Jacob deGrom deserves his own thread because ...

[Frayed Knot]

NY Post talks about how Jacob got his groove on
The article is as much about scouting as it is about JdG

The somewhat ironic part here is that certain Met fans in the Omar era (some of whom had derided the team he inherited as "too old, too slow, and too white") heard his stated aim for getting more "athletes" into the system and read into it a stealth program to create an all-Black/Hispanic team, aka: 'no more white guys allowed'. And now lookie at what it produced!

[batmagadanleadoff]

deGrom's a real timetable changer, ain't he?
__________________________________________






The 30: deGreat Debate

Have the Mets, Nats, Royals, and Twins positioned themselves for success following relatively quiet trade deadline showings?
by Jonah Keri on August 4, 2014

excerpt:

Baseball�s non-waiver trade deadline has passed, and the winners and losers have been toasted and chided. Much to the Phillies� chagrin, however, not every team that stood pat joined Ruben Amaro�s squad in earning the �loser� label. Today, I�ll look at four teams that avoided our ridicule despite failing to make major moves, and assess how well positioned they are � either for the stretch run or the future. So pop your head in: [***] 2015�s the Charm? These teams will likely fall short in 2014, but look dangerous for next season. 21. Chicago White Sox (54-58, -25, LW: 21) 20. New York Mets (53-58, +3, LW: 20) 19. Miami Marlins (54-57, -26, LW: 19) 18. Cleveland Indians (56-55, +17, LW: 18) 17. Tampa Bay Rays (54-57, -1, LW: 15) 16. Cincinnati Reds (56-55, +17, LW: 17) Here�s a fun futures bet for you: Which Mets starter will lead the majors in ERA in 2015? Consider where the team�s rotation stands at the moment, and how it�s shaping up for next season, and that�s not as crazy as it might seem. Matt Harvey, the linchpin of next year�s rotation, threw off a mound on Friday for the first time since Tommy John surgery and appears to be on track to go through a normal winter and spring regimen. Before injuring his elbow last season, Harvey posted a 2.27 ERA and totaled more strikeouts (191) than baserunners allowed (170), so if he�s back to 100 percent by Opening Day 2015, he�ll be one of the best pitchers in the league. Maybe someday, someone might even recognize him. Zack Wheeler, meanwhile, is constantly enhancing Mets fans� appreciation for the 2011 trade that sent two months of Carlos Beltran to the Giants for the young hurler. Another power right-hander, Wheeler has improved across the board this season after showing occasional flashes of brilliance last year. He�s boosted his strikeout rate (to about one per inning), trimmed his walk rate (by about half a walk per nine innings), and hiked his ground ball rate (to 52.7 percent, ninth among qualified NL starters). He�s still got work to do, as he�s carrying the sixth-highest NL walk rate despite his year-over-year improvement, and has generally struggled with his command at times. Still, his fastball-slider combination has been devastating against right-handed hitters from day one, as they�ve hit just .217/.287/.327 against Wheeler during his brief MLB career. He�s an improved changeup away from rising into the NL�s top pitching tier. Jon Niese has struggled with injuries, making only 44 starts since Opening Day 2013. However, the 27-year-old lefty has been a steady performer when healthy, doing a particularly good job of limiting extra-base hits, with just 19 homers allowed in 265.1 innings during that span. That�s helped suppress his ERA � which sits at a tidy 3.24 this year � despite mediocre strikeout rates. Niese is signed cheaply through 2016, with club options that could keep him in town through 2018. Noah Syndergaard has yet to throw a pitch in the big leagues, but he�s shined in the minors, punching out 436 batters in 395.2 innings during his five-year minor league career and putting up shiny surface stats prior to playing in the preposterous home environment of Las Vegas this year. He�s 6-6 and 240 pounds. He can dial his fastball into the high 90s and has a curveball that�s going to give major league hitters nightmares. And he doesn�t turn 22 until the end of this month. Baseball Prospectus and MLB.com rated him as baseball�s 11th-best prospect entering this season, and he�s widely expected to be big league�ready next spring, if not sooner. And then there�s Jacob deGrom, the biggest surprise of the bunch. The ninth-round 2010 draft pick arrived in the big leagues with a modest pedigree and even more modest numbers: a 3.62 ERA, 333 hits in 323.1 innings, and a so-so 267 strikeouts over that span (though with parts of two seasons spent in the aforementioned Vegas League). Despite not boasting the blazing fastball that Harvey, Wheeler, and Syndergaard possess, deGrom�s early MLB returns have been terrific. Though he didn�t make his big league debut until May 15, deGrom has inserted himself into the NL Rookie of the Year discussion, fanning 90 batters and allowing just five long balls in 94.1 innings while flashing a 2.77 ERA and 2.97 FIP. Back in early June, ESPN�s Mark Simon wrote about deGrom�s pinpoint fastball control and his ability to change speeds and fool hitters with his secondary pitches. The 26-year-old righty has improved since then, and actually seems to be getting better with every start. In his last eight starts, he�s posted a 1.52 ERA and has limited opposing hitters to a .212/.269/.249 line, and on Saturday he was perfect through six before losing his no-hit bid with two outs in the seventh. He held on for the win, becoming the first Mets rookie to win five consecutive starts since Dillon Gee did so in 2011. That Gee and veteran Bartolo Colon aren�t even worth mentioning among the projected top five for 2015 speaks volumes about the Mets possessing something every other team longs to have: too much starting pitching. And that brings us back to trades: The Mets failed to convert any of that young pitching talent into hitting help at this year�s deadline, but some have speculated that the team could pursue a deal in the offseason, perhaps even targeting Rockies star Troy Tulowitzki. Acquiring Tulo probably isn�t going to happen, because the Mets would likely need to include peak Seaver, Strawberry, and Gooden in the deal to pull it off, but whether or not the Mets look to make a move, one thing is clear: They�ll be well armed in 2015. Bank on it:

http://grantland.com/features/the-30-mlb-power-rankings-nationals-royals-mets-twins-trade-deadline/

[batmagadanleadoff]

I didn't even know this award existed.

Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets voted National League Rookie of the Month for July

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom has been voted the National League Rookie of the Month for July. The 26-year-old went 4-1 last month and posted a Major League rookie-best 1.39 ERA (5 ER/23.1 IP) and 38 strikeouts while tying for the overall N.L. lead in wins. His ERA was the League's third-lowest mark overall and ranked fifth among all Major League pitchers. deGrom held opposing hitters to a .225 batting average, which was the lowest mark among qualifying N.L. rookies, while walking just seven. On July 8th, deGrom tossed 7.0 shutout innings while tying a career-high with 11 strikeouts (also May 31st) as the Mets defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves, 5-2. The Stetson University product followed that performance with another 7.0-inning gem on July 13th, helping the Mets cruise to a 9-1 victory over the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. deGrom allowed just a single earned run in the contest and fanned eight en route to his third win of the season. On July 22nd, deGrom was similarly effective, allowing a single run across 7.0 innings of work as the Mets took a 3-1 decision against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. The youngster fanned seven in the outing while issuing one free pass. deGrom capped his stellar month with his fourth consecutive victory on July 27th at Milwaukee, going 6.1 shutout innings in a 2-0 win over the N.L. Central leaders. In doing so, he became the first rookie in franchise history to record a win in four straight starts while pitching at least 6.0 innings and allowing no more than one run. The streak broke a record set by Jerry Koosman, who had three such starts from April 11-23, 1968. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since 1982, only three other Major League rookie pitchers have won four straight such starts (6.0 innings with one earned run or less) in one season: Houston's Roy Oswalt (2001), L.A. Angels of Anaheim right-hander Jered Weaver (2006) and San Francisco's Matt Cain (2005). This is deGrom's first career Rookie of the Month Award. Other rookies receiving votes included Arizona's David Peralta (.314, 11 R, 27 H, 4 2B, 4 3B, 12 RBI); Atlanta's Tommy La Stella (.309, 29 H, 6 2B, 10 RBI, .381 OBP); San Diego's Jesse Hahn (3-1, 2.08 ERA, 18 SO, 26.0 IP); Philadelphia's Ken Giles (0-0, 0.66 ERA, 18 SO, 13.2 IP); and Kolten Wong (.284, 13 R, 19 H, 5 HR, 9 RBI, .567 SLG) of the St. Louis Cardinals. The National League Rookie of the Month for July, Jacob deGrom, will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, to commemorate his performance.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140804&content_id=87953934&vkey=pr_mlb&c_id=mlb

[Benjamin Grimm]

One previous Met was NL Rookie of the Month: Justin Turner in May 2011.

[Lefty Specialist]

Back to NY to be examined for shoulder soreness.

Ahhh, crap.

[Guest d'Kong76]

�deCrapFart!

[G-Fafif]

Good night 2014 Mets and thanks for playing!

(Not really, but I was to have my first up close and personal look at de young man on Tuesday, so I'm bummed beyond the requisite bummedness.)

[Edgy MD]

deGromeo scratched from his next start.

No announcement yet of who gets the call.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Harvey wasn't as dominant as we'd come to expect in his last few starts right before the injury announcement. Just remembering.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Sometimes I think this team is completely cursed.

[Edgy MD]

That's a trap that'll drive you crazy. Pitching is simply awful business.

Seaver, about a third of the way through 1969 was dealing with sore arm and was beginning to plan for his next career, when he suddenly found himself. Who know the mysteries of the human arm.

[ashie62]

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Sometimes I think this team is completely cursed.

Citi was built on an Indian burial ground...

[Benjamin Grimm]

If that's true, then so was Shea, and a lot of good things happened there.

[Centerfield]

I heard Jacob deGrom.

He is awesome and not douchy.

[Guest Trachsel My Tears]

We may be overly formal here. I heard TC after the game referring to him as "Jake" deGrom.

Sounds more like a ballplayer. Jacob deGrom sounds like a Dutch baroque oil painter.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Fangraphs breaks down deGrom's eight straight K's. Rookie of the Year ain't nuthin'. deGrom's already one of the best half dozen pitchers in the NL.

Excerpt:

I�d like to believe that Jacob deGrom started out as hair. Just hair. Over time, that hair grew into much more than just hair, eventually sprouting a full human figure and developing world-class athletic ability. The hair would go on to play middle infield in college before transitioning into a pitcher and getting drafted by the New York Mets. The hair would then have Tommy John Surgery and never crack a top-1oo prospect list, but nevertheless the hair would reach the majors by age 25. And the hair would dominate.... And, aside from the eight straight whiffs, those numbers aren�t even that shocking when you consider what deGrom has done so far. His ERA actually went up after Monday�s start, from 2.62 to 2.68. His FIP dropped from 2.88 to 2.72. You�ll notice those are both exceptionally low figures. Of all starting pitchers who have thrown more than 130 innings, his ERA ranks 14th, right behind Zack Greinke and a few spots ahead of Jordan Zimmermann. His FIP is ninth, better than that of Jon Lester, David Price and Adam Wainwright. I could go on with more examples like this, but the point is, deGrom will soon finish the season with a sample of work that � while smaller than most � is not small enough to be insignificant. And over that four-month sample, he has been one of the 15 best starting pitchers in baseball.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jacob-degroms-breakout-season-in-eight-batters/

[Edgy MD]

As much as the ship has sailed a listing course the last three years, we've strangely had an unexpectedly remarkable pitching season in each of them.

[Frayed Knot]

Frayed Knot wrote: Centerfield wrote: deGrom kind of illustrates how little I understand about scouting and labeling prospects. For instance, Zack Wheeler is as highly touted as they come. They say he has front-of-the rotation potential. Zack throws his fastball around 96, but his secondary pitches are not great, and lack consistency. Wheeler struggles with his control. deGrom, on the other hand, sits at about 94 with his fastball, but has plus secondary pitches, including a great changeup he can throw even when behind in the count. deGrom has good control and limits his walks. Despite this, he was a fringe prospect. From what I read about him, I expected him to be Pat Strange or Kevin Mulvey. Part of that is age - Wheeler is two full years younger so compare, say, where he is now vs where deGrom was two years ago (single-A); part is the age at which they were drafted - college senior vs HS, meaning that Wheeler has been on the radar longer; part is small sample size - deGrom being better NOW!!!! doesn't mean he will be for the next 5 or 10 and the long term is what forecasters are trying to project part is a scouts tendency to drool over readings on the radar gun and other such talents that fall under the general category of 'Stuff' And, yeah, the scouts and touts who follow this end of the business do also get things wrong more than occasionally.

A little background on how deGrom was seen (by one person anyway) prior to this season.
John Sickels had named him a "sleeper candidate" a year or so back - and sometimes those predictions work out in spades.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Was that poster a giveaway? I want one of those. [fimg=444]http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bp4pmSFCUAAIu_K.jpg:medium[/fimg]

This poster's a lot bigger than the one above. Where does one get one of those?

[G-Fafif]

They were handed out to fans within camera range the two times I sat in 1B field level seats not far from the dugout. I guess the Mets wanted to create the illusion of hysteria over deGrom and hoped everybody would wave them in unison. Problem was even in those very nice seats, there wasn't much of a poster-waving frenzy (or that many fans) -- but when Jake went on his strikeout roll in September, the customers were properly engaged.

You can give away goodies, but you can't manufacture passion.

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: You can give away goodies, but you can't manufacture passion.

well, unless you're a Gatorade commercial.

[G-Fafif]

Ceetar wrote: G-Fafif wrote: You can give away goodies, but you can't manufacture passion. well, unless you're a Gatorade commercial.

DI2MAY

[Edgy MD]

Jacob deGrom wins the once-and-perhaps-again highly prestigious Sporting News Rookie of the Year.

Also earns himself a sexy rock star portrait illustration:

[Guest d'Kong76]

Lazy Q, do the SN awards usually mirror the MLB ones?

[Edgy MD]

Certainly in the RotY results, but unfortunately for Jerry Coobysman, not in 1968.

[ashie62]

I grew up thinking the Sporting News was the official for ROY and Johnny Bench could go &*(^

[G-Fafif]

Kooz won Rookie Pitcher of the Year, Bench ROY, which was how TSN delineated for decades. The year before, they picked Dick Hughes over Seaver.

So they need to pick deGrom 10-20X to make up for that nonsense.

[Zvon]

G-Fafif wrote: Kooz won Rookie Pitcher of the Year, Bench ROY, which was how TSN delineated for decades. The year before, they picked Dick Hughes over Seaver. So they need to pick deGrom 10-20X to make up for that nonsense.

I was like, who the fuck is Dick Hughes? So I looked him up.
The kid had a good year. 16-6 for the Cards in 1967 (Tom was 16-13). Had a league leading 0.954 WHIP. Allowed only 6.6 hits per 9, also tops.

He may have gotten the SN one but Seaver got 55% of the vote for the ROY (to Dick's 30%-good for second) . Dick received 17 MVP votes. Seaver, 22. Hughes was all done in 1968.
No indication what happened to him.

[dinosaur jesus]

Dick Hughes is an interesting story. He wasn't a kid. He was 29 years old, and he'd been in the Cardinals organization since 1958. He never really showed that much, but in 1966 the Cardinals loaned him to the Yankees, and he was terrific for them in AA. So the Cardinals called him up in September, he pitched well, and he made the team in 1967. And he was great--he kept them in the pennant race when Ray Washburn and then Bob Gibson went down. (Basically, while Gibson was out, Hughes pitched like Bob Gibson.) And then--rotator cuff. A few games in 1968, and that was it. The Cardinals fans still think he was robbed in the Rookie of the Year voting. That isn't exactly true, but they're not totally wrong. He was awesome. Plus he looked like Stork in Animal House, or a skinnier Billie Sol Estes.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Dick Hughes wouldn't have been a crazy pick for ROY. That race was close. Hughes set the Cards rookie record for most K's in a game (13), later tied by Scipio Spinks against the Mets. I thought Hughes sustained his rotator cuff injury in Spring Training '68, but I could be wrong on that. In 1968, that injury was the kiss of death for a pitcher, and so Hughes was essentially done.