Philadelphia Inquirer

Jerad Eickhoff delivers a pitch in his outing against the Mets on Friday.NEW YORK - When the second inning ended Friday, Jerad Eickhoff had thrown 50 pitches to record six outs. He could not command his fastball. His defense failed him. His mechanics were not crisp.

It could have been worse.

"I felt frustrated because I wasn't executing my fastball," Eickhoff said. "Most of the day, really, when I had to make a pitch I made a pitch, fortunately."

These games are about the development of potential pieces for the Phillies' future, and Eickhoff's season debut was incongruent. He threw as many balls as he did strikes in those first two innings. He calmed in the middle innings, retiring 12 of 13…