Noah Syndergaard claims he is the weak link for the Dodgers
To say things have gone worse than expected for Dodgers starter Noah Syndergaard would be a severe understatement.
Through 11 starts, the right-hander has a 6.54 ERA and is 1-4. Now, I’m sure the Dodgers weren’t expecting the ace that we all saw in New York, but I can also imagine that the Dodgers were hoping to get a little more out of Syndergaard than they have so far.
At least I’m assuming that’s the case after you’ve decided to pay the man $13 million for this season. The Dodgers were hoping he could be a back-end guy in the rotation and eat up innings when needed. But so far he hasn’t been able to do even that for a crippled Dodgers pitching staff that could use the help.
But perhaps even more concerning than the abysmal stats is the drop in velocity. Syndergaard had Tommy John Surgery back in 2020 and unfortunately, it’s looking like he won’t ever fully recover. His four-seam fastball velocity is down to a career-low 92.2 mph, down from 94.1 mph in 2022, per Baseball Savant. It’s just clear when watching that Syndergaard doesn’t have it anymore.
Unsurprisingly most frustrated about this is Noah Syndergaard himself
“It really sucks. Right now, I just feel like I’m the only weak link on this team,” I want to go out there and compete and be successful for the other guys in this clubhouse, but it’s just not working out.”
Quote Via The Score
Well, at least Syndergaard isn’t delusional and is at least aware of how bad his play has been. I don’t think it makes Dodger fans any happier, but at least he’s acknowledging it.
The sad fact is I think we are starting to see the last of Syndergaard in the MLB. His calling card was always his velocity and it’s what made him such a good pitcher. But with the velocity now gone I don’t see a real way he can make an impact as a starter in this league.
“I would give my hypothetical firstborn to be the old me again,” he said. “I’ll do anything possible to get back to that.”
Quote Via The Score
I mean come on, even if you aren’t a fan of the guy hearing that just makes me feel for him. A guy whose body simply gave up on him too early and was simply unable to fully recover. I can’t imagine what it must feel like, as an athlete, to just have your body give up on you.
It has to be just a truly horrible feeling and something I wish on no athlete. Time comes for us all and it seems it’s catching up rather quickly to Noah Syndergaard. From here I don’t know what the Dodgers do, they may just say screw it and cut him while eating the rest of the salary. Or they may do what the Phillies did last year with him and have him be a sort of spot fifth starter/long reliever.
There is still time to turn the season around. But for Syndergaard, this unfortunately is starting to become the norm. The Dodgers need some depth at pitching and right now Syndergaard isn’t providing that. Maybe it changes?
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