We all know how great Mets ace pitcher Jacob DeGrom is, but does anyone actually really understand just how good he is?
DeGrom is having the greatest start to any season ever so far this year. He’s started 13 games this season posting a 7-2 record, with a 0.69 ERA. That ERA is the lowest ever through 13 starts.
It’s tough to put into perspective just how amazing a season DeGrom is having but my favorite statistic to help do so is that DeGrom has given up six earned runs in the 78 innings he’s pitched this year. DeGrom the batter, has the same amount of RBI’s in 29 plate appearances this season. This statistic feels unrealistic to read. A pitcher half-way through a season has driven in as many runs as he has given up. Not only do the Mets want DeGrom on the bump for big situations, they want him in the batter’s box as well.
Another statistic that seems unfathomable with Jacob DeGrom is his Adjusted ERA+. ERA+ is a statistic that takes the pitchers ERA, the league average ERA and the park factor all into account. The league average is 100 with the best ERA+ ever being Pedro Martinez in 2000 with a 291 ERA+. Martinez had a 1.74 ERA that season and it was considered one of the most dominant seasons by a pitcher ever. This season DeGrom has an ERA+ of 550. This ERA+ is 450 higher than the league average and almost 260 higher than the greatest season ever. That is absurd to think about and see.
The best ERA ever posted for a full season was Bob Gibson in 1968 when he posted a 1.12 ERA. If Degrom can keep up this ridiculous pace, there is a chance he can beat Gibson’s record.
Not only is Jacob DeGrom the best pitcher in baseball, he is the best player in baseball. He is the most valuable player and if there was a draft of every player in baseball, it would be hard not to draft DeGrom first.
The question now moves to DeGrom’s rank on the all time list. He now has two Cy Youngs and is well on his way to a third. DeGrom has to be considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time, and when it’s all said and done, I believe he will be the greatest pitcher ever.
We will see if DeGrom can keep up this ridiculous pace, but if he can he will not only bring home a third Cy Young award this year, but also an MVP trophy.
Cam's Corner 