Scuffling Edwin Diaz nonetheless the Mets’ best choice

Carlos Mendoza’s very fashionable technique to not robotically make the most of his finest reliever within the ninth inning makes excellent Mets sense. Calling upon his finest when the Phillies have their finest hitters due up late — whether or not that be within the seventh, eighth or ninth inning — certainly is the right strategy to go. We don’t want an Ivy League analytics diploma to understand that. 

The one unanswerable query right here is that this: Does Edwin Diaz stay their finest reliever? 

It’s in all probability folly to attempt to guess appropriately who amongst Mendoza’s different imperfect choices may probably outpitch Diaz now. So count on no actual discuss of a Diaz demotion. Diaz has extra capability, a greater résumé and an even bigger contract than every other choice (and really has an even bigger contract than any reliever ever). 

Mendoza continuously mentions that Diaz is “my man,” and past that being an try and bolster Diaz, who as soon as admitted to a confidence difficulty, it’s very doubtless the reality. 

Diaz is his “man.” However is he the man who can get it accomplished now? Not less than a pair latest outings elevate that surprising query. 

One rival scout puzzled aloud if Diaz might be higher within the consolation of house because the Division Collection strikes to Queens after a loopy, seemingly countless journey to Atlanta, then Milwaukee, then again to Atlanta, then again to Milwaukee, then Philly. 

“I do suppose the Citi Discipline adrenaline will help,” the scout mentioned. “Let the trumpets sound!” 

Different scouts observed quite a lot of attainable points after he surrendered three runs and the lead in a heartbreaking, 7-6 Recreation 2 defeat, ultimately gained on a walk-off hit by Nick Castellanos towards Trevor Megill within the ninth inning, to even the sequence. 

Listed here are a couple of prospects (with ideas from scouts): 

1. Diaz’s fastball. “Can’t throw his fastball for a strike. He’s clearly preventing himself, particularly on his fastball. Too many sliders.” (Seventeen of 25 pitches had been sliders.) 

2. Diaz’s slider. “His slider was simply not good in any respect [in Game 2,] which can point out fatigue.” 

3. Diaz’s command. “His command is simply dangerous. It was like that earlier within the yr, too. He has to someway determine easy methods to command his fastball once more. In any other case he won’t ever get again to what he was.” 

4. Diaz’s confidence. “I simply suppose his confidence comes and goes.” 

5. Diaz’s workload. He threw 130 pitches over eight days, The Athletic identified. Whereas he did have two days off heading into Recreation 2, that’s quite a bit. 

Mendoza’s name to summon Diaz to face the highest of the Phillies lineup was anticipated, anyway. And it’s truthful to ask: What selection does he have? 

The Mets bullpen, seemingly in a continuing state of flux, has a number of candidates for late, high-leverage spots however no apparent different to Diaz, who rescued the Mets and pitched them into October after insisting he stay in Recreation 161 after his meltdown in Atlanta. 

“I really feel one hundred pc assured,” Diaz mentioned after Recreation 2. “It’s a part of the sport. We had been taking part in a very good crew.” 

Different, higher choices aren’t apparent, anyway. 

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Comply with The Submit’s protection of the Mets within the postseason:

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Ryne Stanek blew away the Brewers for one inning and he throws 99 mph, however he’s given up eight homers this yr. 

Phil Maton usually is stable. However he throws solely 91-92 tops and acquired rocked one sport in Milwaukee, permitting two homers. 

Jose Butto was good in two scoreless innings in Brew Metropolis, then gave up back-to-back house runs there a pair days later. 

Maton and Stanek had been good July pickups, however with the Mets merely on the cusp of the race, crew higher-ups understandably didn’t wish to commerce massive prospects for back-end bullpen items. Two different groups on this Nationwide League derby with much less want did purchase established closers. 

These very Phillies acquired Carlos Estevez, who pitched a clear eighth inning in Recreation 2. The Padres hit the jackpot, buying a trio of wonderful relievers — Bryan Hoeing, Jason Adam and confirmed nearer Tanner Scott. 

The Mets didn’t appear very concerned with any of them, no shock since they trailed within the standings and the asks had been steep. 

Attrition value them, too. Brooks Raley, Drew Smith and Sean Reid-Foley all went down with accidents. Jorge Lopez was dispatched after a foul quote. (We nonetheless aren’t positive whether or not he meant the Mets are the “worst” crew, but when he did, he wasn’t near appropriate.) 

So Diaz understandably stays Mendoza’s man. Very doubtless, he nonetheless offers them one of the best probability. 

Issues really began nice earlier than going haywire in Recreation 2, as Diaz whiffed Phillies leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber (0-for-9 with seven Okay’s vs. Diaz) to finish the seventh, then Trea Turner to start the eighth. Diaz was trying dominant. However out of the blue, all of it fell aside. 

He pitched fastidiously to annual October dynamo Bryce Harper, a bit of too fastidiously. After strolling Harper and failing to retire Castellanos, who singled, Diaz tried a 3-2 slider on Bryson Stott. As Mendoza famous, “It didn’t do an excessive amount of.” 

Stott lined a triple down the right-field line, giving the Phillies the lead and provoking extra theories about Diaz’s attainable points. They gained’t cease till Diaz begins pitching like himself.