Mets starting pitchers are ‘game-ready,’ Dan Warthen says
New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of a baseball game at Citi Field on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The baseball term is “getting your work in,” a phrase that captures all manner of going through the motions. Results don’t matter in the Grapefruit League, which provides enough leeway for pitchers to focus on preparation.
But this week, as members of the Mets’ vaunted starting rotation make their first game appearances in spring training, pitching coach Dan Warthen said there may be more than simply getting work in.
“With these guys, I think they’re game-ready,” Warthen said Sunday before the Mets’ 7-5 exhibition victory over the Braves. “So they’re going out there and throwing all their pitches. I think you’ll see them want to compete.”
The plan all along has been to delay the debuts of the starting five: Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Bartolo Colon and Long Island’s Steven Matz. But the extra time has created more excitement to finally return to game action.
“They’ve had their bullpens, they’ve had their sides,” Warthen said. “I think they’ll be chomping at the bit.”
Colon and Matz will pitch Monday in a pair of split-squad games. Colon will start at home against the Tigers and former Met Mike Pelfrey. Matz is slated to face the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright in Jupiter.
“For me, I’ve got to throw everything,” Matz said. “I want to feel comfortable with everything heading into the season. I just use this as a building block and not so much worry about results, just worry about the process and trying to feel good with all my pitches.”
He also acknowledged the extra charge that comes with facing opposing hitters for the first time.
“No matter how much you try not to, you’re going to have a different adrenaline when a hitter steps in there, when you’re facing another team, when you’re really trying to get guys out,” Matz said. “That’s really the only difference, that extra adrenaline that you get just naturally. No matter how much you try to calm it down, it’s still there.”
The Mets’ rollout of the starting rotation will continue tomorrow when Harvey faces the Braves. DeGrom will take on the Yankees on Wednesday before Syndergaard faces the Cardinals on Thursday.
“It’s time to get them out there and get them into some type of a consistent program to get them ready for the season,” manager Terry Collins said. “We just hope that right now they’re ready to go, that we don’t have to push them very hard and very fast.”
Typically, the Mets limit first outings to two innings or 30 pitches. But because the starting rotation already has had extra time to build up arm strength, Warthen said they will be allowed to go three innings or 45 pitches. That schedule should allow the pitchers to build up enough arm strength to approach the 100-pitch mark by Opening Day.
Throughout camp, based on bullpen sessions and live batting practice, Warthen has raved about the rotation.
“I think it’s a credit to them, and their work ethic, and everything that they’ve done coming into spring training, and what their goals are for the season,” he said. “Their season ended a little bit short last year. They don’t want it to end short this year.”
