Injuries have always been a part of the game in sports, but it’s never more frustrating than when they happen during crucial moments. The NFL is trying out new technology to make it easier on the players and reduce injuries while still providing action-packed games that fans love.
The New York Mets were feeling quite good about themselves heading into the 2022 MLB season. They had blown through the luxury tax over the winter, thanks to owner Steve Cohen, and were prepared to field one of the most star-studded squads in baseball.
By alone, the starting rotation of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer was enough to frighten opposition fan groups.
However, calamity struck before the Mets’ new-look club could really get started, as it often does.
Jacob deGrom, the Mets’ ace pitcher, will be out for many weeks.
The Mets stated that Jacob deGrom’s MRI this morning revealed a stress response in his right scapula. He won’t throw for four weeks, after which he’ll be tested again.
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) April 1, 2022
DeGrom began suffering shoulder discomfort in his throwing arm only a few days before his scheduled Opening Day start. This has been a persistent problem for deGrom in recent seasons. His high-velocity, aggressive throwing action seemed to be wearing him out.
The Mets immediately sent deGrom in for medical imaging as a result of his sudden discomfort. The outcomes were not favorable. DeGrom will be forced to take a four-week break from throwing. After that, he’ll be reevaluated to determine whether he can start working his way back into throwing shape. For the first two months of the season, the Mets will most likely be without their ace pitcher.
This is certainly bad news for a squad that was expecting to depend heavily on its ace this season. Unfortunately for New York, things are only going to get worse.
Max Scherzer is nursing a hamstring injury.
Max Scherzer was scratched due to stiffness in his right hamstring. He’s not sure whether he’ll be ready for the season’s start on Opening Day. He said that he is on a day-to-day basis.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) April 2, 2022
It isn’t quite as serious as deGrom’s injury. Max Scherzer, an offseason acquisition, was sidelined on Saturday due to hamstring soreness. He has a minor muscular injury, which might cause him to miss his first start of the season.
Scherzer’s comeback to the squad is hoped to happen sooner rather than later. He may, however, be beginning to succumb to Father Time at 37 years old. Even the all-time greats begin to deteriorate as they get older.
It’s bad news each time a club loses its top two starters at the start of the season. The Mets, on the other hand, will feel the brunt of this. For many seasons, they’ve depended on deGrom to win games, and they paid a record amount to get Scherzer in free agency. Without them, their roster begins to appear a lot less dangerous.
The Mets’ offense will be put to the test.
Eric Espada/Getty Images/Jacob deGrom
It will be hard to replace deGrom’s effect (and potentially Scherzer should this hamstring issue linger on). The Mets attempted to trade for veteran San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Paddack, but the deal fell through, demonstrating the challenges of adding pitching depth at the last minute.
If the Mets want to compete with the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves early in the season, they’ll have to get their offense going. Newcomers Starling Marte, Mark Canha, and Eduardo Escobar must show that they are deserving of their contracts. Simultaneously, players like Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo must establish themselves as key contributors.
No matter how you slice it, this is all awful news for the Mets. Citi Field is under a lot of strain right now.
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