The New York Mets have had many more ups than downs during this 2022 season, but it seems on a day-to-day basis that different positives are contributing to the overall winning record.
One day it's a bevy of hard hit balls by the playing regulars. Another day it's a little-used backup tooting his horn with heroics. Occasionally it's a paint-the-corners effort by a starting pitcher that leaves the opponents flailing away without making solid contact. Other times it's the much maligned bullpen that is responsible for preserving the game as it progresses towards its end in the 9th or in extra innings.
Much copy has been written (more con than pro) about closer Edwin Diaz and his ability to make batters look positively silly. His strikeout ratio is off the charts and his ability to throw gas past sluggers and slap hitters alike has resulted in some awesome results. For this season he's thus far got a 2-1 record with 11 saves and a commendable deGrom-like 2.49 ERA.
He has pitched in 22 games and in those 21.2 IP he's notched 40 strikeouts. That is not a misprint. Perhaps finally people who trashed the trade will finally get off his back. The rookies sent to Seattle are doing nothing. The veteran salary relief spelled the end of other careers. The PED abusing Robinson Cano was just kicked out of his second clubhouse in less than 2 weeks yet Diaz is having an All Star worthy season.
Adam Ottavino was not on the top of anyone's list as a valuable asset for the club when he was signed. Yes, he's had some good years in the past but he's also had some unspectacular ones as well. Thus far the Mets got the average Ottavino who for 2022 is also sporting a 2-1 record but with a somewhat high 3.86 ERA. In his 18.2 IP he's notched 27 Ks which helped the damage on the bad days not be as lethal as it could have been.
Earlier this season I profiled Drew Smith as a pitcher in need of recognition. At the time he was sporting a perfect 0.00 ERA which has since risen all the way up to a still very impressive 2.38. His 0-1 record is deceptive as he has also struck out way better than one per inning and sports a WHIP of just 1.059. Yes, there's room for at least one Smith to remain on the major league roster.
Now the rest of the bullpen has had its good and bad moments, but more often than not they have helped in the middle innings. Seth Lugo is also 0-1 like Smith but sports a very impressive WHIP to accompany his strikeout per inning pitched metric. He tends to get rocked in one game which offsets the brilliance in the others. Overall his 3.38 ERA is pretty good.
Lefty Joely Rodriguez has been more good than bad but he's not part of the elite corps. With a 4.24 ERA he's holding his own but not at a stellar level. He has struck out more than one per inning pitched but needs to work hard on bad control as he has allowed 5.8 walks per 9 IP.
Adam Ottavino was not on the top of anyone's list as a valuable asset for the club when he was signed. Yes, he's had some good years in the past but he's also had some unspectacular ones as well. Thus far the Mets got the average Ottavino who for 2022 is also sporting a 2-1 record but with a somewhat high 3.86 ERA. In his 18.2 IP he's notched 27 Ks which helped the damage on the bad days not be as lethal as it could have been.
Earlier this season I profiled Drew Smith as a pitcher in need of recognition. At the time he was sporting a perfect 0.00 ERA which has since risen all the way up to a still very impressive 2.38. His 0-1 record is deceptive as he has also struck out way better than one per inning and sports a WHIP of just 1.059. Yes, there's room for at least one Smith to remain on the major league roster.
Now the rest of the bullpen has had its good and bad moments, but more often than not they have helped in the middle innings. Seth Lugo is also 0-1 like Smith but sports a very impressive WHIP to accompany his strikeout per inning pitched metric. He tends to get rocked in one game which offsets the brilliance in the others. Overall his 3.38 ERA is pretty good.
Lefty Joely Rodriguez has been more good than bad but he's not part of the elite corps. With a 4.24 ERA he's holding his own but not at a stellar level. He has struck out more than one per inning pitched but needs to work hard on bad control as he has allowed 5.8 walks per 9 IP.
Most of the others have not had enough innings to draw conclusions for sure, but overall the pen has been better than most anticipated (even withstanding the loss of Trevor May). Most Mets fans do not instantly reach for grain alcohol nor medication when relievers come into the game. The success they have shown is both a pleasant surprise and a major component of why the team keeps on winning.
4 comments:
Any bullpen could use a Hader, but the Mets' pen has done well in 2022. The Dodger pen got beat up a bit the last two nights, and they're the Dodgers.
I think Eric Orze will be next man up for the pen if he can keep pitching well. I have been known to be wrong.
It will be interesting to see what happens when both deGrom and McGill come back.
Then Max in July.
Future pen members could be Peterson, Williams, and Walker (or Cookie)
Very well said, Reese. The bullpen guys have been great for the most part. It is very hard to get called out to the mound day after day and shut down opposing batters, so they are all going to have days where they look 'human'. However, the overall body of work has been very good. Both Holderman and Medina have pitched some great innings lately, so you can add them to your success story.
When we get into August and September, I hope this story still holds. Arms get weary, injuries happen, and sometimes confidence is broken on a bad day. Buck and Jeremy have to manage this pen's health to make sure this success continues.
I wonder if we will see Max, Jake, Megill, and May all back by July 4. THAT would be spectacular. Of course, someone may end up telling Jake they gave his position to - COLIN HOLDERMAN. Just call Holderman "Mr Stingy"
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