He is frowning.
(Just to be clear, that’s a lowercase “g” with a frown on it, nothing to do with the lucky fuzzy purple letter that sent Mr. Met to the bench.)
Given the Mets’ continued success, this should be a time to genuinely celebrate, but it’s also a time to worry.
I frown because I worry that on May 18th, I predicted the Mets would clinch a playoff spot, and that all the work they’ve done to get closer to a playoff berth may be undone by an understaffed, overworked and inexperienced bullpen.
The Mets are in the running for the championship, but they fell just one game below .500 at the midpoint of the season after a 10-5, rain-delayed, 11-inning loss to Houston on Sunday at Citi Field. There’s a lot to like about this team, but their relief staff, which has lost a league-high six leads after eight innings (tied with the Rockies) despite a middling overall record, is now seriously faltering.
Their lineup depth is outstanding, and their rotation depth may be just as impressive. While many other teams are struggling with starting pitching shortages, the Astros currently have three pitchers who are major league capable. The Astros have seven starting pitchers, but they are forced to use the bullpen because of players on the disabled list.
Fortunately, the Mets will never have to try that, since they can barely muster a bullpen for three innings, much less a bullpen game, and they are hurting with injuries to Drew Smith and Brooks Raley (both out this year), as well as Sean Reid-Foley.
So is the temporary absence of Edwin Diaz, who will miss five more games after being caught with such rough hands that you wonder how he could let the ball go, and his memorable losing defense was his usual style.
Diaz’s return could be a plus, but frankly, it’s not likely if he pitches the way he did before his misfortune. I met with Mets team president David Stearns, and he expressed confidence in Diaz.
“I think Edwin is a very talented pitcher,” Stearns said.
That’s fair, but he was already on fire before he went on the suspended list. For now, they’re just moving players without his talent (or his $102 million contract) from Triple-A. The Mets just brought up journeyman Tyler Jay and Matt Festa, a Brooklyn native and graduate of St. Joseph-by-the-Sea in Staten Island (though the Festabus celebration was called off after he gave up five runs in the losing 11th inning).
“The bullpen situation changes daily,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We have a plan A, B and C, and we’ll adjust accordingly.”
Hopefully whatever plan they end up hiring will include acquiring a proven MLB relief pitcher, as things as they are probably not going to be enough if they want to capture one of the final two wild card spots among the nine National League teams.
Stearns, a native of New York’s Upper East Side who spent his first seven years as manager in Milwaukee, where the media was quieter and the fans were more docile, is sure he knows he’s left Milwaukee and that Mets fans will keep trying whenever they get the chance — and they certainly have a chance.
No, unless there is a bust, Pete Alonso is not going anywhere. The focus is on the buy side and Penn.
“Obviously, this is an area of the team that we will continue to monitor,” Stearns told The Post.
They are the rare, fortunate team in the championship contender category that doesn’t need rotation or position reinforcements. In fact, as Mike Puma reported, they may be the only championship contender team that can trade starter stock while still remaining in the championship race. Jose Butt, Christian Scott and Megill are now surplus to requirements, meaning a veteran like Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana or even Luis Severino could hit the market.
Trade talk won’t get serious until mid-July, but the other good news is that a number of relief pitchers may be available. Here’s the updated list:
1. Tanner Scott, Marlins: A left-hander would be ideal, but the competition is stiff and the Yankees have shown a lot of interest.
2. Mason Miller, Athletics: It still seems unlikely that the 103.7 mph pitcher will be traded.
3. Pete Fairbanks, Rays: Good stuff, fun personality.
4. Kyle Finnegan, Nationals: Great, except for the walk-off loss due to time running out.
5. Paul Sewald, Diamondbacks: If the Diamondbacks falter, the former Mets are great.
6. Carlos Estevez, Angels: A no-frills, solid type.
7. Garrett Crochet, White Sox: The new starting star will likely move to a team in need of a starting pitcher.
8. David Bednar, Pirates: He’s one of the best relief pitchers in the league, but the Pirates are the buyers as of today.
9. Camilo Duval, Giants: They are far from selling.
10. Kenley Jansen, Red Sox: There’s no certainty he’ll leave, and his $16 million salary, taxed at 110%, would be tough for the team to stomach.
11. Michael Kopech, White Sox: He has big arms but he can fly.
It’s hard to make a trade in early July. There are few players to sell (two teams, the Marlins and White Sox, at last count) and the prices are high. But as it stands, the Mets’ pitching staff is made up of heavily used veterans and less-tested journeymen, so the situation is edging toward dire. This will be Stearns’ first big trade test.
