Wheeler Scratch Reportedly Leads To Mets Manager 'Cursing The Baseball Gods'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mets manager Terry Collins was reportedly steaming and screaming after he learned Wednesday's scheduled starter, top prospect Zack Wheeler, had to be scratched due to a mild oblique strain.
According to John Harper of the New York Daily News, Collins "let loose with an expletive loud enough to turn heads all over the back fields" at the team's spring training complex.
Wheeler suffered the injury during pregame batting practice.
"When you look at the big picture, one of the big things is the future and the big promise we have coming, and it's on the mound," Collins said Wednesday. "We've got to be very careful because we aren't going to do anything to hurt this guy."
But Collins wasn't so calm and collected when he first heard the news, according Harper.
After a visit from pitching coach Dan Warthen, the Mets manager could be heard "cursing the baseball gods, so to speak, and then he stomped off into the outfield to shag batting practice fly balls and give himself time to cool down," Harper reported.
Wheeler has drawn rave reviews in Port St. Lucie, and much has been already written about his bullpen and batting practice sessions. He tossed two scoreless innings in his spring training debut on Saturday.
The 22-year-old right-hander is expected to start the season at Triple-A Las Vegas.
"I'd rather be out one start than two months and be behind the eight-ball when I do come back," he said. "Early in the spring you don't want to risk anything."
Left-hander Darin Gorski got the start for Wheeler, allowing four runs, three hits and three walks in two-plus innings against St. Louis.
Did you pretty much feel the same way when you heard Wheeler was scratched? Be heard in the comments!
