It's hard being a pitcher. Matz already had one Tommy John in 2010 while he was pitching in the Instructional League. More guys who can throw 100 mph and more arm injuries.
Considering he's already had one that would be devastating. Hopefully this has nothing to do with his arm. Mets rookie LHP Steven Matz sidelined with torn back muscle By MIKE FITZPATRICK (AP Baseball Writer)6 hours agoNew York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz throws to the plate during the second inning of a baseball … NEW YORK (AP) -- Mets pitcher Steven Matz has a partially torn muscle in his upper back that will sideline the impressive rookie at least a month - probably longer. In a surprise announcement Thursday night, the Mets revealed Matz was examined at the Hospital for Special Surgery and diagnosed with a partial tear of the lat muscle on his left side. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection and will not throw for three weeks before getting examined again. Matz pitched six innings of two-hit ball Sunday in an 8-0 victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The left-hander has won both his major league starts, compiling a 1.32 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 13 2-3 innings. Matz had been scheduled to pitch Sunday at home against Arizona in New York's final game before the All-Star break. The team did not say who will replace him, but starters Jonathon Niese and Bartolo Colon would both be available on full rest. The injury is an unexpected blow to the Mets and their fine rotation. New York (44-42) is three games behind first-place Washington in the NL East, and three games back of theChicago Cubs for the second NL wild card. New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball … The latest in a line of highly touted Mets pitching prospects, Matz was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on June 28 and enjoyed a storybook debut during a 7-2 win against Cincinnati. Pitching approximately 50 miles from his Long Island home with more than 130 family members and friends in the Citi Field stands, he got three hits and became the only big league pitcher to have four RBIs in his first career game. Matz's promotion was part of the team's plan to return to a six-man rotation while managing innings for their prized young starters, including Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard and All-Star Jacob deGrom. If the Mets stick with that blueprint, it could mean another opportunity for Dillon Gee. New York had tried a six-man rotation in early June when Gee (0-3) came off the disabled list. But he made two ineffective starts sandwiched around a relief appearance before he was finally designated for assignment. Gee accepted a demotion to Las Vegas, where he struggled until tossing seven innings Sunday in a 3-2 win over Albuquerque. The veteran right-hander is 2-1 with an 8.82 ERA at Triple-A. He has a 5.90 ERA with the Mets.
All of the Mets success this season was well before they got Matz. He was just a pleasant addition. I guess many of us thought they brought him up to see what he could do in case they traded Niese. There is enough pitching to cover this but statistically (there was an article about it a day or two ago online) percentage wise it would be difficult for the Mets to make the playoffs. They would need a tremendous record the remainder of the season and other teams would have to start losing. As for Gee he looks like he's really lost it. I would go with a five man rotation and bring back Verrett who looked pretty good.
We all know that Matz will be out for the year. My thinking is he stressed himself too much throwing hard when he was down in the count and when he came up to bat and tried to rip a double every time. So it goes.
This news sucks. First off, because he is hurt. And second in my fantasy league, I had a trade of my Matz for his Jason heyward on the table and their was only a few hours left before it went through. It got veto'd due to his injury. Damn.!!
So the Mets put Matz on the 15 day DL. Who did they recall? Danny Muno hitting all of .083. btw Danny is the only player drafted by Sandy to make the Mets active 25 roster.
Noah dominates the top offensive team in the NL in Arizona. 8 innings 4 hits 1 run 13 Ks. This kid is only 21. Aaactually he's 22 going on 23. But still a grasshopper
Yep, you just don't trade any of these guys. It's about their depth too.. R.A. Dickey for Thor and Travis d'Arnaud. I guess we'll see d'A after the AS Game. He's gotta find a way to stay on the field. We have some depth at Catcher too. Hold on to it. What a relief to see a three run bomb and a follow up. Just a little more of that could go a long way
Yeah there is NO way I'm including Thor in any deal. He is just too much of a physical specimen. When he gets some experience and learns to pitch he could be an ace. dGrom already looks like an ace. Harvey looks a bit off but he's got the stuff and makeup of an ace. Hopefully the Matz lat issue isn't a shoulder issue because HE could be an ace. And while I'm not as high on Wheeler, he could be a great number 2 pitcher. This could be like the Orioles of the 70s or Braves of the 1990s staffs. _
I agree with keeping Plawecki. He's actually been more consistent offensively than Travis was his rookie year before they sent him down. He's basically been the Mets starting catcher this season. He might be winning himself a starting job for next season. Because as Walt suggested recently the idea of putting Travis at another position considering his injuries is getting more and more attractive. Maybe right field and move Curtis to left. Travis could still catch occasionately and with a 2nd string catcher on the roster it would give the manager more flexibility.
Me? I didn't say that, nor do I expect that to happen. We have d'A, Plawecki, Monel, and Rekker. Great depth at a tough position to fill. Our Battery, pitchers and catchers, is Youthful, and as good as it gets moving forward...
There is no way I'm moving d'Arnaud out from behind the plate. He's a catcher with good power--that is a huge luxury. Putting him in the outfield is not going to prevent him from getting hit by a pitch. Besides, if you've ever met the guy--he doesn't look like an outfielder. He's big but he looks like a squat fireplug. _
Sorry I thought it was your idea. Someone brought it up. When I watch Mets games I text with my brother. He mentioned it too last night. That he'd rather have Travis on the field rather than the DL. And that with him being so injury prone a position switch would be a good idea. The thing about that is. Travis has more value at the catcher position because he could potentially in the near future become the best hitting catcher in the NL. If he's an outfielder or other position player he's well above average but not the best offensively at his position. But if Plawecki doesn't drop back in July and August offensively he's making a potential bid for the Mets starting catcher position if they decide to switch Travis. It wouldn't be bad having both of these guys in the lineup.
Me either. He's a Catcher and it's a team strength that they built. Also, I sincerely doubt d'A would ever accept it, and that the FO and Terry would want to start fuckn around with him changing his position...just throw him into another position...nahhhh
That has worked so well in the past when the Mets have tried it. There are positions that are more easily translatable than others. SSs can move to 2nd. Athletic IFs can move to the outfield. 3rd baseman can move to 1st. Some catchers can move to 3rd. You can't just stick guys in the right field because you put the worst player on your little league team. Especially a guy like d'Arnaud. Not unless he lost about 10-15 pounds and worked on it for a year. Remember Murph in the OF? Duda? And they can keep moving Murph all over the IF and it doesn't seem he'll ever be adequate. He's a DH. No, keep d'Arnauds bat in the lineup as a C. _
Craig Biggio was a catcher until the Astros smartly realized he was too valuable to be left behind the plate. D'Arnaud to me looks athletic enough to adjust to 2nd which would surely extend his career. Bottomline is the Mets desperately need him on the field and in the lineup. He won't have a very long career behind the plate.
It'll be interesting to see how Plawecki does the rest of the season offensively if Travis doesn't return. Like a lot of starting catchers esp rookies BAs drop during the dog days of summer. He's around .230 if he can stay at that level or even improve on that he's making a statement and a claim on making the team and playing regularly next season. I could see a scenario where they split the catching and both play other positions, too. Obviously catchers are more susceptible to injury than other position players. Or if Plawecki is ready to be a starting catcher he'd have trade value. I'd keep him but I think his future here or somewhere else is as a starting catcher not a backup.
