Photo credit: Frank Victores, USA TODAY Sports
So, did you have the chance to watch Major League Baseball’s Midsummer Classic Tuesday night? Truth be told, I pretty much stopped religiously viewing the showcase on or about the time Jim Rice stopped appearing as a participant. Okay, sure I would monitor the goings on over the years, but in short doses, an inning here and there. Last night, I gave the game most of my attention (I mean it wasn’t like The Bachelorette was on), and I was absolutely blown away by one guy in particular. I know he is the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, and is off to another stellar start this season, but damn, Jacob deGrom is nasty!
Check that, nasty might not even do him justice, he’s filthy! Do you realize he spent less time on the mound than Pete Rose did, and oh by the way, he had to retire a side of all-star players. The New York Mets stud right-hander followed Clayton Kershaw to the hill to pitch the top of the sixth inning.
Unlike Kershaw, who was touched up for two runs, deGrom wasn’t touched…at all. I mean if I have one knock on him it’s that it took him ten pitches to strike out three hitters. First to dig in the box and try his luck was Oakland Athletics catcher, Stephen Vogt, and I think he would have fared better if he’d gone to the plate still wearing his tools of ignorance. Next up was Cleveland Indian, Jason Kipnis, who was unable to hit this, and then came defensive magician, Jose Iglesias. Well, true his magical skills the Detroit Tigers shortstop disappeared faster than he appeared. I’m making light of each player’s shot at deGrom, but quite frankly none of them stood a chance! In fact, here is a pitch by pitch sequence of how each at bat went:
- Vogt – Strike Looking, Strike Looking, Strike Swinging – Sit down!
- Kipnis – Strike Looking, Strike Looking, BALL, Strike Swinging – Thanks for playing!
- Iglesias – Strike Swinging, Strike Swinging, strike Swinging – Better luck next time!
Aside from that lone pitch to Kipnis that strayed from the strike zone, each AB was: good morning, good afternoon, and good night! I don’t even think he threw a breaking ball, then again why would he need to when no one could even foul off one of his darting and diving mid 90’s fastballs? I cede that because he didn’t pitch until one the middle innings, deGrom didn’t exactly face Mike Trout, Adam Jones, and Miguel Cabrera, but he did still face all-star players. To strike out the side on ten pitches in your first All-Star Game appearance ain’t too shabby, it is downright dominating.What Jacob deGrom was able to do, and how easy he made it look, was must see TV. To think that the New York Mets, as early as next year, have the ability to run him (27), Matt Harvey (26), Noah Syndergaard (22), Zack Wheeler (25), and Steven Matz (24) to the mound on a nightly basis should truly make them the Amazins! Now if there was only something Jacob could do about that bad salad on his head…
And that is My 2 Sense for the middle of July.
