New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler is looking forward to the 2019 season and he is also looking to have a good year especially since he will be pitching in a contract year.
He will not allow his upcoming free-agent
status to be a distraction, because he will worry about that after the season.
He just wants to focus on spring training and be prepared for the upcoming
season.
Wheeler went 12-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 29 starts last
season. He really stepped up during the second half of the season. His last
eleven starts consisted of a 9-1 record with a 1.68 ERA and 73
strikeouts over 75 innings.
He currently is having spring training struggles.
He allowed three runs, four hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings in Sunday’s
10-8 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He is 0-1 with a 10.13 earned run
average thus far this spring and has allowed five runs (three earned) and five
hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Wheeler has struggled each spring training during his
career; however, he is confident that he will correct his mechanics in time before
the regular season starts. Manager Mickey Callaway felt that Wheeler
mechanically looked good, because his fast ball reached 99 mph.
In other news, former New York
Yankee and New York Met pitcher Al Leiter left his NY Yankee Broadcaster job to
go to work for the NY Mets as an advisor in their baseball operations
department. He will focus on scouting and player development with an emphasis
placed on mental preparation for pitchers at every level of the organization.
The Mets also announced former Met and current club ambassador John Franco will also
assist the team with scouting and player development, with an emphasis being
placed on helping to develop the organization’s pitching talent.
Both Franco
and Leiter were key members on the Mets’ pitching staff during postseason
appearances in 1999 and the World Series showdown with the Yankees in 2000.
In other baseball news, former Washington National and free
agent Bryce Harper signed a mega 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia
Phillies. It is the most lucrative contract in North American sports history
with no opt-outs and it includes a no-trade clause, and needless to say Harper
has stability.
The Nationals offered Harper a 10-year 300 million deal earlier this winter, but Harper declined, because the amount of deferred money would have lowered the real value of the contract.
The Nationals offered Harper a 10-year 300 million deal earlier this winter, but Harper declined, because the amount of deferred money would have lowered the real value of the contract.
Also, former New York Yankee Adam
Warren signed a one-year free agent contract with a club option for the 2020
season with the San Diego Padres.
Have a good day, Mets fans.
I often remember Seaver struggling during the spring as he straightened out his mechanics - I am worrying about neither Zack or Matz as they do the same this early in spring training.
ReplyDeleteI am skeptical about Zack, to be honest. Too long of a track record (injuries and ineffectiveness) to ignore, just because he had a "hot" finish to 2018. The Mets need the 2018 version, but early returns are not encouraging.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Bryce Harper is concerned, he needs a map! DC is not Philly......that was an entertaining press conference, at least.