PHOENIX — Wilson Ramos is still trying to make the new marriage work.
To that end, the veteran catcher has requested of manager Mickey Callaway that he receive a fair number of starts when Jacob deGrom is scheduled to pitch. The Mets ace will pitch Saturday against the Diamondbacks, and Ramos is expected to be his catcher after two straight Tomas Nido starts with deGrom pitching.
DeGrom has pitched to a 1.12 ERA in five starts with Nido behind the plate. With Ramos as the catcher for five starts, deGrom owns a 5.33 ERA.
“I didn’t catch [deGrom] the past two starts, but we have been talking, trying to stay on the same page, try to know each other more,” Ramos said before the Mets’ 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday. “And I talked to Mickey about I want to be behind the plate a little bit more with him because that is the only chance I’ve got to know more about him.”
Ramos, who arrived in the offseason on a two-year contract worth $19 million, has emerged in the past two weeks as a key offensive component after slumping into mid-May. The last part of his transition to a Mets uniform might be getting in sync with deGrom.
“Those past two starts I have been sitting, watching, what he likes to throw in a particular situation and I pay attention to what he wants,” Ramos said. “Right now I feel good and I’m ready to be behind the plate with him and put all my experience to protect him.”
Callaway said it’s important the catcher and star pitcher begin to mesh.
“At some point they are going to have to work together and do it a lot,” Callaway said. “I think [Ramos] does value that, he understands it and he’s been proactive about it.”
Devin Mesoraco became deGrom’s primary catcher last season, when the right-hander won the National League Cy Young award with a 1.70 ERA. Mesoraco was behind the plate for 21 of those starts — in which deGrom posted a 1.60 ERA.
But the veteran Mesoraco was placed on the restricted last in March, after refusing a minor league assignment. The Mets had signed Mesoraco to a minor-league deal in the offseason, when it was unclear if Travis d’Arnaud — who has since been released — would be ready and questions persisting whether Nido could bring enough to the equation offensively.
DeGrom, who has pitched to a 3.71 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 11 starts this season, said he and Ramos are working hard to ensure the partnership is a success.
“He’s new and he’s learning us and we’re going over how I want to attack hitters and kind of his input and what he sees,” deGrom said. “But these past few [starts with Ramos] it’s been a mechanical thing, trying to get that in line. I was talking to him the other day and we were going to sit down and watch some video and just see how I go after hitters.”
DeGrom said he appreciates the fact Ramos wants to be behind the plate on the days he pitches.
“I know he wants to be in there,” deGrom said. “I threw well to him Opening Day and then kind of after that I have been struggling with mechanics a little bit. I just haven’t been throwing the ball where I want to and I think sitting down with him and just going over how I want to pitch guys is one thing, but me executing them is another.”
