The Morning Report 03.18.2015 | Opening Day Starter, #HairWeGo, Wheeler's Usage, Bullpen Problems

Bill Price | NY Daily News- I get that Opening Day is a special day, symbolizing the end of winter and the birth of a new season that brings hope and optimism to every fan in America. And sure, getting the nod of Opening Day starter is a big deal to the pitcher itself, but to look at it any more than that is a bit silly. If it were me, I would start Colon on Opening Day, deGrom in the second game and Harvey in the third game (which I happen to be going to) and go to Atlanta with Niese, Gee and Colon. Start deGrom at the home opener and Harvey two days later.

(Chris Soto: I have to agree with Bill here sans flipping deGrom and Harvey. I'm not sure how you CAN'T have Harvey pitch the Home opener. Colon would be a smart choice to pitch the Opening Day both from a nerves perspective AND a ticket sales perspective. The Mets 1st 6 games of the season are on the road which means the #1 guy in the rotation is pitching twice on the road. Fans would rather see a Citi Field opening of Harvey, deGrom, and Niese over something like Colon, Niese and Gee.)


Adam Rubin | ESPN New York- DeGrom allowed only one hit -- a leadoff single in the first by ex-Met Jordany Valdespin, whom he promptly erased with a double play. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year faced the minimum while striking out six. DeGrom has now walked only one batter and has a 2.45 ERA in 11 Grapefruit League innings.“I’m just going out there trying to repeat my delivery and pound the strike zone and locate, and try to eliminate those walks -- because every time I walk somebody, they seem to score,” deGrom said.

(Chris Soto: Here is the difference between when Harvey went down late 2013 versus Wheeler this year, there's back-up. Rather than fans falling into a doom and gloom state due to the loss of a major piece of the rotation, we get to watch Harvey toy around in his start and still throw 4 shutout inning, then, we get to watch deGrom just carve up the Marlins across 5 innings the next day. Don't take this the wrong way.....but the loss of Wheeler does not hurt this team.)

 

Jared Diamond | Wall Street Journal- On Tuesday, general manager Sandy Alderson vehemently defended the Mets’ use of Wheeler last year, showing an uncharacteristic amount of fire in doing so. He pointed to how the Mets handled staff ace Matt Harvey when he hurt his elbow, and he emphasized the unpredictable nature of elbow injuries and the mystery surrounding what causes them. In Alderson’s mind, the Mets acted in good faith.

(Chris Soto: Everyone is looking for someone to blame for Wheeler's injury. However, going after Alderson or Terry Collins or Dan Warthen or anyone is the wrong thing to do. Whether a pitcher throws every 5th day, 4th day, or 6th day has no bearing on injury rates. Whether a guy throws 90 pitches a start vs. 130 pitches a start or has side sessions vs no side sessions has no bearing either. PITCHERS BREAK.....that's just how science and the human body works. The overhand throwing motion is not a natural body movement. The moment you decide that hey I'm going the have my 10 year old kid play baseball, is the beginning of the slow deterioration of the throwing arm.)


Dan Martin | New York Post- Terry Collins used one word to best describe his bullpen. “Unsettled.” That seems accurate, with Josh Edgin having undergone Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, Jeurys Familia getting hit hard against the Marlins on the same day and struggling with his velocity at times, as well as other issues.“Yeah, it’s a little unsettling to think, ‘Who are we going to get to fill those roles?’ ”

(Chris Soto: We still have 2 weeks and change before the start of the season, so there is still plenty of time for the bullpen to take shape. That said, one of the team's strength heading into the season is beginning to draw some serious concern. We've already lost Edgin, Black is dealing with shoulder problems, Familia's velocity is down [potentially, due to overusage last year], Parnell won't be ready to start the year, and none of the other lefty candidates have been inspiring thus far.)