On Metsblog Michael Baron has some wise words:
What bugs me is everyone is talking about and comparing Wheeler to Matt Harvey and his first couple of starts last year. It’s completely unfair and unrealistic to expect Wheeler – or anyone – to replicate what Harvey has done, no matter how good Wheeler can be. It’s almost as if he’s pitching in Harvey’s shadow already, and there is an impossible expectation for Wheeler to fulfill whether he pitches well or not.
Even with Harvey everyone needs to chill the bleep out. I know it has been a long run of misery. I know Harvey Day is exciting (you would have loved Gooden Day and pissing matches with Whitey Herzog). What is unfair is that the fan base has placed not one but two young players in the Hall of Fame.
The team itself isn’t helping. The guy hasn’t even pitched at home yet and it is already being marketed and priced as an event.
Poor Harvey disappoints if he gives up a hit. It is just expected that he make the All Star team, and folks will be ticked if he doesn’t start. He’s been thrust in the role of Ace of David Wright and the 51s pretty early in his career and that’s awesome.
Wheeler doesn’t need to be Koosman just yet.
Let him be the 5th starter and find his sea legs. That goes for you the fan and you the marketing department. Lest this happens….the baseball gods can be cruel when you get cocky.
Zack Wheeler is God. Skip the preliminaries and just induct him into Cooperstown with a unanimous vote right now.
Zack Wheeler is the worst pitcher in the history of the New York Mets. Worse than Oliver Perez or Anthony Young.
There… I think I’ve got both extremes covered.