There isn’t any doubt in my mind that Jacob deGrom should be the National League’s Rookie of the Year. What he did in Sunday’s 10-2 rout of the Braves to complete a rare sweep in Atlanta – one earned run with ten strikeouts in six innings – should seal the deal.
What deGrom’s performance may have also sealed – although Terry Collins isn’t saying – is his ledger for the 2014 season. The Mets initially planned on 180 innings for deGrom this year and he’s at 178.2. Close enough.
Collins will make a decision early this week.
“We’ll regroup here in a couple of days and decide what we’re going to do with him as far as his next start goes,’’ Collins told reporters after the game. “He’s real close to where we wanted him to get anyway on the season. We were talking from 180 to 185 was going to be max anyway. We’ll just see if he starts the next game.’’
Collins said he’s impressed with deGrom’s stuff, both on the mound and from within.“I know one thing: He walked in here and he said he wanted to pitch,’’ Collins said. “He’s not sitting back saying, ‘OK, I’ll just shut her down.’ He wants to go back out there.
“That was impressive to hear. This time of year, in our situation, it would have been very easy for a lot of guys to say, ‘I’m done. I’m washed up.’ He’s not like that.’’
Collins has been impressed with his team’s unwillingness to pack in the season, and that’s a good reflection on him and why he’ll be back.
I have no problem with the Mets shutting down deGrom now, although it would be nice for him to take a bow at Citi Field in the season’s final weekend. The Mets are being ultra cautious, which is what to expect from them evidenced by their treatment of Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler.
If today was deGrom’s final start, he finished at 9-6 with a 2.63 ERA, 43 walks and 144 strikeouts. Those are definitely Rookie of the Year credentials.
Assuming deGrom is shut down, Rafael Montero would start next Saturday against the Houston Astros.
