In 2022, the New York Mets were the talk of baseball. They were using Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso to get to the playoffs, and the Buck Showalter way of life was working. The centerpiece of the team was not only an incredible performance from Edwin Diaz, but the most intimidating walk-up in sports, with Diaz's ascent to the mount hailed by Timmy Trumpet and a spine-shattering fanfare. In 2022, it was the most epic entrance in sports. If Diaz was coming on in the ninth, you were toast.
In 2023, Diaz got hurt, the Mets dealt their nearest pieces, and Buck Showalter lost his job. And the quest to start over began.
In 2024, the New York Mets were the talk of baseball. They make it to an NLCS on the strength of Pete Alonso, Sean Manaea, Lindor, Nimmo and the surprise postseason reappearance of Kodai Senga. Diaz was...alright, but only notched 20 saves and was more of a solid reliever than a solid closer.
And now the Mets are trying desperately to act like they haven't relapsed again, even with Juan Soto doing Juan Soto things in the heart of the lineup. Injuries have left this team a wild card competitor, with a lot of great pitchers just not delivering this year. The stretch from June 13th on has been atrocious, as the Mets have gone from a 1st place team to barely hanging on above the Reds. And most frustratingly...Edwin Diaz isn't a league-best closer anymore.
Look, there's a chance Diaz gets 30 saves this year, and his next one will be #250 as a career, but the guy who chased K-Rod with the Mariners isn't this same guy. He's very much a solid, consistent eighth inning guy who can also do some 9th inning work, and he's made it into the situation where the team has no choice but to trust him as a closer. They did get Ryan Helsley as a closing option, but like Diaz, Helsley is better as a setup guy. At the very least, Diaz is unhittable this year, and has a 1.69 ERA with 70 Ks. But the guy who was always a ninth inning lock in 2022 isn't here. Further, there's an NL East closer that has usurped him in that category. Jhoan Duran not only has a cooler entrance, but is getting much more opportunity to save. It's just not Diaz's time anymore.
And I'm not trying to belittle Diaz for no reason. He's still an excellent relief piece, and has helped the Mets stay in the race. But I don't know if he's THE closer for this team anymore. Which I think the Mets do have to come to terms with.
I think the Mets have a chance to still factor into this season, and you're seeing a slight uptick since the Little League Classic. Nolan McLean is absolutely ready for the bigs, and he's joined Peterson and Senga as sure things in the rotation. Alonso just passed Straw and is still rolling. Soto's got another 30-homer year and still has time for more. But they need to get past their uncomfortably bad stretch and reestablish themselves as an intimidating NL force. This may be difficult with the Brewers, Phillies and Dodgers commanding the narrative, but there's still time now.
Coming Tomorrow- Hard-hitting DH/corner for a team desperately clinging to their probability to compete.
No comments:
Post a Comment