WASHINGTON - In the players' lounge Tuesday, just off the Mets clubhouse at Nationals Park, Jacob deGrom relaxed in the leather recliner nearest the flat-screen television.
Soon, a new image of him flashed on the screen, his flowing hair falling from the side of the distinctive cap that players wore at the All-Star Game.
"There he is!" yelled one of a half dozen teammates in the room. "Wow," another said when the screen flashed deGrom dominating some of the American League's best.
Later, the Mets hardly could be faulted for their confidence, when deGrom propelled the Mets to a 7-2 victory over the Nationals.