Highly regarded Mets pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard takes a swing at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: Describe your demeanor on the mound.
A: I try to be a real big presence on the mound, try to intimidate some hitters, try to make ’em afraid to step into the box.
Q: You wrote the word “Lion” on your glove one time.
A: Yeah, I feel like just putting your name on a glove is kinda boring, so I just put random stuff on it, like I put Lion, just to be the lion on the mound, and then I have another glove that has “Drago” written on it [after “Rocky IV” villain Ivan Drago], and my two others have “Rick Grimes”and “Heisenberg” from two of my favorite shows, “Breaking Bad” and “Walking Dead.”
Q: When you make your first major league start for the Mets, what are you going to write on it?
A: I don’t know. … We’ll just have to stay tuned for the next name on my gloves, the ones I’ll get this year, I don’t want to give away any secrets.
Q: You’ve tried Thor already, right?
A: That’s always a possibility.
Q: You haven’t had that one on your glove yet?
A: I have not.
Q: Right before the Futures Game at Citi Field last July, you tweeted: “I can’t wait to pitch in this city.” Tell me why.
A: It’s a whole different world up there. It’s totally different from what I grew up around. I grew up 30 minutes away from Dallas but, it’s like 30 Dallases in one. … The lifestyle up there, the city never really does sleep, and that’s something I really enjoy. It’s just a marvelous city, it’s gorgeous up there.
Q: Some guys are scared of the big stage. It doesn’t sound like you will be.
A: Oh no. I feel like I’m gonna embrace it. I know New York fans, they love their sports.
Q: Has your fastball hit 100 mph yet?
A: I think a few times, actually.
Q: What is that like, being able to throw 100 miles an hour?
A: It’s an unbelievable feeling. That was a goal of mine, to be able to one day reach triple digits, and I put a lot of hard work and dedication into just getting stronger overall, and it’s quite a feat.
Q: How much of an advantage is it being to intimidate hitters?
A: I think it definitely makes the hitters uncomfortable to step into the box.
Q: Personal goals for this season?
A: I’m gonna try to take it one day at a time during spring training and just try to get better each and every day. But other than that, go up there and hopefully I’ll get to the big leagues at some point during the season, don’t really know when. But I’m hoping at some point during this year. But I think the Mets and the front office staff are gonna make that decision when the time is right.
Q: How do you feel about a 160-inning limit?
A: I feel like my body can handle that type of workload. I feel like last year I handled it pretty well when I was up to like 125, 130 [innings]. My arm still felt as durable as ever.
Q: Sounds like you’d be ready for even more than that.
A: I believe so. But I know that there’s a bigger picture involved, and there’s no need to really rush it, I guess.
Q: How would you feel about being used in the bullpen?
A: I feel like that’d be pretty cool, just a little different role, a different change of scenery. I think I can handle that role pretty well if I start reaching my innings limits. … I’ve heard rumors about my role’s being switched to the bullpen just to conserve my innings limits, but I feel like that’d be pretty cool, being able to have the opportunity to pitch every day. ’Cause I get pretty antsy as a starter that third or fourth day, and I just want to go back out there and pitch, but yet I have to wait another day.
Q: Who do you think you’re more like either delivery or temperament, Matt Harvey or Zack Wheeler?
A: They’re both great pitchers, and they both have the great mentality to be on the mounds … but at the same time, I feel like I’m Noah out there, I offer my own delivery. I feel like I’m kinda different from both of ’em. We’re all three different in our own way.
Q: Describe the difference as pitchers as you see them between Harvey and Wheeler.
A: I feel like when I watch Wheeler, it’s almost like his arm is like a really, really tense rubber band, and it just kind of explodes out of his hand … real smooth delivery. And Harvey’s out there just bulldogging it, just mowing hitters down.
Q: How familiar we’re you with New York before the Futures Game?
A: I wasn’t familiar with it at all. That was my first visit during the Futures Game.
Q: What kind of things did you do?
A: Just a little bit of sightseeing … went to Times Square, we went to see the Empire State Building, we got to take a tour of the city on a big bus. … We went to MLB.com, we went to FanFest. They kept us busy, it was a really good experience.
Q: Do you think you might want to live in Manhattan?
A: I definitely could see myself living in Manhattan.
Q: You threw four no-hitters in high school. Did you ever dream about pitching a no-hitter in the big leagues?
A: Oh, all the time.
Q: Which pitch do you need to work on and improve in spring training?
A: Right now, my changeup. I feel like there’s been a lot of negativity on my changeup. This year I didn’t have to throw it all that much, and when I did throw it, it got hit sometimes. I made some good strides with it this year as well, but it’s still also a pitch that needs to be worked on. Like last year, 2012, when I was with the Blue Jays, people were always talking about my curveball, but this year I feel like my curveball is a plus pitch to accommodate my fastball as well. And then my changeup was my second-best pitch last year, the roles kinda flip-flopped. I’m just gonna go to spring training, I’m gonna work on continuing to develop that third pitch of mine.
Q: Pitchers today you like watching?
A: I like to watch Justin Verlander … Roy Halladay as well. Pitchers that I can model my repertoire after, and demeanor on the mound.
Q: How much can you squat?
A: Right now, like 460, trying to get to the 500 mark, but that’s heavy weight.
Q: You’re 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. You never played football though, right?
A: I played middle school [football], and I played basketball as well. But when I got into high school, I just quit everything, concentrated my effort on baseball. The high school basketball coach and the football coach were always coming up to me and tried to get me to come out and play football or basketball. I don’t know if I’d be in this situation right now if I would have played either of the two.
Q: Athletes in other sports you admire.
A: Russell Wilson, J.J. Watt.
Q: You’re not a Dallas Cowboys fan, never were, right?
A: Nope. Just something about ’em, it’s hard to root for. My grandparents were fans.
Q: Why Russell Wilson?
A: I just really liked his demeanor and savvy on the field.
Q: Describe catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who came with you to the Mets in the R.A. Dickey trade.
A: He’s an awesome guy to be around, just hanging out. We had a lot of laughs together when he was rehabbing in Double-A. And throwing to him, he makes everything look like a strike. It’s pretty natural. He’s just very smart behind the plate. Got a lot of thunder in his bat as well. Even his demeanor is savvy on the field. It’s fun to watch.
Q: You like Twitter. Have you found yourself having to block some fans?
A: No, not yet. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. I try not to let whatever they say affect me.
Q: Your dad trains horses.
A: They’re up on a ranch in Cleburne, Texas, about probably 40 minutes away from where we live.
Q: Does he have any racehorses?
A: No, they’re just all show horses, quarter horses.
Q: How good of a quail hunter are you?
A: My dad and I go to the shooting range a lot, and at the end of our rounds or whatever, we always have a competition. The loser always has to buy dinner … and I’ve yet to buy dinner! He taught me everything I know when it comes to shooting, he’s a pretty good teacher. But I feel like I’m a pretty good quail hunter, my dad might have to say otherwise though.
Q: Boyhood idol?
A: My grandfather [Fred Hartman]. He taught me a lot of things about life, and we had a lot of good memories together. I want to grow up and be just like him.
Q: What did he do?
A: He was in the Navy.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: [Comedian] Daniel Tosh, Nolan Ryan, Jesus.
Q: Favorite movies?
A: “Gran Torino,” “Step Brothers,” basically anything with Will Ferrell in it, the “Transformers” movies.
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Mark Wahlberg.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Jennifer Lawrence.
Q: Favorite comedian?
A: Kevin Hart.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Whatever my mom cooks. … She makes a mean chili.
Q: What drives you?
A: Just to be the best. Never being satisfied, always wanting to improve. Perfection’s not really attainable, but you can strive for it.
Q: Do you feel you can be a star pitcher in New York?
A: I definitely do, actually.
Q: You have a strong belief in yourself.
A: Yeah, I like to think so. I mean, confidence is definitely a key factor in being successful. But also I think there’s a possibility of five star starting pitchers in New York right now.
Q: But you think when you do come up, you’ll be ready to make an impact.
A: Oh, most definitely.
Q: Anything you want to say to Mets fans?
A: I’m just really looking forward to pitching in New York in front of all the Mets fans. They’re awesome, and I think there’s some good things to come in 2014.
Q: Did you like the Citi Field mound?
A: Yeah, I felt real comfortable. Felt like somewhere I can call home.