We’ll answer this question in two ways. As a diehard Matz fan and one who remembers Matz’s dominating performance against Richmond on September 12, 2014 when the Binghamtonians won the Eastern League Championship, I’ll go with the second opinion.
You can decide which option you think is true; feel free to send your thoughts to me at jmaggiore@stny.rr.com.
First way: In a word, “Yes.” In 1.2 innings of spring training work he has given up an unsightly 10 runs and has walked four. In his most recent start, Sunday, against a shell of a Nationals lineup, he gave up five runs in only two-thirds of an inning. Though 75% of his pitches were fastballs, he constantly worked behind the hitters, displaying an alarming lack of fastball command. He threw a higher percentage of his curves for strikes, but those were of the “get me over” variety, left high in the strike zone, with hitters laying off them as they sat on the fastball. His fastball topped out at 93 mph. When Matz dominated Double-A ball in 2014, the NYSEG stadium radar gun would clock his fastball at 95 mph, sometimes touching 96 mph. The Citi Field radar gun clocked his fastball at the same speeds in 2015 and 2016. A loss of 2-3 mph on a fastball is an eternity in baseball. Media outlets have quoted a scout as saying “Matz is not finishing his pitches,” which was a common assessment of Matz’s pitching last year, when he was dramatically ineffective on the mound.
A frustrated Matz walks off the mound after tossing two-thirds of an innning against the Nationals last Sunday.
Second way: In a word, “No.” Two starts and 1.2 innings pitched mean nothing this early in the spring. Matz has been the victim of bloopers, “bleeding-eye” grounders, and a lack of stellar defense. Batters are not squaring up the ball when he is on the mound. His primary problem has been a lack of command of his fastball, and this can be fixed with a review of his mechanics. His shoulder & elbow feel great and with some more innings under his belt, his fastball command will return, as will his effective pitching. As he builds up arm strength that extra tick or two on his fastball will return too. Mickey Calloway said Matz seems “to be throwing with a lack of conviction.” Once Matz gets some quality innings under his belt, that confidence and conviction will return.
Matz wears the same number as that of a Brooklyn southpaw who once dominated the baseball world–Sandy Koufax.
Matz threw 32 pitches against the Nationals, with velocities ranging from 77 to 93 mph:
- 1) 92 11) 93 21) 93 31) 92
- 2) 92 12) 77 22) 93 32) 93
- 3) 93 13) 93 23) 84
- 4) 92 14) 92 24) 93
- 5) 77 15) 92 25) 93
- 6) 93 16) 92 26) 93
- 7) 84 17) 92 27) 93
- 8) 93 18) 78 28) 84
- 9) 93 19) 77 29) 93
- 10) 93 20) 93 30) 79
Matz is one of the many Mets who you root strongly for—he always has time for the fans and he’s one of those professional athletes who realizes he’s living a dream. He grew up as a Mets fan on Long Island, his hometown being only 45 miles east of Citi Field.
His next start is a crucial one, as Wheeler, Lugo, Gsellman, and Harvey have all pitched well this spring.
Go get ‘em, Steve!
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