METS FAN CRAZINESS AND EDWIN DIAZ

"THROW THE BUM OUT!!"

A usually friendly Mets fan facebook page (name unimportant) has had lots of nasty comments about "Sugar" Edwin Diaz.  

That he sucks.  That he's a bum.

That the Mets should get rid of him.

In my opinion, brains don't always grow on trees, so I take those comments for what they are worth.

Yes he has struggled.  

Yes he has struggled more than anyone might have expected.

So get rid of him, right?

Would you get rid of a guy who, even when struggling, has 85 Ks in 50.2 IP - which is 15.2 Ks per 9 innings?  First, can you name another Mets pitcher who has ever fanned 15.2 per 9?  No.  It's not your memory, that pitcher does not exist. 

If the Mets released Edwin, how many other teams wouldn't hesitate to snap him up?  My guess is it falls between 29 and 29.

Edwin in his last several games has allowed a 2 run homer to someone on a day he had a bad back.  Otherwise, in those 5.2 IP, he has allowed just a couple of runners and fanned 12, to which I say: WOW.

Sure he has a 5.33 ERA, quite high.  But in 4 outings, he allowed 16 earned runs in 3 innings.

In the rest, spanning 48 innings, 14 earned runs.  Which is quite good.

But it is easy to quote a season-long ERA and say a guy sucks.

When he is actually a brilliant talent who has had several really rough games this year.

I for one am patient - I expect fully that there will be a huge turnaround in Diaz.

Some people say, hey, he just needs a change of scenery.

Bad logic with such strong talent.

The Mets could have stuck Hansel Robles at the back of the bullpen last year.  

But instead let him go.  Mistake.  Big one.

In 98 outings with the Angelinos, a stellar 2.76 ERA, 4-1 record, 21 saves, and a 1.17 WHIP for Robles.  

"But he couldn't pitch here."  

Are you that sure?  I wasn't.  And you were dead wrong.

Travis d'Arnaud also wore out his welcome with many, so off he went, too.  Whoops.  251 at bats later, 25 extra base hits and 51 RBIs, while throwing out 13 of 40 (33%), while keeping low hit Tomas Nido with the Mets instead.

My advice? 

Be very patient, cheer Edwin on, and don't "Robles" or "Travis" him.

He could close in 2020 like it's 2018 all over again.  

Like a Beast.  

I'm patiently waiting for that.  

So should you.