Behind Dan, brass not sure
majors overall: 3.43.
This year, however, the rotation went off the rails, and Warthen has become a target for unhappy fans and some within the organization.
Overall they are 28th in team ERA (4.89) with the worst batting average against (.273) in the National League. The starters are 27th in the majors with a 5.16 ERA and have a .282 batting average against, the worst in the NL. That probably has something to do with every starter going on the disabled list at some point except deGrom.
Despite the declaration by GM Sandy Alderson this June that Warthen “was part of the solution,” the 64-year-old’s contract — like that of manager Terry Collins and the other coaches on staff — is up at the end of the year. The organization has been quiet about his future.
Outside the organization, Warthen is seen as one of the best pitching coaches by many and others admit he is “a coach who gets results, gets those pitchers to understand how to pitch.”
He has had the support of owner Fred Wilpon, according to a team source, but some in the organization have been grumbling about him since last season.
But before the Mets make any decision about Warthen’s future, they should understand who it will affect. Talking to a majority of pitchers, it’s clear Warthen is well liked and he should not take the blame for this dismal season.
“He has helped me a lot, he’s taught me different grips and approaches,” deGrom said. “Even just this year, working through that period where I just couldn’t get myself mechanically together, he was there working with me and we eventually figured it out.
“I like working with Dan,” deGrom said. “We work well together and I think I am better for it and I want to keep working with him.”
DeGrom said that no one had asked him about working with Warthen going forward, but he wished they would.
“I feel like we’ve worked well together. I hear other guys say they work well with him,” said the Mets’ best pitcher over the last three years. “I am not exactly sure how that works, but I don’t see any reason to start over with someone else.”
Warthen is alternately described by his pitchers as funny, smart, stubborn, demanding, a genius, odd and difficult, but ultimately the consensus is that working with him has made them better.
Seth Lugo credits Warthen with helping him add velocity when he got up to the big leagues and figuring out that he needed to do a better job hiding the ball during his delivery.
“Last year I was calling him a genius when I first got here,” Lugo said. “I like working with him.”
Even the catchers, whom his critics accused of undermining their confidence, said they enjoyed working with Warthen.
“He’s an awesome person, knows the pitching aspect of baseball really well. He’s really good at reading swings, really good at working younger guys,” Travis d’Arnaud said. “He’s very insightful, definitely picks up on things you don’t notice. He’s very bright. He’s a good person.” nd with that support, Warthen wants one more year to get this staff straightened out. These pitchers and catchers want to continue to work through their issues with Warthen. Now, the Mets have to decide if they can do any better.
A