Luis Severino's disastrous Mets debut felt awfully familiar for Yankees fans

We kept trying to tell you. All spring training long. The velocity is not former Yankees ace Luis Severino's problem. It's something almost imperceptible. It's usually location-based, but occasionally between the ears. It's often related to a physical malfunction. And, whatever the cause, Severino hasn't been able to overcome this series of mysterious "its" for several seasons now, culminating in a trip across town to call Citi Field his home in 2024.

Despite his new beard, Severino was eminently recognizable in Saturday afternoon's outing against the Milwaukee Brewers. There was business to be handled for the Mets after Rhys Hoskins got under Jeff McNeil's skin and called him a crybaby in Friday's opener. Nobody was asking the fire-breathing Severino to buzz anybody, but an effective (and fire-wielding) outing could've gone a long way.

Instead, Sevy delivered a dud that ran counter to everything he did in spring training (1.29 ERA in 14 innings), and a random reliever entered to deliver a headhunting warning several hours later, impressing no one and earning a suspension (and one for his manager, too). Typical Mets, and -- sadly -- typical mid-career Severino.

Former Yankees starter Luis Severino's poor outing for Mets felt like 2023

When the Hoskins dust-up settled, Severino's final line looked 2023-ish. He sports a 10.80 ERA and 2.40 WHIP, both of which he'd prefer to get off his back quickly. He allowed 12 hits, which should be physically impossible at his physical peak. He was in a 3-0 hole by the end of the first inning, and knowing the likelihood of the resulting psychological damage (based on Severino's past), it's actually surprising he regrouped to allow only three more by the end of the contest. Will he carry this start-to-start? If the familiarity reigns supreme, season-over-season, it would be tough to envision the ex-Yankees right-hander shaking it off.

There was a time last summer when Severino depressingly called himself the worst pitcher in the game. Mets or elsewhere, it would've been nice to see him harness his superpowers and get back on his feet quickly. Maybe he'd even earn a midseason trade out of town if the Mets scuffled and owed him a favor.

It's still possible, of course, but the rehabilitation efforts got off on the extremely wrong foot -- the same foot he used during his final season (or two, or three...) with the Yankees. Good health is the number one thing you can ask for in a time like this, but fans will be crossing their fingers that Severino can get productivity under his belt soon, too.