One of the reasons Noah Syndergaard was kept in the minor leagues last year was his inability to adjust in-game, using his fastball too much in an attempt to overpower hitters and strike them out.
Through Syndergaard’s first five starts with Triple-A Las Vegas and 15 starts in the big leagues, Syndergaard looked as though he was beyond those problems, fully grasping the notion that he must use all of his pitches if he is going to get outs consistently.
But in his start against the Rays last Saturday, Syndergaard seemingly reverted to being that thrower which frustrated team brass last year, and he was knocked out after four innings when he allowed five runs in four innings.
And on Thursday at Citi Field, it looked like more of the same from Syndergaard, who threw only two breaking balls in the first inning, allowing two solo home runs while putting the Mets behind 2-0.
“After the first inning, we discussed it: 12 pitches, 10 fastballs,” Terry Collins explained. “And two of them were hit out of the ballpark.”
Travis d’Arnaud held himself accountable for the poor pitch selection, although Syndergaard didn’t shake him off.
“That was my fault. I got one finger happy,” d’Arnaud explained after the game. “Once we started realizing they were geared up for the fastball, we started mixing pitches.”
That adjustment clearly came in the second inning, and went a long way from saving Syndergaard and the Mets from a long afternoon against the Rockies.
“That first inning, I was just trying to establish what their approach was going to be,” the right-hander said. “I made two mistakes, and they jumped all over those fastballs and were able to put good swings on them and hit them over the wall. After that I was able to settle down and continue to pitch rather than throw.”
Syndergaard was able to establish both his change-up and fastball for strikes beginning in the second inning, and he mostly cruised from that point forward.
He did allow another run thanks to a leadoff walk in the third inning, but he didn’t allow a hit after the second inning. He ultimately allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts while lasting seven innings to earn his seventh win of the season.
“I think next time, you’re going to see a lot better assortment of pitches in the first inning rather than just try to overpower guys,” Collins said. “Because we know he can do that but it’s gotten him into trouble the last couple starts. So, he’s got to pitch.”
It’s that usage of his assortment of dominant pitches which has made him so successful in his first big league season, and has ascended him to the top of the National League Rookie of the Year discussion as well. It’s often forgotten he’s only 22 years old and still growing, learning, and adjusting, all while the league is doing the same thing against him.
The good news for Syndergaard on Thursday was that he was afforded an opportunity to right his ship and avoid continued regression thanks to the offense blowing the doors off this game for him.
“It took a little pressure off me. I give up two runs and the offense answers back with three,” Syndergaard said about the run support. “I was able to relax and not be too fine and attack the strike zone.”
In the end, these are growing pains for one of the most exciting arms in baseball. He demonstrated out of the gate in his big league debut against the Cubs he is better than this, and his ability to adjust after that first inning on Thursday, and resemble the Syndergaard the club wants him to be shows how strong and capable he is mentally.
It happens. Live and learn, move on, and go win some more baseball games.
Just Mets 