On Wednesday, it was reported that the New York Mets are not expected to bring back pitching coach Dan Warthen for the 2018 season.
However, several pitchers have been vocal about the fact they don’t want to lose Warthen who has been the Mets pitching coach since 2008 when he replaced Rick Peterson.
Noah Syndergaard was shocked and not very happy when he found out that Warthen’s job could be in jeopardy. “I was just shocked and thought it was honestly (BS) when I saw it. I know we had an unfortunate season but he’s definitely not the one to blame for it,” Syndergaard said on Wednesday.
To that Syndergaard added, “He’s helped me become a big league pitcher. I know we’ve had a disappointing season here. I know the pitching has struggled. But Dan Warthen is part of the solution. Dan’s not the problem.”
The 2017 Mets starting rotation has been ravaged by injuries to key cogs like Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler as well as under performance by Matt Harvey and Robert Gsellman.
With a 4.98 ERA, the Mets pitching staff ranks third worst in the majors and the starters have been even worse with a 5.14 ERA. Walks (3.71 BB/9, 4th highest) and home runs (1.37 HR/9, 10th worst) have both been issues for the Mets in 2017.
It’s been a quick fall for a Mets pitching staff that had a 3.58 ERA (3rd best in MLB) last season allowed only 0.95 home runs per nine innings.
Mets reliever Jeurys Familia also chimed in on the possibility of Warthen not being brought back for the 2018 season, “It’s an amazing job he’s been doing for this organization and for us. Honestly, when I made it to the big leagues, I didn’t always trust in my stuff and he would talk to me. He taught me my sinker. If I don’t have that pitch, I’m not the guy that I am right now. He’s meant everything to me.”
Warthen’s contract, like that of Sandy Alderson, Terry Collins and Kevin Long, expires at the conclusion of this season.
