Carlos Mendoza’s very modern strategy to not routinely utilize his best reliever within the ninth inning makes perfect Mets sense. Calling upon his best when the Phillies have their best hitters due up late — whether that be within the seventh, eighth or ninth inning — surely is the right technique to go. We don’t need an Ivy League analytics degree to appreciate that.
The one unanswerable query here is that this: Does Edwin Diaz remain their best reliever?
It’s probably folly to attempt to guess accurately who amongst Mendoza’s other imperfect options could possibly outpitch Diaz now. So expect no real talk of a Diaz demotion. Diaz has more ability, a greater résumé and an even bigger contract than some other option (and really has an even bigger contract than any reliever ever).
Mendoza often mentions that Diaz is “my guy,” and beyond that being an try to bolster Diaz, who once admitted to a confidence issue, it’s very likely the reality.
Diaz is his “guy.” But is he the guy who can get it done now? At the least a pair recent outings raise that unexpected query.
One rival scout wondered aloud if Diaz shall be higher within the comfort of home because the Division Series moves to Queens after a crazy, seemingly infinite journey to Atlanta, then Milwaukee, then back to Atlanta, then back to Milwaukee, then Philly.
“I do think the Citi Field adrenaline will assist,” the scout said. “Let the trumpets sound!”
Other scouts noticed a wide range of possible issues after he surrendered three runs and the lead in a heartbreaking, 7-6 Game 2 defeat, eventually won on a walk-off hit by Nick Castellanos against Trevor Megill within the ninth inning, to even the series.
Listed below are just a few possibilities (with thoughts 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 were sliders.)
2. Diaz’s slider. “His slider was just not good in any respect [in Game 2,] which can indicate fatigue.”
3. Diaz’s command. “His command is just bad. It was like that earlier within the 12 months, too. He has to by some means work out the right way to command his fastball again. Otherwise he won’t ever 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 lots.
Mendoza’s call to summon Diaz to face the highest of the Phillies lineup was expected, anyway. And it’s fair to ask: What alternative does he have?
The Mets bullpen, seemingly in a relentless state of flux, has several candidates for late, high-leverage spots but no obvious alternative to Diaz, who rescued the Mets and pitched them into October after insisting he remain in Game 161 after his meltdown in Atlanta.
“I feel one hundred pc confident,” Diaz said after Game 2. “It’s a part of the sport. We were playing a extremely good team.”
Other, higher options aren’t obvious, anyway.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Mets within the postseason:
Ryne Stanek blew away the Brewers for one inning and he throws 99 mph, but he’s given up eight homers this 12 months.
Phil Maton generally is solid. But he throws only 91-92 tops and got rocked one game in Milwaukee, allowing two homers.
Jose Butto was sensible in two scoreless innings in Brew City, then gave up back-to-back home runs there a pair days later.
Maton and Stanek were nice July pickups, but with the Mets merely on the cusp of the race, team higher-ups understandably didn’t wish to trade big prospects for back-end bullpen pieces. Two other teams on this National League derby with less need did acquire established closers.
These very Phillies got Carlos Estevez, who pitched a clean eighth inning in Game 2. The Padres hit the jackpot, acquiring a trio of fantastic relievers — Bryan Hoeing, Jason Adam and proven closer Tanner Scott.
The Mets didn’t seem very involved with any of them, no surprise since they trailed within the standings and the asks were steep.
Attrition cost them, too. Brooks Raley, Drew Smith and Sean Reid-Foley all went down with injuries. Jorge Lopez was dispatched after a foul quote. (We still aren’t sure whether he meant the Mets are the “worst” team, but when he did, he wasn’t near correct.)
So Diaz understandably stays Mendoza’s guy. Very likely, he still gives them the very best likelihood.
Things actually began great before going haywire in Game 2, as Diaz whiffed Phillies leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber (0-for-9 with seven K’s vs. Diaz) to finish the seventh, then Trea Turner to start the eighth. Diaz was looking dominant. But suddenly, all of it fell apart.
He pitched rigorously to annual October dynamo Bryce Harper, slightly too rigorously. After walking Harper and failing to retire Castellanos, who singled, Diaz tried a 3-2 slider on Bryson Stott. As Mendoza noted, “It didn’t do an excessive amount of.”
Stott lined a triple down the right-field line, giving the Phillies the lead and galvanizing more theories about Diaz’s possible issues. They won’t stop until Diaz starts pitching like himself.
Carlos Mendoza’s very modern strategy to not routinely utilize his best reliever within the ninth inning makes perfect Mets sense. Calling upon his best when the Phillies have their best hitters due up late — whether that be within the seventh, eighth or ninth inning — surely is the right technique to go. We don’t need an Ivy League analytics degree to appreciate that.
The one unanswerable query here is that this: Does Edwin Diaz remain their best reliever?
It’s probably folly to attempt to guess accurately who amongst Mendoza’s other imperfect options could possibly outpitch Diaz now. So expect no real talk of a Diaz demotion. Diaz has more ability, a greater résumé and an even bigger contract than some other option (and really has an even bigger contract than any reliever ever).
Mendoza often mentions that Diaz is “my guy,” and beyond that being an try to bolster Diaz, who once admitted to a confidence issue, it’s very likely the reality.
Diaz is his “guy.” But is he the guy who can get it done now? At the least a pair recent outings raise that unexpected query.
One rival scout wondered aloud if Diaz shall be higher within the comfort of home because the Division Series moves to Queens after a crazy, seemingly infinite journey to Atlanta, then Milwaukee, then back to Atlanta, then back to Milwaukee, then Philly.
“I do think the Citi Field adrenaline will assist,” the scout said. “Let the trumpets sound!”
Other scouts noticed a wide range of possible issues after he surrendered three runs and the lead in a heartbreaking, 7-6 Game 2 defeat, eventually won on a walk-off hit by Nick Castellanos against Trevor Megill within the ninth inning, to even the series.
Listed below are just a few possibilities (with thoughts 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 were sliders.)
2. Diaz’s slider. “His slider was just not good in any respect [in Game 2,] which can indicate fatigue.”
3. Diaz’s command. “His command is just bad. It was like that earlier within the 12 months, too. He has to by some means work out the right way to command his fastball again. Otherwise he won’t ever 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 lots.
Mendoza’s call to summon Diaz to face the highest of the Phillies lineup was expected, anyway. And it’s fair to ask: What alternative does he have?
The Mets bullpen, seemingly in a relentless state of flux, has several candidates for late, high-leverage spots but no obvious alternative to Diaz, who rescued the Mets and pitched them into October after insisting he remain in Game 161 after his meltdown in Atlanta.
“I feel one hundred pc confident,” Diaz said after Game 2. “It’s a part of the sport. We were playing a extremely good team.”
Other, higher options aren’t obvious, anyway.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the Mets within the postseason:
Ryne Stanek blew away the Brewers for one inning and he throws 99 mph, but he’s given up eight homers this 12 months.
Phil Maton generally is solid. But he throws only 91-92 tops and got rocked one game in Milwaukee, allowing two homers.
Jose Butto was sensible in two scoreless innings in Brew City, then gave up back-to-back home runs there a pair days later.
Maton and Stanek were nice July pickups, but with the Mets merely on the cusp of the race, team higher-ups understandably didn’t wish to trade big prospects for back-end bullpen pieces. Two other teams on this National League derby with less need did acquire established closers.
These very Phillies got Carlos Estevez, who pitched a clean eighth inning in Game 2. The Padres hit the jackpot, acquiring a trio of fantastic relievers — Bryan Hoeing, Jason Adam and proven closer Tanner Scott.
The Mets didn’t seem very involved with any of them, no surprise since they trailed within the standings and the asks were steep.
Attrition cost them, too. Brooks Raley, Drew Smith and Sean Reid-Foley all went down with injuries. Jorge Lopez was dispatched after a foul quote. (We still aren’t sure whether he meant the Mets are the “worst” team, but when he did, he wasn’t near correct.)
So Diaz understandably stays Mendoza’s guy. Very likely, he still gives them the very best likelihood.
Things actually began great before going haywire in Game 2, as Diaz whiffed Phillies leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber (0-for-9 with seven K’s vs. Diaz) to finish the seventh, then Trea Turner to start the eighth. Diaz was looking dominant. But suddenly, all of it fell apart.
He pitched rigorously to annual October dynamo Bryce Harper, slightly too rigorously. After walking Harper and failing to retire Castellanos, who singled, Diaz tried a 3-2 slider on Bryson Stott. As Mendoza noted, “It didn’t do an excessive amount of.”
Stott lined a triple down the right-field line, giving the Phillies the lead and galvanizing more theories about Diaz’s possible issues. They won’t stop until Diaz starts pitching like himself.
