The Mets signed Wilson Ramos this offseason with the intention of him being the everyday catcher, obviously with some rest each week just because of the position he plays.
However, when the Mets signed Ramos to a two-year, $19 million contract, they were not expecting that he and the team’s ace, Jacob deGrom, would have trouble connecting as a pair.
DeGrom, 30, has a 5.33 ERA when Ramos is his battery mate as compared to the team’s backup catcher, Tomas Nido, who he has a 1.12 ERA with in the same amount of games.
After two straight starts with the latter with significant success, Mickey Callaway, as detailed by Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post, has determined that it might be necessary for deGrom and Ramos to get comfortable with each other, given the fact they are both significant pieces of the club as compared to Nido, who ideally doesn’t have to catch more than one or twice in a week’s span.
“At some point, they are going to have to work together and do it a lot. I think [Ramos] does value that, he understands it and he’s been proactive about it.”
Ramos, 31, contends that he and the team’s ace have been communicating to try and figure out the problem. The catcher, though, agrees with his manager that there is really only one solution to this issue.
“I didn’t catch [deGrom] the past two starts, but we have been talking, trying to stay on the same page, try to know each other more. And I talked to Mickey about I want to be behind the plate a little bit more with him because that is the only chance I’ve got to know more about him.”
“Those past two starts I have been sitting, watching, what he likes to throw in a particular situation and I pay attention to what he wants. Right now I feel good and I’m ready to be behind the plate with him and put all my experience to protect him.”
The expectation is, as noted by Cannizzaro, that Ramos will be catching deGrom on Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. DeGrom does not appear opposed to this, as he largely thinks his issues throwing with Ramos relate to himself, more so than his battery mate.
“I threw well to him Opening Day and then kind of after that I have been struggling with mechanics a little bit. I just haven’t been throwing the ball where I want to and I think sitting down with him and just going over how I want to pitch guys is one thing, but me executing them is another.”
DeGrom and Ramos will certainly be looking to right the ship together against the Diamondbacks, which will definitely be a storyline to watch during the game, as well as the remainder of the season.
