Jacob deGrom hasn’t taken the National League by storm quite like Dwight Gooden did in his rookie season, but Gooden is confident deGrom will be the first Met to win the NL Rookie of the Year award since he captured it 30 years ago.
“Striking out eight guys in a row [to start Monday’s game against the Marlins], that really put the stamp on it for me,” Gooden said by phone Tuesday before the Mets’ 9-1 win over the Marlins at Citi Field. “That’s the kind of thing you need to do to get people’s attention, especially as a starting pitcher.”
The eight straight strikeouts is something Gooden never did, as deGrom tied the modern-day record, set by the Astros’ Jim Deshaies in 1986.
Though Gooden has yet to see deGrom pitch in person, he has followed him since he was called up and likened him to Matt Harvey — something he told Harvey when they were at a 9/11 event last week.
“I told him they have a similar mound presence,” Gooden said. “They both carry themselves like veterans out there. They’re two different pitchers, but nothing rattles them.”
Including the battle for Rookie of the Year. Cincinnati outfielder Billy Hamilton figures to be deGrom’s stiffest challenge for the award, but Gooden noted Hamilton has faltered lately.
Nevertheless, Gooden said he isn’t ready to give deGrom the award yet.
“I was up against Juan Samuel and I wasn’t sure I would win it until [Mets PR exec] Jay Horwitz called me that day,” said Gooden, who won it a year after Darryl Strawberry. “So you never know.”
Gooden went 17-9 with a 2.60 ERA and a league-leading 276 strikeouts, numbers deGrom can’t match. But deGrom has fanned 134 in 134 ¹/₃ innings and should have two more starts before the end of the season.
“Ever since he’s been back from the [rotator cuff] injury, he’s almost pitching like he’s got something to prove,” manager Terry Collins said. “He continues to do things that open your eyes and I just think this guy is going to be some kind of special guy because he’s only going to get better because he works so hard it.”
Unlike Gooden, who was only 19 during his rookie season, deGrom is 26 and hasn’t garnered nearly the attention Gooden did.
“If he wins, I’ll tell him to enjoy it, but don’t forget what got you there,” Gooden said. “After I won my Cy Young, the expectations were so high that when I didn’t live up to them, it took the fun away from the game.”
That’s one of the reasons he said he values his Rookie of the Year award more than the Cy Young.
“Of all my individual accomplishments, I cherish that one the most because you only have one shot to win it,” Gooden said.
Gooden also said he’s looking forward to seeing deGrom and Harvey pitch together next season.
“Matt is going to appreciate things more when he comes back,” Gooden said. “It’s tough to go through an injury like that, but it makes you tougher.”
Speaking of Harvey, Gooden said he’s not worried about the hot water Harvey has found himself in from time to time.
“He’s enjoying himself, but he hasn’t really done anything wrong,” said Gooden, who knows a few things about controversy. “Maybe some of the things he’s said he’d like to take back, but that’s part of the ups and downs. He’ll be fine.”