By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor
Now you can place Jacob deGrom in that category of dominance. There won’t be a debate about the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner in that category of being a top pitcher in the game with consecutive awards that became official Wednesday evening.
Once the Baseball Writers’ Association of America could look at the win totals,as that significant factor in determining CY Young consideration.
But Jacob deGrom has changed that criteria and turned the vote into that category of dominance. The Mets right-hander became the 11th pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards with 29 of 30 votes.
It has been dominance from a modern day pitcher with 21 wins in the last two seasons. The wins used to play a role in the vote. But Jake has changed the guidelines with his dominance.
He showed that again in 2019, a 2.07 ERA in his final 27 starts, finishing 9-7. And if the Mets provided more run support and bullpen preserved the lead, Jacob deGrom ups the win totals.
“I kind of got back to my mindset of 2018,” deGrom said Wednesday night. “I didn’t let much bother me.”
And that characteristic of going about his business is something in itself. As the Mets showed down the stretch in September, deGrom, was in his usual position of pitching deep into games. He went about business as the Mets failed to score runs,
But it wasn’t an easy April. Jacob deGrom did not resemble a Cy Young pitcher in the first few months. He had to struggle as hnis team failed to score runs. He made the necessary adjustments with that mindset of getting wins for hbis team as a priority.
The Cy Young talk came into play months later. The admiration from his teammates in the clubhouse is what every pitcher looks for.
“I was so impressed with the way he carried himself throughout the first part of the season,” said J.D. Davis. “He hit some adversity but continued to grind it out to then turn the page and be lights out for the rest of the season.”
It was Cy Young all over again. He joined the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and the Nationals’ Mat Scherzer as the 20th pitcher to win multiple CY Young Awards.
“His attention to detail and preparation went to another level.” Davis said. “And while a lot of us young guys watch one of our leaders dive into trying to better himself everyday, helped us to stay motivated and driven into bettering ourselves for the team.”
What stands out here was leading NL pitchers in strikeouts, lowest OBP allowed, finishing second in ERA and WHIP, third in innings pitched.
And those final 23 starts, allowing more than two runs just four times and three runs twice in that span. Jacob deGrom, though, was not happy as he finished the season as a Cy Young favorites in his final start.
He said, “I guess you do kind of set personal goals, but tonight we fell short of a team goal.”
You hear this about the Cy Young Award winners over the years and comparisons with some of the former Mets that have been on the mound.
Tom Seaver, Doc Gooden, R.A Dickey, all Cy Young Award winners with the Mets. Seaver and Gooden stand out as those homegrown products and led the Mets to championships.
Jacob deGrom got the Mets close in 2015. He wants that championship and his team is close after falling three game short of a 2019 NL wild card .
The Mets fell short but this week two of their homegrown took home awards. Tuesday, Pete Alonso was the landslide 2019 NL Rookie of the Year.
It is all good for an organization that is close to getting the major hardware in October.
“It means a lot to this team and organization to have a Cy Young Award winner and a Rooke of The Year winner,” Davis said. “The future is bright for the Mets and is led by two great ballplayers.”
Davis Said, “I can’t wait for the 2010 season to start.”
And something says, Jacob deGrom is destined for history with another Cy Young Award and championship year not far from becoming a reality.
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