Noah doubt
I T WAS Fan Appreciation Night at MCU Park on Coney Island on Thursday, so consider it a departing treat that those in attendance for the Brooklyn Cyclones’ final game got a chance to see Noah Syndergaard.
The Mets’ former All-Star pitcher, who has been on the disabled list since being injured April 30, was making his second rehab start in what he hopes will lead to a return to the major leagues before the season is done in three weeks.
“I don’t want to let 10 months go by without competing in a big league baseball game,” Syndergaard said after throwing 36 pitches in a two-inning outing in which he topped out at 100 mph on the speed gun, according to a team source. “Guys that go that route, it takes them a little time to get back going and knock the rust off. I want to go out there and prove I can come back from injury after four months.”
If you’re asking “What’s the point?” join the club. The Mets’ season is done and at the rate players are going down with injuries, it might be better if Syndergaard stayed as far away from Flushing as possible. But the right-hander is determined to contribute in some fashion, if for no other reason than to create a 2017 memory better than leaving his start against the Nationals on April 30 with a partial tear of his right lat muscle.
That injury, which occurred after Syndergaard declined an MRI, was just part of what has been a forgettable season for the Mets, who saw their pitching staff ravaged with injuries and watched a losing season lead to an exodus of veteran talent.
“It’s been tough to watch,” said Syndergaard, who was 1-2 with 3.29 ERA at the time of his injury. “I’ve tried to stay positive and be a good teammate.”
Syndergaard had a cameo on the HBO hit series “Game of Thrones” that aired while he was sidelined. The clip of him chucking a spear was the only thing Mets fans had seen him throw before his first rehab start Saturday with the rookie-level Gulf Coast Mets. He said he isn’t sure what role the Mets will have for him should he make it back to the big leagues.
“Whether it’s coming out of the bullpen or being a starter, I just want to get out there and prove I can stay healthy,” Syndergaard said.
He will have to pitch better than he did Thursday to prove he’s ready. He said his command was “crap” and he got fatigued during the second inning. He wound up throwing 36 pitches, 26 for strikes. He allowed three runs on three hits, walked two and struck out two. His velocity was in the mid-90s.
“I felt pretty good,” Syndergaard said. “I got out there and tried to do a little too much and let the anxiety of being in an actual game get to me a little bit. But overall, I thought it was a step in the right direction.”
Syndergaard had a longer-thannecessary first inning. After walking Staten Island’s leadoff hitter, Andy Diaz, on seven pitches, Syndergaard threw a 1-2 fastball that Wilkerman Garcia lined into right field. It should have been caught, but Cyclones right-fielder Wagner LaGrange was too shallow, which allowed the ball to sail over his head. Garcia wound up with a run-scoring triple.
Syndergaard struck out the next two hitters on seven pitches before ending the inning by getting a grounder to first base. He threw 21 pitches in the opening frame, 16 for strikes. He allowed another run in the second inning on a run-scoring double by Diaz, who was thrown out trying to reach third. Syndergaard, who upped his velocity, threw 15 pitches in the second inning, 10 for strikes.
Though Syndergaard said he was “disappointed” with how he felt Thursday night, he pronounced himself ready to return to the big leagues, proving at least one Met isn’t ready to call it a season.