Allgemeines » The real issue with Jacob deGrom and the New York

Mets is the same one the Mets so often face Nathan Eovaldi Jersey , the one they never seem to completely answer.Are they willing to act like a big-market team?A big-market team should be willing to sign a Cy Young-winning pitcher to a long-term contract. But a big-market team also shouldn't be afraid of any artificial deadlines along the way.For all the talk of an Opening Day "deadline" in the deGrom negotiations, the only real deadline is the end of the 2020 season, when deGrom would be eligible to leave as a free agent. And even then, the Mets would still be able to sign him until someone else does.Yes, it could cost more by then. Yes, it could cost more by next winter, if deGrom comes anywhere close to replicating a 2018 season in which he had a 1.70 ERA and struck out 269 in 217 innings.Big-market teams don't need to worry much about things like that. They can afford to wait, because if the price goes up, they can afford to pay it.The New York Yankees often operate that way.With the Mets, you're never sure they could afford it. You're not even sure they can afford to sign deGrom for whatever the price would be now, and their lack of a contract offer at this point in the offseason raises uncomfortable questions.Even though the Mets have signed some stars before free agency (David Wright, 2012) and others after they reached that point (Yoenis Cespedes, 2016), their fans understandably wonder whether the owners are willing to fully commit. Just this winter, the Mets took on a big contract when they traded for Robinson Cano, but they stopped short of engaging with Bryce Harper and/or Manny Machado, the two biggest impact players on the market.And, of course, they have yet to make an offer to deGrom, as both sides acknowledged to reporters Thursday.There's still plenty of time between now and Opening Day for the Mets to make an offer, plenty of time for counteroffers, plenty of time for this all to become a non-issue and for the Mets and deGrom to schedule a press conference to announce he has signed.But if they decide not to meet whatever deGrom's price is now, so what? He's still going to pitch for them in 2019 http://www.raysfanproshop.com/authentic-evan-longoria-jersey , with a $17 million salary that represents an appropriate raise over the $7.4 million he made in 2018. He's still under control for 2020, too.When Brodie Van Wagenen was Jacob deGroms agent last year, he tried to pressure the Mets into a deal. Now, hes the Mets general manager.Jeff Roberson/Associated Press/Associated PressAnd while there's been lots of talk about a memo written by Jeff Berry, now serving as deGrom's agent, that's most likely a non-issue as well. The memo, as published by ESPN.com in December, outlines all sorts of "player-first" strategies players and their union could use to counter what some of them see as unfair practices by management.The most relevant tactic in this case would be for a pitcher approaching free agency to limit his innings if it might help him make the case for a better contract as a free agent. Asked about that possibility at Mets camp Thursday, deGrom didn't run away from it."I think that's a discussion that's going to have to be had with my agents," he said, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.So we're supposed to believe that deGrom would ask out of games early even if it might impact the Mets' position in a pennant race? Sorry, not buying that one (and if he did, is that the kind of guy you want to sign long-term?).OK, so what about this deadline, the one first reported by the Postand later confirmed by Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen? Should it scare the Mets or their fans that deGrom doesn't want negotiations to continue into the season?No, because he's not eligible for free agency this year. And while players are often more reluctant to sign long-term deals in the winter before free agency (next winter, in deGrom's case), would deGrom really refuse to negotiate next winter when the option would be to become a free agent at age 32 at a time when free agency isn't favoring older players?Mets owners Jeff Wilpon and Fred Wilpon (with Brodie Van Wagenen) havent been able to shake the perception theyre running the Mets like a mid-market team.Frank Franklin II/Associated Press/Associated PressAny frustration deGrom is feeling right now would be understandable. The Mets told him more than two months ago they'd get him some kind of contract offer soon, according to a person familiar with the talks. Both sides said Thursday there has yet to be a long-term contract offered.It would make sense for the Mets to engage, not just because they said they would but because they need to find out for sure if what they're willing to pay is anywhere near what deGrom is willing to sign for. But even with an Opening Day deadline, they still have well over a month to do that.The only risk of keeping him without signing him long-term is they could be convinced they can't afford to pay him enough to stay. Small-market teams think that way and get pushed into earlier extensions.Big-market teams shouldn't. They should get an extension done if the numbers make sense and not because of fear of an artificial deadline.But there's that question again, the one that still doesn't have an answer:Are the Mets willing to act like the big-market team they should be?Danny Knobler covers Major League Baseball as a national columnist for Bleacher Report.Follow Danny on Twitter and talk baseball. Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from the World Series after their 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 5.The Brewers tried some trickery at the start of Wednesday's game with starter Wade Miley only facing one batter, but it didn't matter against Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers starterbounced back from a rough Game 1 outing to allow only one run allowed in seven innings.Yasiel Puig went 2-for-2 off the bench Matt Andriese Jersey , including a clutch RBI single in the sixth inning, to help Los Angeles build a 3-2 lead in the National League Championship Series.Craig Counsell's Gamble Gave Brewers Best Chance to Win SeriesWade Miley was the listed starter in Wednesday's game and pitched to the first batter, but that was the end of his night. Brewer manager Craig Counsell pulled Miley in place of Brandon Woodruff, who took over and struck out eight batters in 5.1 inningswhile allowing three runs (two earned).AsKen Rosenthalof Fox Sports noted, this switch was the team's plan all along. Miley will instead pitch Game 6.The move was surprising, but there were several good reasons behind it:Ryan Rosenblatt RyanRosenblattDid the Brewers try to bait the the Dodgers into a righty-heavy lineup and Roberts called their bluff?This series is so smart it鈥檚 dumb.Bill Barnwell billbarnwellPut Craig Counsell in the Hall of Fame for rope-a-doping the DodgersMike Petriello mike_petrielloThis might be a good idea and it might not be, but remember, the alternative here was Wade Miley on short rest. You got to screw with the Dodgers by misleading them about who was starting, and you dont actually have to have Wade Miley on short rest. Well, yeah. Why notLos Angeles didn't go as righty-heavy against the left-handed Miley as it did in Game 1, but David Freese was still in the No. 3 spot in the lineup and was pulled after only one at-bat.Perhaps more importantly, the Brewers' rotation was not lined up well going forward. Not only was Miley starting on three days of rest, butJhoulys Chacin also would have had to go on short rest in Game 6.With the team's lack of starting pitching depth, Game 7 would have been a complete mystery.Suddenly, the Brewers have their top two starters available on full rest in the next two games if needed, both of which will be at home.Meanwhile, this was more than just punting one game to get an advantage in the others. Woodruff had been one of the team's best pitchers down the stretch, and he put forth an excellent performance Wednesday.His 5.1 innings were his longest outing of the season.Though things went south the third time through the order, Woodruff gave the Brewers a chance to win and helped prove Counsell right, despite the loss. Clayton Kershaw Still Has More to Prove Before Changing Playoff NarrativeIt's almost undeniable that Kershaw has been the best pitcher in baseball over the past decade. The problem is his reputation has been held back due to his struggles in the playoffs.He has a career 2.39 ERA in the regular season, but he entered Wednesday with a 4.26 mark in the playoffs. That included a 5.24 ERA in 11 appearances in the NLCS.Kershaw did everything he could to show he was past his struggles Wednesday, going seven innings with only one run allowed on three hits. He also struck out nine batters while walking only two.Andy McCullough McCulloughTimesSeven innings of one-run baseball from Clayton Kershaw. Fresh off the worst postseason start of his career, this is one of his best.He was aggressive with his curveball C. J. Cron Jersey , which was especially impressive:Bleacher Report MLB BR_MLBThat was nasty, Kershaw 馃敟 AFSdoQBYDYAs we have seen so many times throughout his MLB career, Kershaw was the biggest reason the Dodgers came away with a win.On the other hand, we have also seen him pitch well in the playoffs before, including when he shut down the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of this year's NLDS. The postseason monkey seemed to be off his back, but then he failed to get past the fourth inning in Game 1 of this series.Last year, he followed up a gem in Game 1 of the World Series with a dud in Game 5.When Kershaw is at his best, there is no one better in the game, but the Dodgers need him to be at least close to his best every time out when the stakes are this high. Failing to get out of the fifth inning won't get it done.As well as he pitched against the Brewers on Wednesday, one game in the NLCS will not define his legacy. If the Dodgers advance to World Series, Kershaw will need to produce more quality starts to change his negative playoff narrative. Brewers Won't Reach World Series Unless Christian Yelich Wakes UpHarry How/Getty ImagesChristian Yelich is the favorite to win MVP of the National League, and he is one of the biggest reasons the Brewers are still alive in the playoffs. However, he hasn't looked like himself so far this series.The outfielder finished 0-for-4 in Game 5 with one strikeout, which is the first time he failed to reach base so far this postseason.Although he had been drawing some walks prior to Wednesday, he is now hitting .150 in five games this series with only three singles.His last extra-base hit came in Game 1 of the NLDS when he hit a home run against the Colorado Rockies. Since then, he is just 3-of-25 at the plate in seven games.No one was hotter than Yelich in the second half of the season, and he was especially dominant in the final week. While the Brewers were closing the regular season with eight straight wins, the outfielder had a .458 batting average and an outrageous 1.857 OPS.It's impossible for someone to stay that hot forever, but the Brewers weren't expecting him to go so cold this quickly.While Milwaukee has other quality hitters on the roster, its offense has been nonexistent over the past two games. The Brewers' season may end Friday unless Yelich turns things around in a hurry. What's Next?The series now returns to Milwaukee for Game 6 on Friday. Wade Miley will likely make a real start for the Brewers, while Hyun-Jin Ryu will be available for the Dodgers.