The Edge of Seventeen: Zack Wheeler

[Edgy MD]

September 25, 2014. That was the last time I took the field for the Mets. It was game two of a doubleheader. Bobby Abreu played in that game. Daisuke Matsuzaka relieved me. So did Gonzalez Germen. What do you mean they don't do intentional walks anymore? What?!

It's a been a long time. And the Mets have won like 180 games since then without me. I'd like to be a part of this. I really would. We're going to win that Carlos Beltran trade, I swear it.

But when? I'm looking forward to this season, but I need some support. What do you think will happen?

[fimg=371:31961the]http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/zack-wheeler-62613.jpg[/fimg:31961the] [fimg=349:31961the]http://sports-kings.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wheeler.jpg[/fimg:31961the]
[fimg=360:31961the]http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.5507100.1371517806!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.jpg[/fimg:31961the] [fimg=360:31961the]https://sports-images.vice.com/images/2016/04/11/zack-wheeler-the-mets-fifth-young-ace-is-biding-his-time-body-image-1460399158.jpg?resize=1220:*&output-quality=75[/fimg:31961the]

[Benjamin Grimm]

The latest is that they'll let him pitch 130 innings this year. That's about 20 to 25 starts if they limit him to five or six innings. Which means that they don't have to delay him too much; maybe keep him in Florida for the first few weeks of the season, then a few games in relief before he enters the rotation. Skip a start here and there and maybe this can work out.

I'm not sure if they'd let him exceed the 130 innings for post-season starts, but that's a concern (hopefully) for October.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I feel like, with most things, circumstances will dictate Wheelie's season moreso than THE PLAN, or rather THE PLAN will coalesce around the changing circumstances with implications for Wheeler. So will my "predictions."

Here's my thought: He "wins" the 5th starter role and is "piggybacked" with his challenger Lugo. They monitor the first half-dozen starts and continually reassess. By then the circumstances change again: Matz comes back, or whatever, and Wheeler becomes the piggyback man.

Optimistically, he goes 9-4, 3.66 in 20 starts/40 appearances/150 innings/ 135-50 K/BB and includes enough good ones to be counted on again in the future, is the comeback player of the year, and a valuable spot-start/long relief kinda guy who gets thought of as a closer occasionally. That's a very optimistic take, I know.

SHOW EM THE PLAN, ZACK!

[MFS62]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Here's my thought: He "wins" the 5th starter role and is "piggybacked" with his challenger Lugo. They monitor the first half-dozen starts and continually reassess. By then the circumstances change again: Matz comes back, or whatever, and Wheeler becomes the piggyback man.

This.
But no matter how many games/ innings, I think he'll go 3.45 ERA, 7.8 K/ 9 IP and 3.3 BB/ 9 IP, 1.27 WHIP.


Later

[Ceetar]

Ah Wheeler. poised to have a monster 2015 imo, and now it's 2017.

Does he take the next step, or does he need to catch up again first?

140 IP, because in August it'll be all "This guy's got a 2.1 ERA and we're only a game up on the Nats, what do you mean limit his innings?"

9.2 K/9, 2.61 bb/9 2.33 ERA, 3.9 fWAR

gets game two of the division series.

[metirish]

Hard to believe it was 2010 when he came over , I like Bucket's thoughts on ZW( I'm calling him that now!)

[Guest d'Kong76]

10ish wins, 1-2 of them not as a starter in 2017.