Twenty-One Prediction Fun: Taijuan Walker

[Edgy MD]

Mobile ain't the place to grow up if you want to be a Met no more. It hasn't been for a long time.

Hi, I'm Taijuan Walker! I'm one of three 2021 Mets pitchers from Louisiana. I'm not saying The Pelican State gave me this awesome arm or this fantastic first name, but it sure didn't hurt. Yeah, OK, my nickname is Tia-weezy, but you've got to take the bad with the good.

I'm coming off a fantastic, if abbreviated, 2020, where I put up up a jaw-dropping 1.37 ERA over six starts with Toronto. Six starts may just be six starts, but that's the sort of six-start run that doesn't exactly disappear in the wash unless you are dreadful the rest of the season, and I don't do dreadful. I keep the ball in the park, which is no small feat these days, and I had the good sense to not try to take Mister Met's number off his back. I named my son Zayden, and while that's got a higher Scrabble points value, it's still not as cool as Taijuan.

But cool alone won't pay the bills. I'm a key part of this Mets rotation, and not being a douchebauer is is all fine and good, but the rubber meets the road starting tonight, and only you can tell me where that road leads.

[MFS62]

14-7, 3.14 ERA
He is the silent assassin of the starting staff. Teams are so concerned with the others in the rotation that he sneaks up on them.
He will be looked upon as one of the key pickups in the off season.

Later

[Fman99]

Boy, if this guy can stay healthy for a full season (which has been said about him really since he got to MLB I reckon)...

I am bullish on him. I'll guess 13-6, an ERA around 3.30 and a bunch of strong starts. Misses a stretch this summer for some minor ailment but otherwise remains upright.