Noah Syndergaard seldom looks uncomfortable on the field. He is a 6-foot-6, stone-faced intimidator who used his first pitch in the World Series to throw toward an opponent’s head.
But even the most tyrannical of pitchers have weaknesses. Last Monday, the Cincinnati Reds observed Syndergaard’s dawdling delivery with runners on base and stole five bases, uncovering a soft spot in his previously perceived ironclad makeup.
On Sunday, the San Francisco Giants took the few opportunities afforded them to similarly exploit the same deficiency, snapping the Mets eight-game winning streak with a 6-1 victory in a cold, windy and wet affair at Citi Field.