Fansided

MLB All-Star break: 10 biggest storylines of 2017

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 05: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees in action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on July 5, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 7-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 05: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees in action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on July 5, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 7-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 10
Next
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 14: Matt Harvey #33 of the New York Mets in action against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on June 14, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. New York Mets defeated the Chicago Cubs 9-4. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 14: Matt Harvey #33 of the New York Mets in action against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on June 14, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. New York Mets defeated the Chicago Cubs 9-4. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

9. The Mets are falling apart

Generation K — Bill Pulsipher, Jason Isringhausen and Paul Wilson — was supposed to finally remove itself and the painful memories that followed from long-suffering New York Mets with the arrival of Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz. A quintet of young power pitcher this talented has never been seen in MLB history. As was the case with Generation K, however, keeping young power pitchers healthy has proven difficult for the Mets.

Noah Syndergaard was the only pitcher in the Mets rotation to make it through the entire 2016 season healthy, but was knocked out after only five starts with a lat tear. Harvey continues to deal with shoulder fatigue and may not pitch again this season. Before his injury, the right-hander was 4-3 with a 5.25 ERA and more concern about his off-field exploits. Wheeler has managed to make 15 starts in his first full season back from Tommy John, but has a 4.86 ERA and has been ineffective. Matz has actually been able to make six starts, but is striking out only 5.4 per nine.

The Mets are finding out the hard way once again that pinning all of a team’s hopes on keeping young pitchers healthy is an exercise in futility. Yoenis Cespedes has also been on and off the DL with nagging hamstring injuries. Without good starting pitching, the mediocre surrounding cast has not been able to keep the Mets afloat. They ended the first half at 39-47 and will miss the playoffs for the first time in three years.

Going forward, the Mets will have to address several tough questions. Harvey could be a non-tender candidate this winter. He is just 8-13 in his past 30 MLB starts with a 5.02 ERA. Manager Terry Collins is also unlikely to be back, if he even makes it through this year. The Mets have become a clown show.

Home/MLB