The first step towards keeping the Mets pitchers healthy: A throwing program

The first step towards keeping the Mets pitchers healthy: A throwing program

by Brian Erni November 16, 2017 0 Comments

Mickey Callaway and his new pitching coach, Dave Eiland, are already working on a plan to keep the Mets' pitchers healthy.

According to Marc Carig, the two have sent the staff an offseason throwing plan that the players will have to be diligent about following.

Carig has been all over the story about how the new Mets staff plans to improve their pitchers' performance and health, and it has me really optimistic. 

In 2016, I felt like the Mets should have gone with a six-man rotation at least to start the season. My rationale was that with all the extra workload on the pitchers' arms from the 2015 postseason, they would benefit from the extra rest. But that never materialized, and -- coincidence or not -- by the end of the year, the Mets were ravaged by injuries and ended up leaning heavily on call ups Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo to push them toward a Wild Card berth. 

In 2017, the narrative was all about keeping the pitchers healthy, but it seemed more like wishful thinking than anything prescriptive. How was that going to happen? A different workload? Beefing up the bullpen? There wasn't any action besides a lot of lipservice to how important health was. Predictably, wishing and hoping didn't work, and Mets fans endured a 92-loss slog through the season. 

But things are different now. The Mets have a plan. They're going to be conservative with their starters, and if they're not named Syndergaard or deGrom, opposing batters are not going to see them a third time through the order. To compensate for that, Sandy Alderson seems intent on landing a late inning bullpen arm or two to compliment Jeurys Familia, A.J. Ramos, and Jerry Blevins.

And now the offseason pitching program, which could be a game changer. On the surface, it may not seem like one, but it reflects the kind of forward-thinking insight this organization needs right now. 

On his media tour this week, Callaway spoke about how the Indians identified just how dangerous a pitcher loosening up their arm with light tossing can be, and changed the way his staff threw during warm ups. The Indians also had players give urine samples to check their hydration levels, and would not allow a player on the field until he was properly hydrated. 

Maybe that sounds silly, but Callaway's Indians staffs were notably durable. And we're coming off a season where Yoenis Cespedes says he doesn't like the taste of water, so he doesn't drink enough. Dehydration can lead to and/or exacerbate muscle pulls and tears. I think we can draw a straight line to his reoccurring hamstring problems. 

Syndergaard and deGrom are legitimate aces under team control that don't come around that often. Even without Matt Harvey never becoming The Dark Knight again, this staff should be the strength of this team. If Callaway and Eiland's new program is the beginning of a new way of doing things at Citi Field, I'm very excited that maybe the Mets are finally figuring out a cure to the constant injury woes. 

It's certainly better than a hope and a prayer.




Brian Erni
Brian Erni

Author




Also in The 7 Line Blog

Freddy P's Tailgate Empanadas
Freddy P's Tailgate Empanadas

by Darren Meenan September 25, 2023 0 Comments

Pre-order your Tailgate Empanadas! Freddy P is a Mets fan with a local business that we'd love to shine a spotlight on. What started as a simple chicken empanada tray for a holiday dinner turned in to a hustle around the 5 boroughs. 

Read More

The Final Tailgate Of 2023
The Final Tailgate Of 2023

by The 7 Line September 18, 2023 0 Comments

If you haven't hit a tailgate this season, you have one last chance! Come close out 2023 on Sunday October 1st at Citi Field. Kick the day off with us in the Marina Lot as we put a bow on this season. 

Read More

Tailgate with The 7 Line Army on September 16th
Tailgate with The 7 Line Army on September 16th

by The 7 Line September 12, 2023 0 Comments

Tailgate with us on Saturday September 16th at Citi Field! Kick the night off with us in the Marina Lot! The Mets take on the Reds at 7:10pm so we expect fans to start showing up around 3pm. If you can't swing that early, just get there when ya get there.

Read More

.video-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; }