#Jacob deGrom: Winning third Cy Young wouldn’t feel the same

In his attempt to become only the third pitcher to win as many as three straight Cy Young awards, Jacob deGrom has already considered the implications of accomplishing the feat in a 60-game season.

“I would say there definitely has to be some difference there, 12 starts versus 32 or 33,” the Mets ace said Monday at Citi Field. “There is a lot that can happen in any given start, and you normally play 162 games and 200 innings. I don’t think [winning the award] would feel the same, but it’s definitely still a goal.”

Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson, each with four straight Cy Young awards, are the only pitchers to have won as many as three in a row. DeGrom will be challenged to win No. 3, given the limited room for error. The condensed season will mean pitchers dominating for several starts who might not normally receive Cy Young consideration over a marathon season, will be contenders. And then there is the possibility a reliever could win it, with the relatively small sample size.

Adding to the frustration for deGrom is that when spring training got suspended in March, he felt strong and as if he was throwing the ball better than ever.

“That’s what I think as far as players really stinks with what happened,” deGrom said. “It’s a very unfortunate situation throughout the world with this whole [coronavirus], but as a player you have a short window to perform and be competitive and that’s what I was looking at when I was home. I was like, ‘Man, I felt really good in spring just being out there competing is what I think guys were missing the most.’ You take it now from the All-Star break on and go out there and do all you can do and hopefully maybe win another [Cy Young].”

DeGrom threw two innings in a simulated game on Sunday and indicated his expectation is he will reach 85 pitches by the time camp concludes. When the Mets begin their season on July 24 against the Braves at Citi Field, it will be deGrom on the mound for his second straight Opening Day start.

Skipping the season for precautionary reasons is a thought deGrom says he never entertained.

“Even at home and throughout this whole process I kind of have taken every safety measure that has been advised, so I am just trying to follow the rules and keep myself as safe as possible along with my family,” deGrom said. “They stayed home quite a bit, so I haven’t been out too much or around a lot of people, so … I feel pretty safe.

“I feel really good, continued throwing while I was at home and hopefully got those two or three bad starts out in bullpen sessions at home. Hopefully get off to a good start and keep it rolling and it will eliminate the bad ones.”

As much as winning the Cy Young Award would feel different to deGrom in the shortened season, a World Series title would seem more legitimate.

“As far as the team coming together under these circumstances and figuring out a way to win, I think as a team effort that would take everybody following these guidelines and staying on the field,” deGrom said. “I think that’s something you would definitely celebrate.”