As Jacob deGrom made his way to the mound at Citi Field, the mood in the New York media was one of disappointment. Many reporters and commentators had been hoping for a different outcome, one that would have allowed them to write a different story altogether.

DeGrom, after all, was coming off a record-setting season in which he had won his third National League Cy Young Award. He had set a new Major League Baseball record with a 0.57 ERA, and had struck out an astonishing 104 batters in just 68 innings pitched. With numbers like those, it was no wonder that many were expecting big things from the New York Mets ace in the 2022 season.

But the disappointment began even before deGrom took the mound. In the days leading up to the game, there had been rumours that he might not be able to pitch due to a minor injury. The Mets had been tight-lipped about the situation, but as the game approached, it became clear that deGrom was indeed going to take the mound.

Despite this, many in the New York media were still hoping for a different outcome. They were hoping that deGrom would sit out the game, giving them an opportunity to write about his injury and speculate about how long he might be out of action. They were hoping for drama, for controversy, for a juicy story to sink their teeth into.

But as deGrom began to warm up, it became clear that he was not going to give them what they wanted. He looked focused, determined, and ready to pitch. And when he finally took the mound, he did not disappoint.

DeGrom’s first pitch was a fastball that clocked in at 101 miles per hour. It was a statement of intent, a sign that he was not going to hold back. He struck out the first batter he faced with ease, and then proceeded to mow down the next two hitters as well.

The crowd at Citi Field roared its approval, but the New York media remained silent. They had been hoping for a different outcome, one that would have given them something to write about other than deGrom’s dominance.

As the game wore on, deGrom continued to dominate. He struck out batters left and right, and even managed to drive in a run with a double in the fifth inning. By the time he left the game after six innings, he had given up just two hits and no runs, while striking out ten batters.

The crowd at Citi Field gave deGrom a standing ovation as he left the field, but the New York media remained muted. They had been hoping for drama, for controversy, for a juicy story to sink their teeth into. Instead, they were left with a dominant performance from one of the best pitchers in baseball.

After the game, deGrom was asked about the rumours of his injury. He brushed them off, saying that he had felt fine and that he was always going to take the mound if he was able. He also praised his teammates for their performance, saying that they had helped him to get the win.

But the New York media was not satisfied. They continued to speculate about deGrom’s injury, even though he had said that there was nothing wrong. They continued to search for controversy, even though there was none to be found.

In the end, it was clear that deGrom had once again proven himself to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. He had dominated the opposition, and had shown that he was still capable of putting up incredible numbers. But for the New York media, that was not enough. They had been hoping for a different outcome, and they were left disappointed.