TODAY: Matz’s surgery took place today and went as expected, Carig tweets.
MONDAY, 8:36pm: Matz will indeed undergo a procedure to reposition his ulnar nerve, the Mets have announced. That will be scheduled in the coming days, per the announcement.
4:52pm:Mets lefty Steven Matz is dealing with a nerve issue in his pitching elbow that will likely lead to a DL stint and may require surgery, according to reports from Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News and Marc Carig of Newsday. It seems the problem is similar to the one experienced last year by teammate Jacob deGrom.
Matz, 26, has struggled through a disappointing campaign after showing immense promise in his first two seasons of MLB action. Through 13 starts, he has pitched only 66 2/3 innings with a 6.08 ERA, recording 6.5 K/9 against 2.6 BB/9 while surrendering a dozen long balls. Arm health has been a longstanding concern for Matz, and he has already missed time this year for an elbow injury.
It seems that Matz has been skipping pen sessions between starts to help manage the issue, which has caused him pain all year long. There was at least some concern that the southpaw was experiencing arthritis; it’s not apparent whether that has been ruled out. Matz received treatment in the form of a shot earlier today, so perhaps his response will dictate the course of treatment.
It’s worth emphasizing that there’s no evidence of a structural problem in Matz’s elbow. And while it’s never good to hear of possible elbow surgery, deGrom has not shown any ill effects from the nerve repositioning procedure he underwent last September.
Still, this represents the latest jolt to a Mets’ rotation that was expected to be one of the game’s very best. If Matz hits the DL, only deGrom will remain standing among the hurlers that were expected to comprise the staff entering the year.
nmendoza44
The Mets are officially the team that can’t have nice things.
sagbagels
lol thanks to AA, full of idiots, cpmunk told them matz has mechanics issues…
its the curse of cpmunk too bad
Whos123
Oof
ItsRob_
This dude been on the DL more than the actual mound at this point
DaKingoftheNorth
I don’t think you know your stats. Check again.
bigkempin
Since his callup Matz has actually missed more starts than he has made.
SaberSmuckers
What’s a “callup”?
sagbagels
its related to its cousin, the scallop
reflect
Degrom is having the worst year of his career. I think he might well be showing ill effects
norcalblue
Say what?
bucketbrew35
He’s actually currently having the second best season of his career.
Jeff Todd
The ERA is up a touch, as are the home runs, but otherwise he’s been as dominant as ever (if not moreso). And he’s leading the NL in innings.
padam
I think he’s been overthrowing at times, trying to strike everything out since his velocity is back. He had a bad stretch, but otherwise solid year overall.
sagbagels
thanks to the awesome mets defense and offense
acarneglia
The Baseball Gods hate the Mets
thegreatcerealfamine
The Mets owners hate the Mets but love the money…
sagbagels
#curse of cpmunk
thanks AA
bravesfan88
The Mets trainers, medical staff, and their coaches apparently hate the Mets as well…
If he was suffering through pain earlier, then why wasn’t this addressed, especially with his history of arm troubles?? It makes absolutely no sense, and it really almost seems like the Mets had/have zero interest in Matz long-term best interest.
I am not a doctor, but I have coached, played, and/or umpired the game for over 20 years, and EVERYONE knows when a pitcher shows even the slightest signs of discomfort, elbow pain, any numbness, shoulder pain, etc. you shut him down from throwing, and you get him thoroughly checked out immediately!!
Yet, the Mets let Matz just keep throwing??
To me, it just calls into question do they even care about Matz or his health, and how many other pitchers have they just kept trotting out there, when he was clearly not 100 percent???
I really hope I am wrong, and I just don’t have all the facts, or I am misinterpreting something here…but if not, that is just really pathetic and everyone involved should just be fired immediately…
And before anyone goes there, this has nothing to do with me being a Braves fan..Personally, I love the Mets young stable of pitchers, I just really hope they aren’t being ruined by incompetence!!
Best wishes Matz on a speedy recovery!!
vtadave
Apparently the Mets brought back the coaching and training staffs that managed the Mets’ pitchers during the Isringhausen/Pulsipher/Wilson years.
Strauss
The mets need to review their staff and see why there are all these injuries to their pitchers. They’re all hurt. Something’s wrong both in development and on the pro staff.
majorflaw
1. That’s a bit naive. You don’t think the Mets are constantly reviewing injuries, treatment, rehab, etc?
2. It’s also unrealistic as you are expecting the same people who presided over a problem to correct it. That usually doesn’t happen until a new crew is brought in.
3. Breaking: Pitchers get hurt. Particularly their arms. Were you this critical of their development and pro staff two years ago? I’ve seen nothing which would demonstrate that the Mets have done something which caused or failed to do something which would have prevented injuries to their pitchers. Notwithstanding the disparate treatment of Harvey and Strasburg.
sagbagels
im sure if you chart mets injuries in the last 20 years in terms of sheer volume, significance, and severity of injury, you will find the mets are top of the class….its time to change, even for the sake of changing…
#firerayramirez
majorflaw
Rather than merely asserting that the Mets would be at the “top of the class” in terms of injuries why not do some homework and actually prove it, if true. Your “I’m sure . . .” certainty is no substitute for actual, you know, evidence. Go ahead and prove me wrong, if you can. I’ll gladly admit my error. But unsourced, conclusory statements do not win the day for your point.
” … its time to change, even for the sake of changing…”(sic)
Changing just for the sake of change is the hallmark of poorly run organizations. Keep what’s good and fix what isn’t is how well run organizations do it.
lesterdnightfly
sag bagels: Seems your “evidence” is to resort to insults and name calling. As Perry Mason would say, that’s incompetent, immaterial, and irrelevant.
You are proving majorflaw’s argument that you can’t back up your claims.
SaberSmuckers
Great post, something is definitely off with sagbagels. Between the unnecessary insults and “they they”, sad to see it on this site.
bravesfan88
The only proof necessary is that they continued to let Matz pitch after it was already known he was not nearly 100 percent and that he was in pain…
How can you continue to let a pitcher, with his injury history, pitch when you’re fully aware he is in obvious pain and discomfort?!?
To me, that is pretty clear proof of mismanagement and the whole situation just screams of ignorance and incompetence…
I mean, you can’t help but wonder now, what other pitchers have they allowed to continue to pitch, when they were fully aware said pitcher was throwing with pain and discomfort?? And furthermore, what ill effects or damage were brought on by the Mets’ staff allowing their pitchers to continue pitching injured…??
sagbagels
dont censor…..i dont care what he claims…obviously he has no claim to the otherwise so then thats a moot point…
fact is mets have historically been eliminated from playoff contention for the longest time due to injuries…e.g. wright, piazza, harvey, the list is huge..
sagbagels
they do that with every player and pitcher…its not just pitchers…they’ve taken steps with harvey and pitchers this year to limit inning yet the inevitable still happpened…
the training staff is an issue and there has to be some miscommunication going on in the clubhouse between the medical staff, management, and ownership..
seanwh01
Results speak for themselves. There is a problem with the Mets approach to pitchers.
marcfrombrooklyn
Correlation is not causation. The sample pool is too small to reach a conclusion based on what amounts to anecdotal evidence. We could just as easily blame these guys’ little league and high school coaches. We don’t know and without actual evidence of mishandling of specific cases as evaluated by experts, it is wrong to blame the organization. We just don’t know, and we seem to be years away from knowing how flawlessly to keep pitchers healthy and address injuries.
sagbagels
correlation also does not mean zero causation, so stop using cliched phrases…according to you, no one is to blame…but right, fans who pay arent owed accountability for the players and organizations they support to be responsible for taking care of themselves and putting the best product on the field…
User 4262034938
You’re kind of terrible.
1. “We don’t know and without actual evidence…” != ” no one is to blame”
2. “fans who pay arent owed accountability…”
They are not. I think you know the answer to this one.
3. “I’m sure if you just eat enough oranges, you’ll turn into one. Proof? I JUST SAID ‘I’M SURE’ WHAT PROOF DOES YOU WANT?” – sagbagels
4. Is there an ignore feature here?
seanwh01
Results speak for themselves
User 4262034938
There is a problem with your approach to forming a coherent and logical argument.
Results speak for themselves.
mikeyank55
Go back to watching the Cyclones’ games Marc. Then you won’t ever need to question little league coaches.
Open your eyes and look at the season stats from 2014 and 2015. Now compare IP and you will have your answer.
mikeyank55
If you are in denial simply research the number of innings pitched in 2015 vs 2014.
Then look yourself in the mirror and repeat after me:
“They blew these young pitchers’ shoulders and elbows out”.
Blue387
Ray Ramirez has been the Mets’ head trainer since November 23, 2004.
sagbagels
he has to go…
User 4262034938
You have to go.
padam
Would be interesting to see how Fulmer pans out over time.
sagbagels
probably much better than cespedes will last with his glass thighs
Ruben_Tomorrow 2
Regardless, that trade was good for the Mets. They went to the World Series that season, and they would most likely have never made it there without Céspedes. One of those trades that worked out for both teams.
dswaim
The Mets ended up winning the division by 7 games. I’m pretty sure Cespedes wasn’t that big of a factor and he disappeared in the postseason. Murphy coming off the DL in August was a much bigger factor for the World Series run
sagbagels
thumbs up
metsjetsislanderssadness
If ces didn’t come to ny that year, they were done that by August 1. Ces was MVP quality in two months playing Time. Anyone to think he wasn’t a main piece of them getting to where they were is lost. Ces was the reason they got to the playoffs. Murphy was only good cuz ces was in the lineup (Harper now). Did he turn things around for himself, yes, but don’t even think Murphy was the reason they made the playoffs. Yes he did historic stats in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but since we are being overly ignorant I will join the club and say it could be because of Murphy the Mets lost the World Series. Goes both ways. But ces is the main reason they got to the playoffs.
flex_savage
this is false. no cespedes, no WS
sagbagels
but wait murphy now mvp contention for the last 2 years since that post season…and ces….has been on the DL for how long?
sagbagels
i think you meant to say no ces, no playoffs because no muph, no WS
mikeyank55
And “TC” burning through those young arms.
mikeyank55
Hey Sag-become part of the solution. Sit in left field and treat Cespedes like my dog when he comes inside on a hot day. Hand him a water bottle and repeat, “WATER. Drink more water”. If he drinks 5-8 oz. give him a cookie.
ka_teague
Guys learn to not even acknowledge saggy. Not worth the aggravation.
metsjetsislanderssadness
Couldn’t agree more
SaberSmuckers
Great advice.
sagbagels
lol dude, you guys are like obsessed with me…maybe you really should ignore me since you cant help yourselves from writing about me
metsjetsislanderssadness
Frankthetank said it best last week. Anyone who promotes themselves as saggy anything should be the last one talking about anything.
Phillies2017
Like I said last night, Matz has been an injury risk since day one. No doubt talent, but unfortunately he’s one of many “talented” pitchers who just could never stay healthy.
I think the Mets should at least think about moving him to a relief role. A lesser workload could help him and he’s the kind of guy who has the stuff to be dominant there. Think about it, Familia, Ramos, Matz as a three headed monster with Blevins as the middle reliever- just have the starter go 5 or 6 and you’d be golden.
sagbagels
i agree his mechanics are wonky and traditionally speaking his transfer of kinetic force from his legs to his arm is super weird….personally i dont think ramos is that good…and familia in recent history has been choking like benitez style…
extreme113
Doesn’t anyone remember he didn’t throw his first professional pitch until three years after he signed his contract being damaged goods from the get-go?
sagbagels
yes great point…he was always injured in college too. idiot shill mets fans labeled him a savior because he was from LI…but totally disregarded his terrible mechanics
DaKingoftheNorth
You know you need a more up to date trainer when Pudge Rodriguez mentions you in his HOF speech
mikeyank55
Stop wasting time on the worthless mets. They should be dragged into law suits for neglecting their fiduciary responsibility and abusing the young pitchers with overuse.
Boycott now. No $$& to Wilpon’s. Turn off SNY.
Make them sell!