Total deGromination for the night and the 2018 season. This was the icing on the Cy Young cake.
Jacob deGrom finished off one of the greatest pitching seasons in baseball history (never mind the 10-9 record) at Citi Field Wednesday night with yet another dominant performance, firing eight shutout innings, allowing two hits, striking out 10 and not walking a batter to beat the NL East champion Braves 3-0 and drop his ERA to 1.70.
Along the way, deGrom reached 1,000 strikeouts for his career with his final strikeout and pitch of the night, reaching the mark faster than any Mets pitcher in club history (872 ?/? innings). He tied a major league record, allowing three runs or fewer in his 29th straight start.
His season of domination is done. The right-hander just needs to work on his Cy Young award acceptance speech.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,’’ manager Mickey Callaway said. “For me it’s just watching a dominant starter and the best pitcher in baseball every five days.’’
Callaway told The Post even Corey Kluber, who won two Cy Young awards with the Indians when Callaway was pitching coach, never dominated like deGrom has dominated this season.
“Kluber would have 10 to 15 really good starts in a row and then maybe some mediocre ones and then 10 more good ones in a row,’’ Callaway said. “I’ve never seen this stretch of pure domination before. I mean from start to finish, pure domination.’’
All this while getting little support from the hitters and not much bullpen help and that is why his record is 10-9.
In the end, the 23,205 fans desperately wanted to deGrom to come out and pitch the ninth, chanting, “We want Jake! We want Jake!’’
Callaway wisely cut off deGrom’s night at 110 pitches, 73 of which were strikes. The manager was not going to let the emotion of the moment force him to bring his starter back for the ninth inning.
Fans also chanted, “MVP! “MVP!”
This season deGrom mastered the art of not worrying about things he can’t control. That’s the first lesson of being a Met.
“In years past,’’ deGrom admitted, “I kind of got in my own head and overthinking things. Trying to do too much. Instead of taking it one pitch at a time. That was kind of my focus this year, one pitch at a time and ‘Here it is. Let’s go right after guys.’ Looking back now it’s kind of crazy that there wasn’t really a hiccup.’’
DeGrom said his cleats, hat and jersey were authenticated after the game. MLB knows that this is one special dominant season. He got the ball from his 1,000th strikeout and had it in his locker, proudly showing it off with the biggest of smiles.
“I wish I had more wins but it is what it is,’’ deGrom said. “I feel like I put myself in a pretty good position.’’
Mindset over Mets matter.
“Jacob has definitely not worried about the things that he can’t control and this Cy Young season is an example of that,’’ Callaway said.
Callaway went on to add that “absolutely, hands down,’’ deGrom deserves the Cy Young award.
For those fans clamoring for deGrom to have pitched the ninth, Callaway said, “Just the pitch count and the amount of stressful innings he has thrown all year, probably the most in baseball history, close games, there was no chance of going back out. He did his job again.’’
Therein lies the secret to deGrom’s success. He does his job. He does his work between starts.
“You can talk about routines and all that and he accomplishes those every day,’’ Callaway said. “The work that he puts in, the way he supports his teammates. He is the ultimate team player and when he is out on the mound he is the ultimate ace.’’
Yes he is and deGrom was happy to hear that Callaway said he will start the opener next season.
“That makes me feel good,’’ deGrom said. “It’s my first one. I’m looking forward to it.’’
He’ll soon get his first Cy Young award.