I watched the Buffalo debut of Zack Wheeler and
I was quite impressed with so many parts of his game. For a second there I
thought I was watching some seasoned all-star veteran on a rehab assignment, teaching
the kids how the game needs to be played.
The delivery seems effortless. There is no way he’s going to rip a
shoulder muscle with a slow, smooth movement like that. It really didn’t matter
if he pitched out of the stretch or not. There was just this slow, deliberate,
perfectly repeated motion that would eventually lead to the ball coming out of
his hand.
Then, the ball just seems to explode. It’s like a cannon
shot, but the best part of his game is the three ++ pitchers he was throwing.
The third inning was absolutely perfect. The last batter in that inning
will talk about that at bat to his grandchildren. He was faked out worse than
when Sarah Gunshennan had me convinced I was going to get some if I helped
carry her groceries home from the Italian deli on ‘Jerome Avenue’.
You can’t help but think of Stephen Strasburg when you watch this kid. The
poise, the mixing of pitches, the simple character he possesses. It’s been
years since we’ve seen this kind of pitcher wear a Mets uniform.
You may all be starting to understand why I’ve been so positive about
what will begin to happen next year with this team.
Harvey, Wheeler, Familia, and Mejia
Add Santana, Niese, Edgin, Gee, and Dickey and just wait.
5 comments:
On a Giants' team laden with great young arms, Wheeler, IMO, would STILL have stuck out as the eventual ace, even above Cain and Baumgartner, in time...this deal ends up being the lynchpin to Sandy's entire rebuilding effort, and luck sometimes plays a HUGE role in how things go (like the Mets beating out 2 other teams for Tom Seaver's rights)...I could only listen to yesterday's game, on internet radio, but the announcers were raving about him. One announcer said "you don't see kids like this, with his kind of stuff, anywhere in the minors. He's a once-in-a-generation talent for a lucky team!!" Indeed...
David, it was a man among (amongst? a monk?) boys
He did look great. On a night where he didn't particularly fare well. Too many walks, high pitch count. Pretty sick that he looked so dominant on an "off" night.
Hel'll be in major league camp at spring training. Wonder if he'll force their hands with a great spring. You'd have to think Gee would be the odd man out as long as Santana's shoulder holds up. '13 is going to be a vet interesting/exciting year. This upcoming offseason as well. With a rotation of Dickey, Harvey, Niese, Santana, and Wheeler...how could any NY front office not open their wallets and purchase the nessesary pieces to make a playoff push. With the Nationals seemingly becoming a pitching powerhouse, the front office can't afford to take their usual wait and see attitude anymore. The mets are going to need offense...badly. This team, without outfield upgrades is doomed; regardless of pitching. David Wright just isn't enough.
(Jeez... Mets fans...)
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