Every time you turn around these days, some Met is winning some big award. These are good days.
Monday, it was Pete Alonso, National League Rookie of the Year (plus FAFIF’s MVM the next morning). Wednesday, it was Jacob deGrom, National League Cy Young. The latter was a case of Shéajà Vu all over again, of course, as Jacob is a repeat winner. Two years, two Cys.
These are good years, too.
Pete’s award was bestowed one nod shy of unanimous and it was a bit of an outrage. Jake’s second Cy came with exactly the same percent of assent — 29 first-place votes out of 30 —and it was fine. More than fine. Most of the season, the smart money was on Hyun-Jin Ryu of the Dodgers. But then the rest of the season got pitched, and down the stretch, nobody delivered like our Jacob. He was pretty good in the middle, too. Really, except for a short, baffling stretch earlier when batters briefly figured him out, Jake was generally great. Maybe not as great in 2019 as in superstupendous 2018, but greatness eventually reveals its truth.
Remember that game on September 9 when eternally lovable Wilmer Flores came back to town as a Diamondback, winked at deGrom from the batter’s box to start the fifth, and took his former teammate deep? That was adorable. That was also it as far as Jake giving up runs in 2019. Not just that night, but for the rest of the year. His final three starts were each composed of seven shutout innings. His final eight starts (and twelve of his last thirteen) were comprised of seven innings apiece — the contemporary conversion rate for nine. An ERA that brushed uncharacteristically close to 4.00 when May concluded settled in at a spiffy 2.43 when all was Cy’d and done.
The Mets have now collected seven plaques bearing the name of Mr. Young, or as many as any National League franchise since the advent of divisional play. Three went to Tom Seaver, albeit none of them in a row. Doc Gooden earned one in intensely memorable fashion, as did R.A. Dickey. Jacob deGrom has scooped up a pair and stands eligible to add on. Jacob deGrom is also signed long-term to stick around. We can’t say what his future holds, but we can depend on it being here, and we wouldn’t wager against it continuing to yield splendid results. Getting to watch this coolest of customers pitch every five days for the next five years (pending player and club options) should be its own award.
The best pitcher in the league one year. The best pitcher in the league the next year. The years have voted and the Jakes have it, two out of two. Unanimous enough.
Sub 3.00 ERA in 36 team losses..Hes a joy to watch..
What an Amazin’ achievement.
Too bad we couldn’t score for him and get him some more wins, ’cause that’s still, I believe, what gives pitchers great satisfaction.
Jake was kind of under the radar this year with regards to the Cy Young, as opposed to last year, when that was front and center with every single start.
Remember the “five aces”? Never was such a thing, never will be. The cream always rises to the top. DeGrom is the ace of a very talented Mets pitching staff in the same way that Seaver and Gooden were. I’m glad he’s ours for the foreseeable future.
Brodie said:
“We also have models that very much believe that Diaz and Familia will have progression from where they were last year.”
So now he’s relying on Stephanie Seymour and Christie Brinkley.
Analytics team might want to update its models.
Ryu was great this year, but definitely didn’t have to carry the same kind of strain that Jake did. Almost every game was critical to sustain any hope of playoffs, every inning was stressful since he almost never pitched with a lead. Amazing season.
Now, if Ryu wanted to contend for this year’s Cy Young as our #2 starter, I’d be pretty okay with that…
If this is the midpoint of DeGrom’s career and the back half is as good as the front half – he’s going into the hall of fame.
Don’t want to deJinx it by thinking about it before he’s got 10 years in.
I wonder if it was the same writer that didn’t vote for both Pete and Jake. If so, what I said a couple days ago goes double. I’m gonna have a hellacious fit if Mr. Gift Baskets For The Walk Of Shame is a unanimous selection.
You can check the BBWAA site for their identities, where everybody’s ballot is on display, even the objectionable ones, It’s all very transparent.
Thanks for this. No, it wasn’t. So maybe there will be two votes against MGBFTWOS.
I did notice they were both Californians. Gives me another reason to hate California.
Chuck–
Tom Seaver was born & raised and now lives in California as do many long-time Met fans–some of whom go back as far as Polo Grounds–like me.
Bob,
Thanks for the reply. I made a hasty generalization.
I don’t know Fresno, and I certainly like the Napa Valley, except for one asshole restaurant that I can’t remember the name of.
I was mostly thinking of southern California. I’ll now bid a hasty retreat from your lawn :) LFGM.
great news. was prepared to be outraged by max getting the nod as a sort of WS bonus.
jake is the ultimate class act. never referring to himself in third person, or adopting a goofy (and imo very self-defeating superhero moniker); just an extremely gifted, intelligent and fiece competitor who appears to be grounded and well-adjusted in spite of all that.
yes, jake is compiling a HOF resume thus far.
and yes so glad he won’t be the subject of trade rumors in the forseeable future
So who is our interim manager if Carlos gets suspended for his involvement in the Astros improper use of electronic devices to steal signs?
BVW and the Wilpons better have a sit down with Carlos to find out exactly what his involvement was and make a decision whether he remains viable or has to go.