New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway vows to continue to trust his closer in big situations, despite Edwin Diaz’s nightmare season.
Edwin Diaz is having a bad time with the New York Mets. Once a dominant closer with the Seattle Mariners, Diaz has devolved into a batting practice pitcher in New York.
His most recent blown save came on Friday night against the Philadelphia Phillies. However, Mets skipper Mickey Callaway refuses to go away from the embattled reliever.
“We know, and I’ve said this, Diaz has to be good for us to get to where we want to go,” Callaway said via SNY. “So we’ll continue to run him out there in those situations when Lugo’s not available or Wilson’s not available, and if he doesn’t get the job done, then we won’t get the job done. That’s not any extra pressure on him. He understands the situation.”
The Mets are at their best when Diaz is closing games effectively, but it’s wild to think that he’s the best option in any game, let alone a two-run game in the ninth. He allowed two runs in the ninth inning during the Washington Nationals’ ridiculous seven-run comeback.
Diaz’s confidence is at an all-time low and if Callaway continues to go with him, the Mets could be in trouble.
By the grace of God, the Mets were able to rally in the ninth inning of Friday’s game and win on a walk-off walk from Pete Alonso. But they won’t be so lucky if Callaway continues to trot out Diaz in meaningful baseball games. The Mets are four games back of the second-place Wild Card Chicago Cubs.
New York has 22 games left in the season so their chance to make a run at a potential Wild Card game is slipping away.
