PORT ST. LUCIE — All eyes are on Jake.
That’s the way it is after you win your first Cy Young Award, coupled with the hopes of signing a new contract. It’s difficult, but look beyond Jacob deGrom.
This is about much more than deGrom. For the Mets to be successful, this rotation finally has to click and stay healthy.
That’s the reality. Just listen to what pitching coach Dave Eiland told The Post on Sunday. He is not worried one bit about Cy Young Awards.
“Those personal awards are well and good, and Jake most certainly is deserving and all that,” Eiland said. “But what I want to see from each of these guys, our first four starters. I want to see all of them get a win in the World Series.”
That’s one serious goal.
“That is what it is all about,” Eiland said. “There is a different feel. They know there is a carrot dangling out there.”
DeGrom got his first spring-training start out of the way Sunday, a one inning, two-hit, one-run performance in a 10-1 loss to the Astros at First Data Field.
The Cy Young season is officially behind deGrom as he got some game work in with new catcher Wilson Ramos. That’s what matters.
On Monday, it will be Noah Syndergaard in West Palm Beach against Houston’s Justin Verlander, and Zack Wheeler will take the mound here Tuesday against the Marlins as the Mets’ Big Three get rolling.
In fact, the biggest issue for Mickey Callaway is that his starters are throwing too hard too early. DeGrom was 96-97 mph out of the chute. They don’t start slow anymore in spring training.
“He’s throwing 97, which scares me,’’ Callaway admitted, “but he’s throwing strikes. … I wish I could [dial it back] and I’m sure tomorrow [with Syndergaard] is going to be 100 [mph], and I’m going to be panicking. But that’s who these guys are, they are such competitors. Their arms are ridiculous. They are not overthrowing to get that, it’s nice and easy but it still scares the manager or a pitching coach when you see that velocity, but that’s who these guys are.”
And that’s a Big Three to match the Nationals’ Big Three of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. If Steven Matz fully blossoms as Eiland expects, the Mets will have a Big Four.
“There’s a lot of energy with this group, there is friendly competition, they are pushing one another and they all showed up in shape and did what they needed to do this offseason,’’ Eiland said. “They now know what we expect. It’s exciting. We’ve said that it’s exciting for the past two years and we are excited.”
This is the first time in seven years Matt Harvey is not part of the pitching equation with the Mets. Eiland went out of his way to praise Harvey, saying he did everything asked of him last year, Eiland’s first year as Mets pitching coach, to prepare. “I had no issues with him in camp whatsoever,” Eiland said.
But this is a new year with new expectations for this talented group that needs to show it can go out and pitch every five days.
How does Eiland measure progress this early in camp?
In many ways, but consider this tidbit:
“I’m really impressed with the energy during [pitchers’ fielding practice],’’ he said. “That tells you a lot. They are all in. The crispness of PFP drills has been really good.”
PFP has become something to focus on this spring.
“Those are plays you have to make,’’ Eiland said. “I use a golf analogy. They are like 2-foot putts. Those are gimme plays you have to make. That is part of it too to be a complete pitcher.’’
DeGrom said the vibe for the starters has been incredible.
“With the live BPs we’ve been trying to watch everybody we get a chance to,’’ deGrom said. “We are all rooting for each other. I think if we stay healthy that’s going to be a big key for us this year.’’
This year more than ever.