Thor

[Edwards Kings]

"Noah Syndergaard told Sports Illustrated that he has put on 17 pounds this offseason.
Thor wants to enter the 2017 season with more strength and durability after battling elbow problems late last year. Look out. Syndergaard, 24, owns a dominant 2.89 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 384 strikeouts in 333 2/3 career major league innings. The 6-foot-6 right-hander also holds a 2.42 career ERA in five playoff appearances."

I love things like this. When is effect not targeted at cause? The source (SI) seems to infer that Syndergaard's extra 15 pounds will added to or will add durability....to his elbow? Is he eating more spinach, too?

[Bronx Yankees]

These stories are so ridiculous. Syndergaard added weight, Sandoval lost weight (at least temporarily). So what? Last year, watching Thor pitch, and dominate, I never once thought to myself, "man, if he would only gain 15-20 pounds, then he'd be really good." Is the added weight muscle or fat, or does it not matter? Am I too old school to wonder if a pitcher bulking up may not necessarily be a good thing? Based on this news, my ranking of Syndergaard moves not one iota.

Now, if only Syndergaard was the subject of an "in the best shape of his career" blurb .... (Seriously, someone should count how many different players are the subject of an "in the best shape of their careers" story between now and Opening Day.)

Mike

[Edwards Kings]

"Mike Pelfrey lost 25 pounds during the offseason.

Pelfrey wants to regain flexibility, so he's hoping to lose even more weight this spring. He's doing what he can, but his role is in question right now. The veteran right-hander posted a rough 5.07 ERA in his first season with Detroit. He's owed $8 million this year."

Now we know where Syndergaard got the 17 pounds...he bing watched "The Walking Dead" and ate part of Mike Pelfrey!

[headhunters]

i think the syndy thing is real- he did add 17 pounds. i also believe that he really did say he did so to add speed to his 102mph fastball. fangraphs just ran an article on the games lost to injury and ranked all 30 teams over the last 15 years. to no ones surprise the mets were 3rd. i think the dodgers were 1st or second and the white sox were last. another example of the mets being just being incredibly ignorant or stupid in this area. i have also seen it pointed out that it would be impossible to gain 17 pounds of muscle in 4 months. if he- or anyone else-( think bonds sosa clements etc.) did- it was steroids.