The foundation of the Mets rebirth is and always will be their starting pitching.
They’ve already suffered two setbacks to their cornerstones in the last 20 months with Matt Harvey and now Zack Wheeler undergoing Tommy John Surgery on their right elbows.
With that in mind, the Mets intend to take things very conservatively with Harvey and Jacob deGrom – who is also a Tommy John survivor – in 2015.
“It’s not about health,” general manager Sandy Alderson said, according to Mike Vorkunov of the Star Ledger. “Well in Harvey’s case it’s about his return. And in deGrom’s case it’s being a little conservative, that’s all.”
Its the conservative approach which caused the Mets to carry eight relievers on their Opening Day roster, as neither of their co-aces have been stretched to 100 pitches to this point of the season. The extra arm in the bullpen could help ease the burden of the other relievers as they work to stretch them out, especially Dillon Gee who not only didn’t throw too many innings in camp but historically struggles the third time through the order.
Once these guys are stretched out, it would make sense to trim the bullpen by an arm and add a player back to the bench, such as Eric Campbell.
“That may change as well over time,” Alderson said of the current bullpen.
It’s worth noting if the Mets recall Campbell within 20 days of being optioned, the option would not count on his record.
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