After Today's Start

[Centerfield]

Zach Wheeler has a 5.92 ERA. Out of qualified pitchers, that would rank him 89th out of 93 pitchers.

He has a 1.55 WHIP. That's good for 90th out of 93.

He is our fourth starter. Head and shoulders above our fifth guy.

[Centerfield]

And in case you might be thinking, "It's early yet, he'll find himself", the 1.55 WHIP is down from his 1.59 WHIP in 2017.

The ERA is worse. But not by much. 5.21 in 2017.

Zach Wheeler is not a good pitcher.

[Centerfield]

Wheeler says he's going to learn a split finger fastball. Let's hope so. Or a cutter or something. He needs more.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Zach's the John Pacella of this generation.

[Guest cooby]

with any luck he'll split a finger and get put on the DL

[nymr83]

Centerfield wrote: Wheeler says he's going to learn a split finger fastball. Let's hope so. Or a cutter or something. He needs more.

how about a middle finger fastball?

[ashie62]

Aren't using Gsellman and/or Lugo as SP's the obvious answer?

[seawolf17]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Zach's the John Pacella of this generation.

He just needs a gimmick, like having his hat fall off all the time.

[Lefty Specialist]

Ashie62 wrote: Aren't using Gsellman and/or Lugo as SP's the obvious answer?

Well, that's why the Mets won't do it.

[Edgy MD]

I don't really buy that.

I mean, I certainly support that move, but the idea that it's painfully obvious is at least somewhat belied by their performance last year as starters.

[Centerfield]

Yeah. Both were pretty badly exposed in their second year starting. I think the bullpen is where both of them can excel.

But it might be a move we have to make. Even 2017 Lugo and Gsellman are outpitching Wheeler and Vargas.

[Edgy MD]

They've certainly seemed to get as many or more outs on the days Wheeler and Vargas start than Wheeler and Vargas have. So if things keep up, moving them into the rotation will just be a formality.

[Methead]

Tough but fair.

[Centerfield]

Look a look at Vargas's stats to see if maybe he could be a LOOGY if he loses his spot in the rotation. ESPN has splits for the last 3 years (2015-17). During that time lefties hit him better than righties (.850 OPS vs. .724).

So no. Not really an option for a LOOGY.

[Fman99]

I think the Wheeler start will be chalked up to the fact that he was doing all right (retiring 9 of the first 10), and then they had the delay, and he came out cold after a 30+ min wait, and throwing in the tunnel, and, based on that, he'll get another crack or two at starts before they bounce him down to Vegas (assuming he has options left?).

[Edgy MD]

That's pretty much what Mickey said. They're guy wasn't as affected by the long delay as ours was.

The obvious hole in that thinking is ignorable, but only for so long.