Why is not Jacob deGrom collaborating within the 2021 All-Star Sport? Mets-Ass offers causes for absence

“Big Jake” will be a huge loss to this year’s All-Star Game.

Jacob deGrom, two-time Cy Young winner and de facto best pitcher in Major League Baseball, won’t be pitching (or, more tragically, hitting) this year’s All-Star Game, much to the chagrin of baseball fans everywhere.

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deGrom is putting together a historic season in 2021: on the morning of July 8, he leads the majors in ERA, ERA +, FIP, WHIP and K: BB ratios. (He also heads the league in FLUMP, FLIMP, CRUMP, and SHUMP, but these statistics are all made up.)

The Mets ace on Wednesday stated its decision to suspend All-Star play. Here is what he said.

Why isn’t Jacob deGrom participating in the All-Star game?

Despite being selected for the 2021 All-Star Game, Mets and NL leader Cy Young said he plans to spend the All-Star Game with his family and rest his body for the second half of the season.

deGrom explained the decision on July 7th:

“I’ll take this time and enjoy it with my family … hopefully Tai will come in there and take my place”

Jacob deGrom is following his plans for the All-Star game pic.twitter.com/m6ZOLVLdjV. asked

– SNY (@SNYtv) July 7, 2021

“I’ve thought about it and it’s obviously a great honor to be on an all-star team, but I’ll take this time and just enjoy it with my family whether I serve on Sunday or not,” said deGrom on Wednesday. “And get well for the second half. Hopefully Tai (Taijuan Walker) will take my place.”

The starter is unsure whether he will serve on Sunday, the last game before the All-Star break. However, that would not affect his decision.

deGrom missed a few starts in the first half as he struggled with a number of gnawing injuries, including a shoulder injury that prevented him from starting, but he never hit the IL at any point.

The 33-year-old is a four-time all-star and two-time Cy Young winner and should he keep his current ridiculous pace he will be suspended from his third until the end of the season. The Mets currently sit at the top of the mediocre NL East.

Walker would be a fitting replacement for deGrom, though it’s unclear if that will happen: Walker, a late offseason signing for the Mets, was New York’s second-best starter with an ERA of 2.44-15 starts.