Hey, Nineteen: Zack Wheeler

[Edgy MD]

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A lot can change in a season. After control issues and two full seasons trying to find my way back from Tommy John surgery, I entered the 2018 season as the least among the Mets generation of exciting young starters. In fact, I was such a question mark, they had me open the season at Las Vegas, while the four from the rest of the generation joined veteran Jason Vargas in the Mets rotation. "I'm no bullpenner!" I told the Mets.



"Then you're no big-leaguer!" they answered.



But two things are inevitable. The first is that injuries will happen. The second is that Matt Harvey will self-destruct. So after only one start in exile, I got called back, joined the rotation, and haven't left.



What was remarkable was that I just got better and better as the season progressed. Until my second half ... well, my second half was as good as deGrom's. I know deGrom had an historic season wire-to-wire, but it's just the truth. In fact, it was me, and not him, who led the majors in giving up the lowest percentage of hard-hit balls (24.8%). How's that for a hard hit to the balls?



When I'm working right, I have a fastball-curve combination that hasn't been seen from a starter in Flushing since, perhaps, Dwight Gooden. That's saying a lot, I know, but it comes with its caveats. But hell, I don't have to brag about myself any more. You saw my 2018 second half yourselves.



How do I follow up on that? Can I string together more than three months of Cy Young-quality pitching. Will the word "elite" ever accompany my name, or am I more of a sometimes guy?



I think 2019 will go a long way toward answering these questions. In the meantime, there's you. Have at it.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

The way things are lookin' the Mets will probably get caught in in-between this year but if they were to, suck for 2 solid months like last year, I think Wheelie would be a big trade bauble. I mean he was a signature Sandy get and even Sandy thought about it.



But this guy keeps surprising me.



He's obviously not just a big dumb jock despite being a high schooler from Georgia, he's actually kinda geeky.



Here he is with his finance Dominique

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I predict he gets married and wins 17 games

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Sherman says the Mets have begun talks with the Red Sox on a Wheeler trade, in part because new front-office guys Baird and Banner are Red Sox alumni and familiar with the system.



Not said, Baird and Banner prolly got a good laugh from the Reed haul 2 years ago.

[Guest 41Forever]

Have we gotten anyone useful in a late-season sell-off since Wheeler?



We traded off a lot of players in those rental deals in the last two years, and I'm struggling to think of any one we got in return who is making a contribution.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

That's cuz we have tended to take less talent for those clubs willing to eat more salary.

[metirish]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: That's cuz we have tended to take less talent for those clubs willing to eat more salary.

What a terrible indictment of the Wilpon's

[Guest 41Forever]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: That's cuz we have tended to take less talent for those clubs willing to eat more salary.

Well. That sucks.

[bmfc1]

Sherman says that the Red Sox and the MFYs are interested in Wheeler. Good. A GM skilled in negotiations shouldn't have any trouble playing them off each other.

[Edgy MD]

=41Forever post_id=15392 time=1562620016 user_id=69]
Have we gotten anyone useful in a late-season sell-off since Wheeler?

[Vic Sage]

the one of that group with the highest upside is probably Kilome, and he's been out for the year with Tommy John (or something else equally serious)

[bmfc1]

Jeff Passan said on ESPN that Zack Wheeler "will not be pitching in Queens on July 31st" and that interest in him is "far and wide".

[Benjamin Grimm]

The Mets will be in Chicago on July 31.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I imagine that if the Mets trade Wheeler, they'll insist on getting a $20 million-per-year has been in return.

[Edgy MD]

Jeff Passan said on ESPN that Zack Wheeler "will not be pitching in Queens on July 31st" and that interest in him is "far and wide".

Well, that's, like, the world's safest bet, seeing as how the Mets are in CHICAGO PLAYING THE WHITE SOX ON THE 31st, JEFF!!