There were tapered expectations for the 2015 New York Mets. They seemingly have the pitching to propel themselves into the upper echelon of the National League, but the question always lingered as to whether or not the offense could keep up. The Mets now have a player in their ranks that maybe could just help on both fronts. While Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron continues to pile on to their domestic box office, the Mets’ own Thor continues to pile on the box score. Noah Syndergaard may not actually be a god, but Mets fans are revering him as one right now.
Syndergaard and Opening Day catcher Travis d’Arnaud were the prizes from the trade of then-NL Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey back in the winter of 2012. Since then, Mets faithful have been clamoring for their version of the Norse myth to make his way to the big leagues. They thought last year was going to be that time when Jenrry Mejia was shifted back to the bullpen after an unsuccessful attempt at being a starter. It wasn’t to be, but the introduction of eventual NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom eased the tension substantially.
So when Dillon Gee went on the DL earlier this month, the masses at Citi Field pondered as to whether or not this was the time to summon the child of Odin. The Mets also had Steven Matz ready and waiting, so it wasn’t a slam dunk as to promote Syndergaard at this time either. Nevertheless, on May 9th, Syndergaard got the call that his mightiness was needed in Flushing.
Syndergaard had dominated the Pacific Coast League with both his arm and his bat. With his arm, he was 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a K/BB of 34/8. With his Mjölnir, or bat for us commoners, he was 5-for-11 at this dish with two doubles and a titanic home run. He didn’t get to bat in his time in Toronto’s minor league system, but one could see he enjoyed the opportunity at every level he could with the Mets. The question still remained: Was he the next in a line of Mets pitching prospects to hit it big, or was he more a fun promotional tool?
His first start was a shaky one. He lasted just 5 1/3 mostly laboring innings against the Cubs and took the loss. Granted this start came against one of the better pitchers in the National League, Jake Arrieta, but the debut of the next big thing was underwhelming. He turned it around in his next effort against the Brewers. The butterflies from his initial foray into Major League life had been struck down by lightning. However, through two starts in the Show, Syndergaard had yet to properly display his mythic prowess at the plate.
It wasn’t something that grandparents will pass down through the generations as folklore, but Syndergaard finally recorded his first hit in his third start against Pittsburgh. He ripped a single off Pirates’ ace Gerrit Cole in the top of the sixth. He may have taken the loss, but that single hit was just a precursor for what he was truly capable of.
Yesterday saw the big Texan make his fourth start against divisional foe Philadelphia. For the first time though, Syndergaard wasn’t getting the best the opposition had to offer. No slight is meant towards the Phillies’ Sean O’Sullivan, but Cole Hamels he is not by any means. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky at Citi Field, but there were surely many a thunderclap. He put forth a 3-for-3 day at the plate, including this absolute belter to center field measured at 430 feet.
Yup, that happened. He also combined that with 7 1/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and no walks. The mighty Thor had laid down the gauntlet. Now, one good game does not a savior make, but this showing from Syndergaard should prove as a wake-up call for a team that cannot revert to their old habits.
The arrival of Syndergaard has rejuvenated a roster that was more sullen than slugging as they fell out of first place earlier this month to the streaking Nationals. With this sweep of the Phillies, a team they are supposed to beat, it looks like the Mets are making a U-turn on another potentially lost summer. He may not be the ace, but Syndergaard is the catalyst. His show yesterday got his teammates amped up. It makes your offense want to work that much harder when you support yourself at the plate.
The Mets were a team in distress. The skies opened however and down descended a one man reinforcement squad. They were given an Asgardian pitching dynamo who hits 100 on the gun, and hits them 430 feet over the wall. It is going to be a fun summer seeing what the Blue and Orange God of Thunder can do next. Whatever that is, he’s going to keep the Mets from being the “same old Mets.” While the Avengers are dealing with the Age of Ultron, National League opponents must prepare themselves for the Age of Syndergaard.