Skip to content

Report: Syndergaard confronted Mets' brass about throwing to Ramos

Icon Sportswire / Getty

Noah Syndergaard's up-and-down season took another strange turn Sunday. He struggled to get through five innings in his start against the Philadelphia Phillies, and he's blaming it on his catcher.

The New York Mets right-hander was apparently "livid" with the team about being forced to throw to catcher Wilson Ramos on Sunday, sources told Joel Sherman and Kevin Kernan of the New York Post.

Syndergaard has apparently expressed his displeasure with Ramos to the Mets' front office at several points this season but it came to a head this past weekend after learning Ramos would catch him again. The 27-year-old hurler aired his grievances to manager Mickey Callaway and pitching strategist Jeremy Accardo days before Sunday's game, then met with general manager Brodie Van Wagenen to discuss the matter. Those meetings were to no avail, as Ramos caught Syndergaard on Sunday.

"Noah understands that I'm going to make the lineup out and he's going to go out there and compete for the team," Callaway told SNY. "We're going to continue to put the best players on the field at all times."

Ramos is by far the best hitter of the Mets' three catchers. He owns a .794 OPS with 14 homers this year, recently completing a 26-game hitting streak.

However, Syndergaard apparently feels more comfortable throwing to Tomas Nido and Rene Rivera.

In 22 career games with Nido behind the dish, Syndergaard owns a 2.17 ERA. In 29 games with Rivera, Thor's ERA sits at 2.52. With Ramos, it sits at 5.09 in 15 outings.

Syndergaard has nothing personal against Ramos, according to the Post, but simply views pitching to Nido or Rivera as what's best for his performance and for the team.

It's been a tumultuous run for Syndergaard and the Mets over the past year. Along with the pitcher-catcher frustration, Syndergaard was also dangled as trade bait last offseason and prior to this past July 31 trade deadline.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox