NEW YORK - There is no handy manual for when a major league manager should take out his starting pitcher, so the men who make the decisions must do so more on feel and gut than any strict guidelines.
Jacob deGrom, reigning National League Rookie of the Year, didn't look like a pitcher anywhere near ready to leave the playing premises of Citi Field when he wrapped up his seventh inning of work against the Phillies last night.
He retired 21 of the 24 batters he faced, nine via strikeout. He hadn't walked a batter.