Who should be the Opening Day starter?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Terry Collins has a decision to make in the next couple of weeks.

If it were up to YOU, to whom would you hand the ball on that Sunday night in Kansas City?

[Benjamin Grimm]

My vote is for Syndergaard. I would want to reward him for being the only guy to beat the Royals last fall.

[Lefty Specialist]

I would really like it to be Syndergaard, but it has to be Harvey and deGrom, in that order. They're 1-2 for now, at least until Thor wins the Cy Young later this year.

[Edgy MD]

I wouldn't put Harvey over dG. deGrom had the better 2015 and certainly the better 2014.

But there's two openers, so they can each get one. Bizarrely, this year, the opener and the home opener are scheduled a full rotation turn apart, with only one game in between. So they can open with a two-man rotation, if they want, and give both featured starts to the same guy. But I reckon that won't happen.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I picked Uncle Bartolo... jump on his big back boys and let's go win
another pennant! (and more this time)

[Ceetar]

There's a decent amount to think about. The guys that get the Royals starts will probably get an extra start overall, particularly if you skip someone the first time through given all the days off.

I don't know if the Mets would do that, but they could. You could skip Bartolo since he's the only one that's not actually good, to give another start to the others, but Collins likely doesn't do that to the vet.

You could, and probably should, skip Matz. He's got options. He's a rookie. He's the only one likely to be on an innings limit. But he's also your only lefty starter.

I probably go

deGrom, Syndergaard, Harvey, Colon, deGrom, Syndergaard, Matz, Harvey

That gives Harvey the first 4-day rest start, Colon the second, and deGrom the third.

That takes you to May 4th before anyone has to make a second start on normal rest. Good way to ease into it I think.

[Guest themetfairy]

Harvey and deGrom in KC (I don't care which order) and Thor for the home opener on the 8th.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Ceetar wrote: You could skip Bartolo since he's the only one that's not actually good

Oh, snap

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It's weird but I feel like Syndy is our best guy right now. Harvey we know has a coke problem, deGrom didn't look great at the end of last year and Matz while real promising, hasn't been nearly durable enough to trust so soon. Colon seems to me a bad idea.

[Guest d'Kong76]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Colon seems to me a bad idea.

Eh, it's a way to show some respect for our elders and not pin the
ace label on any one stud early on at the same time. Just an idea.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

What I meant by that was, KC in particular is such a team of hitters and Colon such a hit-giver-outer, it just seems like a bad match on paper f=given the other options, not that you let one one game drive the decision.

[Benjamin Grimm]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It's weird but I feel like Syndy is our best guy right now.

That's my feeling too. My hunch, at the moment anyway, is that he'll finish highest among Mets starters in the Cy Young voting this year. (And hopefully more than all pitchers from every other team as well!)

[TransMonk]

I think the Opening Day starter is an overrated concept...and even more so with this staff. I'd be happy and confident with any of them getting the nod.

I would not be at all surprised to see Syndergaard have the best season of them all, but I'd bet on Harvey being on the mound for Opening Night.

[Fman99]

themetfairy wrote: Harvey and deGrom in KC (I don't care which order) and Thor for the home opener on the 8th.

I think this is the way to go.

[Frayed Knot]

Minor considerations in that Harvey should pretty much should be off his leash this season as far as IP goes while I think they're still going want to keep tighter tabs on deGrom & Syndergaard, and definitely on Matz.
And if keeping deG or Syndy off of OD means one fewer turn through the rotation pre-ASB and then maybe another by the end of September then maybe it pays off.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy MD wrote: I wouldn't put Harvey over dG. deGrom had the better 2015 and certainly the better 2014.

Agreed on the latter point. But a healthy Harvey has an ever-so-slightly-better ceiling, methinks (his overall performance in 2013 still beats either of DutchBoy's full-season offerings).

Harv, Dutch, Thor, and we go from there.

[Edgy MD]

Well, I tend to think of opening day as something of a belt for the defending champ.

[ashie62]

Tom Seaver or,

Jacob deGrom.

[Fman99]

Ashie62 wrote: Tom Seaver or, Jacob deGrom.

Yabut, which Seaver goes 1-4 in the order from this gaggle?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Those outfits look like something my mother might have made me wear on Easter Sunday when I was eight years old.

[MFS62]

d'Kong76 wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Colon seems to me a bad idea. Eh, it's a way to show some respect for our elders and not pin the ace label on any one stud early on at the same time. Just an idea.

You should always respect your elders, but I voted for deGrom.

Later

[Edgy MD]

d'Kong76 wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Colon seems to me a bad idea. Eh, it's a way to show some respect for our elders and not pin the ace label on any one stud early on at the same time. Just an idea.

There's definitely an argument just to go with the dean of the staff. It sure worked for the Mets last year, even though fans were looking to burn down the mission over it.

[smg58]

Harvey has the biggest reputation, but DeGrom is the ace until somebody pitches better over a full season.

[Guest Mets Willets Point]

d'Kong76 wrote: I picked Uncle Bartolo... jump on his big back boys and let's go win another pennant! (and more this time)

Worked last year, and I like shining the spotlight on old, overweight guys.

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Colon seems to me a bad idea. Eh, it's a way to show some respect for our elders and not pin the ace label on any one stud early on at the same time. Just an idea. There's definitely an argument just to go with the dean of the staff. It sure worked for the Mets last year, even though fans were looking to burn down the mission over it.

TC's M.O. has me thinking he might go with Colon because of his veteran status. But that's only if he drops a sound bite in Colons direction, because the rest of the staff will pick up on that and back the choice. We saw that last season.

I don't hear Terry saying anything specific so I don't think he has decided.

The last time Harvey faced Kansas City they knocked him off the mound in the 9th. I like the idea of Harvey going right back out and squelching the Royals in the season opener.

[Centerfield]

Every year Bartolo Colon has started opening day, the Mets have gone to the World Series.

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: Every year Bartolo Colon has started opening day, the Mets have gone to the World Series.

well, two of them anyway.

not 2001,2002,2004,2005, and 2006 they didn't quite make it all the way,

[Frayed Knot]

deGrom tabbed for Game 2

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: deGrom tabbed for Game 2

depending how far apart the contractions are.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I thought that they had announced Syndergaard, but today I see that he'll be in the game, but perhaps in relief.