Catch-22: Jacob deGrom

[Edgy MD]

NAME: Jacob deGrom

AGE: 34

POSITION: Starting Pitcher

NUMBER: 48

NICKNAME: deGrominator, deGoat

fWAR IN 2021: 4.9

ZIPS PROJECTION FOR 2022: 4.8



Hi, I'm Jacob deGrom. Seeing as we didn't get to this prediction thing until late in the spring season, it seemed best that we start with the most likely to succeed. With all respect to Matt Reynolds and his posse, I guess that's me.



I pitch my ass off, but can't get a break. Sometimes it's run support. Sometimes, it's injuries. Sometimes, it's managers yanking me before I've finished my work. And sometimes, it's a failure of bullpen performance. Often enough, it's some combination of all of the above.



But I'm terrific. My slider is merciless, my fastball is inexplicable, my changeup is unfair, and my curve is something I keep under my bed for an emergency. I should have twice my career total of 77 wins by now, but somehow I've kept my smile. I'm pitching for a big payday this year, but the pressure isn't really on, because even if I don't have a great season, I already have a killer contract I can hang onto.



That's a pretty good situation, but after an other-worldly first half of 2021, I disappeared in the second half, almost literally. And it wasn't even one catastrophic event. It was just a game-by-game situation that went on for, like, 85 games. I'm not sure I understand it myself.



But I'm back out there now. With Harvey, Matz, Wheeler, Syndergaard, all gone, I'm out there.



How long and how strong? You tell me. Predict my 2022, damn it!



[FIMG=500]https://fivethirtyeight.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GettyImages-1232492631-4x3-1.jpg[/FIMG] [FIMG=250]https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2018/09/12/PNJM/61bb8bf6-a835-4f12-881b-75e434c56d7b-20180911_khr_fb5_036.JPG[/FIMG]

[FIMG=366]https://elitesportsny.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Jacob-DeGrom-1.jpg[/FIMG] [FIMG=384]https://www.nj.com/resizer/aryDlUYo8VUbfs1ICpez3vOQoyU=/1280x0/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/advancelocal/ALORA3X7BRGQHJL2S33ZETIBWA.JPG[/FIMG]

[A Boy Named Seo]

When deGrom pitches, he will be sensational (duh). He's logged 160 IP the last two seasons and I think he gets around there for 2022 based on nothing but my shitty instincts.



155 IP, 225 K, 2.10 ERA, 13 wins. Top 3 Cy.

[seawolf17]

24-4, 1.53 ERA, Cy Young.

[A Boy Named Seo]

=seawolf17 post_id=87903 time=1648660723 user_id=91]
24-4, 1.53 ERA, Cy Young.

[Willets Point]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: =seawolf17 post_id=87903 time=1648660723 user_id=91] 24-4, 1.53 ERA, Cy Young.

You ok, son? You might need to see a Doctor.

[MFS62]

18-7* 2.01 ERA 1.00 WHIP



Later



*= would have been better, but the bullpen blows 6 leads.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

17-5, 2.89. Good enough so that opt-out drama buzzkills the World Series he's gonna win for us.



5-0 in the postseason

[Edgy MD]

The notion of a hot and healthy version of himself carrying his team through the post-season is a glorious movie to watch in my head.



I wonder how much a slog these multi-tiered playoffs are going to be.

[Lefty Specialist]

Not buying the miraculous recovery. When he pitches, he'll be great, but that won't be enough.



6-3, 2.20 in half a season. Could be 9-0 but weak offense/bad bullpen will blow a few for him as per usual. And he'll watch the postseason from his couch.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Not buying the miraculous recovery. When he pitches, he'll be great, but that won't be enough. 6-3, 2.20 in half a season. Could be 9-0 but weak offense/bad bullpen will blow a few for him as per usual. And he'll watch the postseason from his couch.

A season like this one would probably kill Jake's HOF chance, I'd guess.

[whippoorwill]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Not buying the miraculous recovery. When he pitches, he'll be great, but that won't be enough. 6-3, 2.20 in half a season. Could be 9-0 but weak offense/bad bullpen will blow a few for him as per usual. And he'll watch the postseason from his couch.

Sadly I agree

Didn't even draft him for my team and when I saw him drafted I chatted Good Luck with deGrom and the chatter all indicated the mess he's in with the Mets crappy bullpen

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

I think having Max is good for him. I'm on Team Healthy Jake and think he's going to have a monster year. 18 wins (which counts as monster year these days) with an ERA below 2.00 and top three Cy Young.

[whippoorwill]

If they'd let him pitch later into the game.... I hope you're right Marshmallow!

[smg58]

I think everybody's in agreement on the quality of the innings we'll get, but the error bars for the quantity are huge. I think Seo is in the median area, but I'm hoping for more and fearing less. 150 IP, 2.23 ERA, 180 K, 9-5 record.

[kcmets]

Does anyone's crystal ball show anything about run support? I don't know

how to put a finger on that numbers-wise but historically it's kinda sucked?



Anyway, I think he'll be in the top-five ranked NL pitchers... closer to #5 than

#1? I'll go with #4. Easier than predicting W-L, etc...

[Lefty Specialist]

Aaaaaaaaaand here we go.



Buck Showalter just said Jacob deGrom felt tightness in the back of his shoulder after playing catch today



Showalter says he'd be “surprised” if deGrom makes his schedule spring start tomorrow. DeGrom might go for preliminary imaging in morning but Showalter said we'll see

[roger_that]

I'll be surprised if he makes it to opening day without his arm exploding.

[Fman99]

You just had to go predicting things, didnt'cha NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE

[MFS62]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Aaaaaaaaaand here we go. Buck Showalter just said Jacob deGrom felt tightness in the back of his shoulder after playing catch today Showalter says he'd be “surprised” if deGrom makes his schedule spring start tomorrow. DeGrom might go for preliminary imaging in morning but Showalter said we'll see

Oh f**k NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Here we go again.

I have the glass more than half empty feeling about this.

Later