deGrom can teach Harvey about evolution
LESSONS are l earned. Sometimes on the fly.
Jacob deGrom struggled with his command during his final two starts of April, both losses. He surrendered nine earned runs over 10 1/3 innings.
Changes had to be made and deGrom worked on his mechanics to put more sink on his two-seam fastball.
Matt Harvey is going through a similar poor spell now and needs to make adjust- ments. He can learn from deGrom, who was named the co-player of the week last week in the NL.
This is not just about talent; it’s about not being stuck in the same gear. And manager Terry Collins said deGrom is one of the best at making those adjustments.
Not surprising since he had to make the adjustment from shortstop to the pitching mound his final season at Stetson University before the Mets drafted him in 2010.
“Dan can individualize proper mechanics to each and every guy,’’ Collins said of pitching coach Dan Warthen. “When Jake first came up here he was pitching very good. Due to the technology we’ve got, we have as much pictures and film from every possible angle you can get of someone’s delivery and when they start to get out of sync, they hit that film room for hours. Dan picked up a couple things and it made a big difference.’’ It sure has. DeGrom, went into his Saturday start against the Braves having won four straight, going at least seven innings in each of those starts. In his last start, a 7-4 win over the Diamondbacks, deGrom struck out 10, the sixth time he has done that.
And get this: DeGrom has 225 strikeouts, the third most by a Mets pitcher in his first 34 starts, trailing only Doc Gooden ( 299) and Harvey (251) and he has struck out at least eight in his last four outings, the longest streak by a Mets pitcher since R.A. Dickey had four straight such outings in 2012.
Mostly, deGrom loves pitching at Citi Field. Over his last 13 starts at home, he was 10-1 with a 1.30 ERA. He has made the most of this ballpark.
While t he t weaking of mechanics is going on, pitchers still have to find a way to make the pitch when they have to — no excuses.
“That’s where Matt is right now,’’ Collins said. “Get an out in those situations, he still has to make that big pitch.’’
Opponents were hitting only .154 against deGrom in his last five starts, giving opponents a major league low .178 on-base percentage against deGrom.
Since June 21 of last season, deGrom’s ERA of 2.18 is the second best in the majors behind Clayton Kershaw at 2.12.
DeGrom’s philosophy of pitching goes back to something his dad taught him growing up: “Leave no doubt.’’
DeGrom is leaving no doubt who is the best pitcher on the Mets right now.
“He took the stage by storm last year, went through a little bit of a down time and fought back,’’ Collins said of deGrom. “That’s one of the things I’ve always liked about Jake is that he has made adjustments on the fly. Even midseason.
“He got off to a good start this year that for some reason, gosh, he just lost his two-seam fastball down in the zone,’’ Collins said. “He worked hard at trying to find it, he’s found it and now all of sudden he maneuvers the [hitter’s] eye level so you never get a good read on him.
“He throws hard enough that he can go up here,’’ Collins said, pointing to the hitter’s shoulders, “for a swing when they are all still looking for his No. 1 pitch, which is a two-seamer. He can pitch inside, his changeup has gotten better and I still think his curve ball is a good pitch, but for some reason these power pitchers have gotten to more power pitches.
“But he’s got some weapons for you and he is in a groove.’’
All because of the ability to make adjustments on the fly.