Neil Walker announced he was indeed heading for back surgery and done for the season Thursday afternoon. Not long after Terry Collins revealed Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera were not starting, a nod to the continuing gimpy condition of their legs and a soaked field that made the Mets manager fret about exposing those ailments to the elements.
So the Mets were minus their three best hitters this season to back Jacob deGrom, who was starting for the first time in eight days.
DeGrom was given a breather following two of the worst outings of his career because, as Collins said, he looked “run down.”
The rest did not help. DeGrom allowed 10 base runners in five innings (four on walks) as he lacked zip and control on his offerings. He also left for the clubhouse summoning trainer Ray Ramirez to follow, but insisted after the Marlins’ 6-4 victory that injury and fatigue are not factors in his ongoing difficulties. DeGrom claims his issues are mechanical.
“I can’t throw the ball where I want right now,” deGrom said.
Since his job description is pitcher, that is a troubling flaw in the midst of a playoff stretch run.
And, remember, deGrom was moved up one day because Steven Matz, already dealing with a bone spur in his elbow — same as Noah Syndergaard — continued to feel achiness in his shoulder and could not come off the DL to start. The Mets have been trying to push Matz because Matt Harvey already is lost for the season and Zack Wheeler never came back, and they had hoped the strength of their rotation could offset the absences of Lucas Duda and David Wright.
Remember the scene in “Bull Durham” when the entire infield converges on the mound, each player with an individual complaint. Robert Wuhl, playing the pitching coach, comes out to learn what is going on and Kevin Costner, as Crash Davis, explains each player’s problem: a father at a game unnerving his son, the need for a live rooster to remove a curse from a glove and the uncertainty about what to get another player for a wedding gift. “We are dealing with a lot of [bleep],” Costner tells Wuhl.
From Jeff Wilpon on down, any member of the Mets could offer the same quote now.
Yet, I am reminded of a more famous line from another movie about the sport:
“There’s no crying in baseball.”
Recently, the Mets have balled more than bawled. Even with a 6-4 loss to Miami, the Mets have won nine of 12, including three of four against the Marlins, who are a reminder adversity is not exclusive.
Jeff Francoeur batted fifth against deGrom and the Marlins lineup got worse from there because of injuries to Giancarlo Stanton, Justin Bour, Marcell Ozuna and Derek Dietrich. Jose Urena was facing deGrom because hoped-for No. 2 starter, Wei-Yin Chen, actual No. 2 starter, Adam Conley, and staff savior David Phelps are all on the DL.
Every contender has its hardship narrative. Even before rosters expanded Thursday, 1,268 players had been used this year. The Mets, at 44 players, were middle of the pack. The front office has compensated somewhat by unearthing helpful pieces along the way for minimal cost in a season — because of how much they surrendered in trades last year — when they could not make multiple splurges. Rene Rivera, James Loney, Kelly Johnson, Jose Reyes and Justin Ruggiano all have contributed, and the Mets will hope for the same from newly obtained Fernando Salas.
Collins has implored his players to have a “next-man-up” ethos — to essentially not allow who has been lost to become an excuse. Yet, with Harvey and Matz out even Collins acknowledged what trying to win with a diminished deGrom would mean saying, “You can’t lose three-fifths of your rotation and think you are in good shape.”
Except that the Dodgers have lost more — notably ace Clayton Kershaw — and are in first place. The season goes on, the best figure out a way.
Look, the Mets are getting closer to requesting a two-for-one MRI special at the Hospital for Special Surgery, they know Walker is gone and Collins has no idea how often he might have to rest Cespedes and Cabrera. And deGrom still isn’t right.
This is not the team the Mets wanted to try to get to the playoffs with, but it is the team they have. They have found an underdog spirit and are surging. No alibis allowed.
After all, there’s no crying in baseball.