Tom Brennan: Injuries? Almost Always Worse Than They First Say

MARTE HAS ALWAYS MISSED LOTS OF TIME, INCLUDING AS A MET

Injuries are almost always worse, and often significantly worse, than first reported to we the fans in Metsville. 

Let’s go down the list just for this year: 

Kodai Senga was supposed to miss a period of time, a handful of weeks. 

He then missed nearly 4 months, before his very unfortunate calf injury placed him in Double Jeopardy.

There was honesty about the latter injury, though, perhaps because they needed Kodai on the 60 day IL for 40 man roster space maneuverability.

Ronny Mauricio was supposed to be out for the bulk of the season, but now he’s had a setback and naturally is out for the entire season. 

Drew Gilbert, # 2 prospect, was supposed to be out a short period of time when he first got hurt. He instead missed close to 4 months. His return so far has not been auspicious. Which has me suspicious.

Jett Williams, # 1 prospect, looked like he’d be out for a few weeks with his wrist injury. It turned out to need surgery and there went many weeks and in fact his entire AA regular season, save for 39 early at bats. 

Jacob Reimer (# 15 prospect at the time) pulled a hammy early in the spring, was expected to miss some time, but he returned much later than initially indicated, in late July. No HRs since his return.

Starling Marte was supposed to be out for several weeks but get back sometime in July. It is now mid August, and he’s only now getting closer to his return. 

Sean Reid Foley was supposed to be out a short period of time, but his hiatus got significantly lengthened. 

Dedniel Nunez, who first was reported as hopeful returnee as soon as his IL stent was to end on August 8, now it looks like the end of August instead, or twice the time. 

Sure, one can come up with a few examples to the contrary.  

Francisco Alvarez returned quickly, probably quicker than expected. 

It appears that Reid Garrett was able to return fairly quickly, about according to the original timetable. 

The status of Christian Scott remains iffy, so he could fall into either the expected, or slow, column. 

David Peterson did return right at the end of the 60 day IL stent at the beginning of the season, although I think that one was not surprising - they knew he'd miss close to 60 days at the start of 2024, so they put him on the 60 day, and he could not return until that ran out.   He was able to throw 6 outings spanning 24 innings prior to his return, and likely could have returned a few weeks sooner, if the 60 day IL stay was not a block to that.

But this franchise has a long history of guys taking longer than expected to return. Look no further than Jake deGrom, who was constantly pushed back in his return to the Mets after his two Cy Young years. 

Edwin Diaz last year had real hope that he would return before seasons end, but he didn’t, in part because the team had fallen out of the race. 

One can think back to Ike Davis, who had a slight collision with David Wright by the mound, missed a tremendous amount of time, and really was never the same again. 

David Wright himself always seemed promising as to his return timing from injury, but it was often delayed and ultimately career-altering. 

I think this is a long enough list of examples, however, and I did not attempt to go back and exhaustively try to come up with a full comprehensive list of the injured taking longer than expected to return in order to make my case. 

Part of it is no doubt psychological - let opposing teams think important Mets guys are closer to return and closer to making the Mets a more formidable adversary.

Do you agree?  Who would you add to this quickly cobbled together list? 

Or am I just being a pessimist? A Debbie Downer? 

BIG WIN, FOLKS

9-1 win. The often under-appreciated David Peterson moves to 7-1. He is my ace. You pick someone else if you feel it is necessary.  Pete 4 for 4, 3 RBIs, Lindor 2 for 5, 2 RBIs, with one of those knocks being his 100th Mets HR.

SOME HURTFUL DRAFT FACTS

These NY Mets in 2022 drafted Kevin Parada 11th and 4’6” Jett Williams 14th overall. 

The former has been a floundering strikeout machine. The latter played for about a week this year before getting hurt and missing an entire year of development, with us all hoping the injury will not be a long term hindrance.

But the picks just past Parada are also floundering K machines too, right.

Nope.

Who could they have picked instead?

Jace Jung, 2B, was selected at #12 by Tigers, one pick after Parada…he is doing very well in AAA. 

Zach Neto was selected two picks after Parada. He is already in the bigs and having an excellent season at SS for the California Angels (4.1WAR) and hit a key 3 run homer off of Huascar Brazoban to start the Mets’ recent nosedive. 

Chase DeLauter, OF, was the 16th pick. He has missed some time due to injuries in 2024, but is playing well in the minors and is Cleveland’s #1 prospect. Parada is now the Mets’ 25th ranked prospect.

OF Justin Crawford was drafted 17th out of HS by Phillies. Excellent season so far in 2024, and was promoted about a month ago to AA. Phillies’ # 3 prospect. 

And, of course, the Mets’ first rounder of 2023, Colin Houck (32nd overall) with 149 Ks in 94 games.

My brother Steve’s reaction? 

“And you’re surprised?” 

Me: “Not at all.”

Hopefully the new regime is better at drafting than the prior ones. 

Or, just bring out a dartboard and draft that way. With a blindfold required.

If your dart goes awry and hits Mack in the butt, draft him. His strikeout rate is lower than Parada and Houck.

Draft results could only be better, not worse, using the dartboard method.

SPROAT JUST 3 INNINGS BECAUSE….

No, he was not injured and no they were not limiting his pitch count. The S Mets’ site reported: “In the bottom of the third, Rochester tied the game 1-1. With runners on first and second and two outs, Darren Baker hit a single into shallow left field. With the runner from second base, Jackson Cluff, rounding third and trying to score, Yolmer Sánchez threw a perfect toss to home plate that appeared to get Cluff at home plate as he went standing into the bag. However, Cluff was ruled safe for game-tying run and an RBI single for Baker. 

“After the next batter grounded out to end the inning, Brandon Sproat was ejected from the game protesting the safe call, and pitching coach Grayson Crawford was ejected protesting Sproat being ejected from the game.”

And Baty hit a 440 footer. He seems to be emerging from his hitting coma.

And Gilbert was HBP his first time up and exited the game. More ABs missed.