Today may turn out to be the most important day of the season:
Mike Puma of the Post tweets:
Mets officials will huddle Tuesday to decide the next step for Steven Matz, who has a bone spur in his elbow
Can confirm Syndergaard has a bone spur also.
Syndergaard claims no bone spur. Multiple sources say he has one.
Was told it's at Syndergaard's insistence the club isn't publicly acknowledging the bone spur.
New York Post report:
Noah Syndergaard is injured even if he wont admit it - (
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Kristie's full report: - ( New Window )
The problem is the Mets later confirmed that he is in fact suffering from the reported elbow ailment. Its possible Syndergaard just doesnt view the issue as a big deal. Hence the answer he gave to the question.
The full report: - ( New Window )
Newsday : - ( New Window )
But they cant fool themselves. When members of your rotation are showing up at the doctors office more often than pharmaceutical reps, its a serious problem. And repeatedly saying that Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz are merely dealing with discomfort no longer is an acceptable medical diagnosis.
Something has to be causing Syndergaard and Matz to feel pain in their elbows, and more credible reasons eventually surfaced yesterday, when it was revealed that both are coping with bone spurs.
David Lennon continues ... - ( New Window )
Note: significant
Heyman continued: - ( New Window )
But they cant fool themselves. When members of your rotation are showing up at the doctors office more often than pharmaceutical reps, its a serious problem. And repeatedly saying that Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz are merely dealing with discomfort no longer is an acceptable medical diagnosis.
Something has to be causing Syndergaard and Matz to feel pain in their elbows, and more credible reasons eventually surfaced yesterday, when it was revealed that both are coping with bone spurs. David Lennon continues ... - ( New Window )
Meh, this is kind of silly. I think it was important for the Mets to make it known that these are not structural issues. Especially with Matz who has already been down the TJ road. It's known now that Matz is dealing with bone spurs and apparently against Syndergaard's wishes, it is also known that he's dealing with the same.
At this point it is a discomfort issue. They're going to have to deal with it and pitch through it or they're going to have to get cleaned out. I don't think either is looking to have surgery at this point, so.. it is what it is.
At this point it is a discomfort issue. They're going to have to deal with it and pitch through it or they're going to have to get cleaned out. I don't think either is looking to have surgery at this point, so.. it is what it is.
But with both having disastrous last outings as a fan I have to wonder if they can pitch through it for the remainder of the season.
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At this point it is a discomfort issue. They're going to have to deal with it and pitch through it or they're going to have to get cleaned out. I don't think either is looking to have surgery at this point, so.. it is what it is.
But with both having disastrous last outings as a fan I have to wonder if they can pitch through it for the remainder of the season.
It's a legitimate question.. no way of knowing. But I think if they know it's simply a pain tolerance issue at this point it may help. Matz especially seemed to be really nervous about the tightness he was feeling in his elbow and was probably thinking "here we go again" with the UCL. If he knows now that pitching through this isn't going to cause ligament damage, it may put his mind at ease. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
It sucks, and we more than likely fall out of the division chase and pin our hopes solely on hanging around for the one game playoff but it is what it is.
Bruce Bochy's theory is alive and well as far as I'm concerned. Pitching into November is too much for these arms to bounce back from so quickly.
I would get them cleaned up right NOW. If by some chance we hang around, they can always come back mid-August/September. If we are out of it, you just shut them down and come back strong in 17.
I am confident the staff will bounce back nicely in 17. The problem is, what will the offense look like?
This sucks.
spoke to a doctor I know today and asked him about spurs in elbow. Told me it varies in degree of discomfort really depends on the person.
baseball can sometimes be a war of attrition. mets dealing with injuries but the nats just put Strasberg on dl -'got to tough it out.
It sucks, and we more than likely fall out of the division chase and pin our hopes solely on hanging around for the one game playoff but it is what it is.
Bruce Bochy's theory is alive and well as far as I'm concerned. Pitching into November is too much for these arms to bounce back from so quickly.
I would get them cleaned up right NOW. If by some chance we hang around, they can always come back mid-August/September. If we are out of it, you just shut them down and come back strong in 17.
I am confident the staff will bounce back nicely in 17. The problem is, what will the offense look like?
This sucks.
Keep in mind the this is not a team decision. The players decide what to do with their bodies.
Syndergaard averaged only 91-mph on the slider, down 3-4 mph from its peak in April, and generated only four swings and misses in the 21 times he threw it.
Clearly, something was wrong, although the right-hander repeatedly said, theres nothing structurally wrong with my elbow at all.
An organizational source, however, said the spur was found in Syndergaards elbow two weeks ago. To be fair, though, the discomfort has fluctuated and he was relatively pain-free on Monday. The reason for Syndergaards poor outing couldve been merely a case of nerves. Or as Collins noted, when a pitcher is even slightly inured, you always wonder its going to hurt (delivering the ball).
Matz case is more concerning, and the Mets still havent determined whether hell start on Wednesday. He, too, will have to decide whether he can perform at less than 100 percent efficiency its a metric neither the rookie nor the club can measure. The decision will be Matz only.
But the Mets cant ignore the red flags. Matz said, I was having trouble finishing my pitches against the Braves, which means hes babying the arm. Without a radical change in mechanics, Matz will be shut down. If he requires surgery, we wont see him again until next February in Port St. Lucie.
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Injuries (particularly MLB and NFL) and the salary cap (ex-MLB) have conspired to reduce my general fandom. Im on pins and needles hoping out players stay healthy (e.g. Mets pitchers, Porzingis). And then you get to the cap and the issue is no longer "is that guy good". It's "is he worth the money and do we want to be tied to him when we could get someone else in 2 years..."
If you look at baseball alone. They have to consider shortening the season at least to 154 games. Start a week later and end the regular season a week earlier.
Cohen also brought up a point about how this current format came to be during the steroid era and now these players can't stay healthy without the substances.
Love him or hate him and even though he is mostly full of sh*t I think Dykstra's recent comments via his book regarding his own use of PEDs and how described swinging a bat in August is like trying to swing a telephone pole, really illustrate how tough the grind must be.
The length of the season is a real concern just look at what is happening to pitchers league-wide.
The Mets are going to win in 2017.
Hard arteries make a hard man.
Boy do we ever need vintage Harvey to show up tonight. Lets see some dang K's already!
Alderson says Matz will skip his start Wednesday and pitch Thursday. He will be monitored to see level of tolerance to continue pitching.
Anthony DiComo
Steven Matz will not start tomorrow, #Mets say. But he will pitch Thursday at Citi Field against the Cubs. Pushed back one day.
Marc Carig
Alderson on Matz: spur in back of elbow causing irritation. No structural damage and pitching won't make it worse.
#Mets also confirm Noah Syndergaard has "a very small spur in the back of his elbow." Syndergaard had said last night that's not the case.
Alderson described Syndergaard's spur as "really insignificant."
Marc Carig
On Syndergaard, Alderson says he has a small spur on back of his elbow, not nearly as bad as Matz's. Less discomfort than Matz.
The #Mets believe Matz's bone spur will need to be surgically removed, they're hoping after the season. Syndergaard will not need surgery.
Alderson says Syndergaard is not a start by start proposition.
If Matz need surgery it's 3 months off, so he will try to keep going for now.
Marc Carig
Alderson: if Matz has surgery it's season ending. So he'll pitch as tolerated.
Alderson: docs not concerned about spur in Syndergaard's elbow getting worse.
Kristie Ackert
Doctors gave #Mets absolute assurance that Matz pitching with spur will not cause damage to the elbow. #Mets
Alderson will have a new projection on Wheeler's timeline: Doesn't have one yet.
Kristie Ackert
Wheeler threw hard at 90 feet yesterday. "Hard to predict when he will be ready." --Alderson.
"We're still evaluating where we are... We haven't made a decision on that yet." Alderson on Gourriel
Sandy says Gourriel took BP. Complimented his defense. Said more showcases to come for him. Said Reyes not affecting their pursuit.
Marc Carig
Just took BP at workout, ran "fairly well." Didn't face live pitching. Agent has said they'd like to sign in next week or two weeks.
Alderson said Mets looked at Gourriel at second and third.
Reyes will keep playing third base in minors until he gets back to majors. Then, he'll do some outfield work, per Alderson.
Alderson says he is unsure if the team will offer Gourriel a contract. Says it may take a month for him to be ready.
No specific timetable for Reyes being promoted yet. "He wants to be ready. He doesn't want to disappoint..." Alderson
Sandy said Duda two weeks from baseball activities.
"We're still in pretty good shape." Alderson
Lucas Duda is still about two weeks away from baseball activities. Seems a July return for him is all but out of the question at this point.
matz will pitch Thursday in Citi and noah slated to take his regular turn
Sandy said matz might be throwing less innings if discomfort becomes unbearable
Verrett starts Wednesday. #Mets
Terry said hardest part is uncomfort for young guys and getting peace of mind they can execute pitches
Collins and Warthen are convinced Syndergaard's poor start was from overthrowing, the result of trying to show the world his elbow is fine.
Sandy mentions possible 6-man rotation and shorter starts with Matz to help navigate the discomfort.
Matz on possible surgery: Ill cross that bridge when we get there. Right now Im focused on pitching.
Sandy Alderson today: "I think what we have a tendency to do around here is manufacture anxiety. Like Apple produces iPhones.
John Smoltz: #Mets pitching staff too good for its own good last yr,and now paying the price
John Smoltz: #Mets pitching staff too good for its own good last yr,and now paying the price
That doesn't make sense. The Braves staff was excellent and intact for many years with few injuries.