Mets Bullpen Highlights

The 2019 Mets pen is awfully reminiscent of the 2018 pen - lots not to like, performance-wise.

But there have been highlights.

3 guys in 2019 have been stellar:

SETH LUGO - 5-3, 2.87, 53 games, 69 innings, 87 Ks.  Vital workhorse.  Season would have been a complete disaster without him.

JUSTIN WILSON - July, August, Sept., 26 outings, 22 innings, 2 runs, 3-0.  Wow.

LUIS AVILAN - July, August, September, 25 outings, 18 innings, 2 runs, 3-0.  Wow.

Sadly, the last two were largely hurt until July.  Had they been healthy all year, we'd be leading in the Wild Card, most likely.

But.....Three pitchers does not a successful pen make.  

But...let's not overlook the superb performance of those three.

Of course, two key pieces, Jeurys Familia and Edwin Diaz have had bad seasons.

Of the two, the fact that Familia has 2 years left is disturbing.  His 41 walks in 55 innings is downright awful - and frightening looking ahead.  Maybe he needs shoulder surgery and will be back to improved next year.  Let's hope.

Diaz?  I may be in the minority, but I keep him and hope he can rediscover the magic.  He sure has the laser arm.  They don't grow on trees.  But he has to adapt.

Lastly - a message to Mets ownership:

In 2020, do whatever it takes to OVERSTOCK THE BULLPEN:

Just off the top of my head, I wrote last year about there being something like 15 relievers (mostly AAAA type guys) used that combined allowed more than 7 runs per 9 innings.  A big, big reason why the Mets won just 77 games last year.

This year, how are the AAAA types doing?  The same.

Mostly relievers, Rhame, Peterson, Sewald, Font, Pounders, Flexen, Santiago, Zamora, Mazza, Lockett, Bashlor, Gagnon, Nogosek, and Oswalt - 14 guys - have thrown 177 innings and given up 142 runs - 7.22 per 9 innings.  The rest of the staff, by comparison, has given up 512 runs in 1,075 innings, or 4.28 runs per 9 innings - not great, but decent.

That AAA bullpen collective meltdown is a formula for missing the playoffs.  No team can be successful with that.

Answer?  

Two more Wilson/Avilan types are needed in 2020, at a minimum.  

Probably 3.  

Sure, spending the extra money hurts.  

But - Spend the money.  

Then make the playoffs.  

Then make the money back.  

That simple.  

Happy fans?  

Priceless.

Jed Lowrie Watch - ol' Jed hit a homer in a 1-0 Brooklyn playoff game yesterday.  If I were the opponent, Hudson Valley, I'd be pissed that a MLB star decided what was otherwise a scoreless playoff game - had HV won, they'd have won the series.  

Lowrie has now had 35 plate appearances since he resumed his rehab games on August 20.  With the most important (hopefully) 1/7 of the season ahead, I'd be shocked if he isn't in Queens tonight with the Mets.  All hands on deck.