If the Mets are serious about making a run to the playoffs,
then there are some steps they need to take to prepare for the battle in
September and hopefully the October games as well. Obviously getting back guys like Brandon
Nimmo and Jed Lowrie would go a long way towards improving an anemic bench, but
there are some more radical steps that might have to be considered.
Today is not a day to debate the merits of the Seattle trade
made in the off-season. In the early
going Edwin Diaz showed Mets fans exactly what he was capable of doing. From March 28th through May 28th
he was the same guy that set the Saves record for the Mariners in 2018. During that two month stretch he had a 1.64
ERA, 13 Saves, held opponents to a .205 BAA and struck out 35 in just 22
IP.
Then came the first big blow. In a May 29th game against the
Dodgers he pitched just a third of an inning and was charged with 4 runs on 5
hits along with a walk. That included
not one but two home runs. His next three
appearances against the Diamondbacks, Giants and Rockies were dominating and
people were thinking it was just a one-time blip. However, on June 13th he had
another meltdown, this time at the hands of the Cardinals, giving up 3 runs, 4
hits and a walk in 2 IP to blow the Save.
Not that you need any reminders, but from June 27th
(another major implosion) through August 11th Diaz has pitched to a
10.05 ERA with surprisingly 8 saves, 2 blown saves and two losses. Batters are teeing off to a .300 AVG against
him. About the only good news is that
the strikeouts are still there with 24 over 14.1 IP.
When he was acquired there was some concern about bone spurs
for which nothing was yet done. At one
point Tomas Nido said that he was pitching scared. Others have suggested there is something
physically wrong with him.
I know the Mets have stated publicly that they have no
intentions of demoting Diaz to Syracuse, but you have to scratch your head and
wonder why. After all, if you’re going
to hide him or use him in just mop-up situations, that’s not terribly
useful. Seth Lugo is on fire and has
recently been inserted into the closer’s role.
Even the beleaguered Jeurys Familia turned in some better pitching of
late. Justin Wilson and Luis Avilan have
also been pitching some quality innings.
Maybe the stop-gap acquisition of Brad Brach really gives the Mets the
luxury of letting Diaz escape the spotlight, closing games upstate for up to
two weeks before the September rosters are set.
The problem, of course, is that removing Diaz from the 25-man roster
means someone must be added and the results the AAA squad have not been
good. Remember, however, there are two
issues at play – a 10.05 ERA which is not a tough act to beat, and getting Diaz
ready for the pennant chase.
I have no knowledge on how to 'handle' pitchers that are betting bad results from the talents they once had that dominated this game.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we could go look at 100 hours of tape and find a hitch here and a arc change there, but, in my opinion, we all know this guy is talented enough to make an NL all-star team, as well as an AL one.
My belief is that the only person that has a remote chance of knowing what is going wrong here is within the pitcher himself. What would he admit to here.
Answere nothing.
In the short term, I would make him my 8th inning guy in front of Lugo.
In a longer time, I would find the one pitching coach he ever had that he has the most respect for and, if available, bring him into came as a special instructor.
Mack makes good points.
ReplyDeleteDiaz has to stay right here and we sink or swim with him.
My take? Only sliders that are at or below the knees, and move the fastball around. Brush guys back.
We need Diaz - badly.
But we also need McNeil to not have to go on the IL. If he does, it likely will be Ruben Tejada time.
Send him down?
ReplyDeleteAnd bring up . . . Mazza? Is that the genius move?
Or is there some other competent guy down in AAA we don't know about?
Wow.
Look, it sucks. Diaz has had a really disappointing season. Look around baseball. There's a number of high-profile relievers who have really struggled.
The trading deadline has passed. There are no other options but to "gentle" him into a meaningful role. Sort of a Familia type process.
I'm saying: the question to my mind is only about usage. And sideline work. And coaching. He's going to stay on the roster, period. There are no other options.
Jimmy
Relief pitchers are failed starters....there has been only one relief pitcher year in and year out one team could count on and that was Mariano...some have stretches of good years but they are very hard to find.
ReplyDeleteI would call up Matt Blackham next.
ReplyDeleteIt is too soon for Kevin Smith, but he sure is pitching the heck out of the ball in AA, just a year after being drafted.
ReplyDelete@Jimmy -- Diaz is pitching to a 10.05 ERA. For up to two weeks we can live with someone else and likely get that or better. It is a step to prepare him to help in September and (hopefully) October. To Mack's point, Matt Blackham would get my vote, too. In fact, I wrote a story about him that will run on Friday.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt Diaz has struggled, but this is not Strat-O-Matic. Real people here.
ReplyDeleteThe 10.05 ERA is cherry picking. Must represent some recent small sample size.
To me, I see the talent and know the Mets need this guy if they want to succeed for any meaningful stretch. I guess I'm just trying to find a way and hope something clicks.
A long shot? Maybe. But we know he has great talent.
Sorry, not putting my hopes in Matt Blackham or any other name you draw from the hat.
My focus would be on usage, on side work, on coaching.
BUT . . . if I looked in his eyes and saw a guy who was defeated, I'd make a change. But I don't have that perspective. I don't really, really know what's going on with Diaz and the Mets.
I do know that we haven't seen one good reliever step up from this system in more than two years. I'm not expecting some miracle name to suddenly do the job.
Jimmy