rotation without having actually started a game yet.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It would be something to have too many starters this year (Vargas is still waiting in the wings) after the way last year went.

It's early yet, of course. It's possible (though dreadful to contemplate) that by June we might be wishing that Tyler Pill and Tommy Milone were still around.

[nymr83]

someone will get hurt, Lugo will most likely get his shot at some point. And if he doesnt, that is probably an indication that either HE is hurt/terrible in the pen or the tam is so good and healthy that he'll need to wait til next year to start

[Edgy MD]

June. At some point. What happens tomorrow, man? Does Lugo lose his role for pitching too well in the pen, or does Wheelie get sent back to Vegas. That's where the drama lies.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think Wheeler wins out over Lugo, unless his next start or the one after that is horrific. The real question to me is does Wheeler give way to Vargas when he returns and if the other four starters are all still healthy. In that event, I think Vargas is in the rotation, Wheeler is in the pen, and Sewald is in Las Vegas.

[Lefty Specialist]

If it comes to that, I'd rather see Wheeler starting in Vegas than in the pen in New York. They'e going to need a starter somewhere along the way and I'd rather have a guy whose arm is stretched out. Gsellugo are doing so well in short spurts that I wouldn't want to change that unless there are more injuries.

[Chad ochoseis]

The more I look at Steven Matz, the more I see Jon Niese. I'd keep Wheeler in the rotation and let Matz stretch his arm out in Vegas. I think he still has options.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Chad Ochoseis wrote: The more I look at Steven Matz, the more I see Jon Niese. I'd keep Wheeler in the rotation and let Matz stretch his arm out in Vegas. I think he still has options.

Jon Niese with a better PR Department and one-third the innings pitched

[Ceetar]

I have hope for Wheeler. healthy Wheeler, having pitched last year Wheeler.

Mostly just a tick above his 2014, but that'd be good for 3.1 fWAR and very very helpful.


9.11 K/9 3.49 BB/9 3.44 ERA. 185 IP.

[duan]

If we have two pitchers who are capable of starting and who aren't getting starts I'd have thought the best plan would be for them to use the depth to do what the dodgers did last year

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/sports/baseball/dodgers-pitching.html

"they managed to give their starter more than four days’ rest in 115 of 162 regular-season games. They shuffled pitchers in every way possible: on and off the 10-day disabled list, up and down from the minors, in and out of the bullpen. Minimized effort led to maximum performance"

[Centerfield]

I've said a few times that no one puts their team into an early whole more often than Zack Wheeler. "He's the king of 5-0 before you even get into your seats.". This is largely fueled by two actual occasions where I attended Wheeler starts. But since I've been saying this, I figured I should test this rather than be colored by my skewed sample size.

Since his debut in 2013, Zack has given up 5 runs or more in three innings or less seven times. Once in 2013, his rookie year, and once in 2014. He was out for 2 years with TJ surgery. Then he did it 4 times last year, and once this year.

Overall, he's made 71 starts in his career, so in just under 10% of his starts, Zack will give up 5+ runs in 3 innings or less.

That's terrible right?