Carlos Mendoza’s very trendy technique to not mechanically make the most of his greatest reliever in the ninth inning makes good Mets sense. Calling upon his greatest when the Phillies have their greatest hitters due up late — whether or not that be in the seventh, eighth or ninth inning — certainly is the appropriate approach to go. We don’t want an Ivy League analytics diploma to understand that.
The solely unanswerable query right here is that this: Does Edwin Diaz stay their greatest reliever?
It’s in all probability folly to attempt to guess accurately who amongst Mendoza’s different imperfect choices might probably outpitch Diaz now. So anticipate no actual discuss of a Diaz demotion. Diaz has extra potential, a greater résumé and a much bigger contract than every other possibility (and truly has a much bigger contract than any reliever ever).
Mendoza regularly mentions that Diaz is “my guy,” and past that being an try and bolster Diaz, who as soon as admitted to a confidence challenge, it’s very seemingly the reality.
Diaz is his “guy.” But is he the man who can get it completed now? At least a pair current outings elevate that surprising query.
One rival scout questioned aloud if Diaz will probably be higher in the consolation of house as the Division Series strikes to Queens after a loopy, seemingly limitless journey to Atlanta, then Milwaukee, then again to Atlanta, then again to Milwaukee, then Philly.
“I do think the Citi Field adrenaline will assist,” the scout mentioned. “Let the trumpets sound!”
Other scouts seen a wide range of doable points after he surrendered three runs and the lead in a heartbreaking, 7-6 Game 2 defeat, ultimately received on a walk-off hit by Nick Castellanos in opposition to Trevor Megill in the ninth inning, to even the collection.
Here are just a few prospects (with ideas from scouts):
1. Diaz’s fastball. “Can’t throw his fastball for a strike. He’s clearly fighting himself, especially on his fastball. Too many sliders.” (Seventeen of 25 pitches had been sliders.)
2. Diaz’s slider. “His slider was just not good at all [in Game 2,] which may indicate fatigue.”
3. Diaz’s command. “His command is just bad. It was like that earlier in the year, too. He has to somehow figure out how to command his fastball again. Otherwise he will never get back to what he was.”
4. Diaz’s confidence. “I just think his confidence comes and goes.”
5. Diaz’s workload. He threw 130 pitches over eight days, The Athletic identified. While he did have two days off heading into Game 2, that’s rather a lot.
Mendoza’s name to summon Diaz to face the top of the Phillies lineup was anticipated, anyway. And it’s truthful to ask: What alternative does he have?
The Mets bullpen, seemingly in a relentless state of flux, has a number of candidates for late, high-leverage spots however no apparent various to Diaz, who rescued the Mets and pitched them into October after insisting he stay in Game 161 after his meltdown in Atlanta.
“I feel 100 percent confident,” Diaz mentioned after Game 2. “It’s part of the game. We were playing a really good team.”
Other, higher choices aren’t apparent, anyway.
Follow The Post’s protection of the Mets in the postseason:
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 strong. But he throws solely 91-92 tops and acquired rocked one recreation in Milwaukee, permitting two homers.
Jose Butto was sensible in two scoreless innings in Brew City, 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, group higher-ups understandably didn’t need to commerce huge prospects for back-end bullpen items. Two different groups on this National League derby with much less want did purchase established closers.
These very Phillies acquired Carlos Estevez, who pitched a clear eighth inning in Game 2. The Padres hit the jackpot, buying a trio of fantastic 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 in 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 certain whether or not he meant the Mets are the “worst” group, but when he did, he wasn’t near appropriate.)
So Diaz understandably remains Mendoza’s man. Very seemingly, he nonetheless offers them the greatest likelihood.
Things really began nice earlier than going haywire in Game 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 wanting dominant. But instantly, all of it fell aside.
He pitched fastidiously to annual October dynamo Bryce Harper, just a little 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 too much.”
Stott lined a triple down the right-field line, giving the Phillies the lead and galvanizing extra theories about Diaz’s doable points. They received’t cease till Diaz begins pitching like himself.
