Following another late-inning collapse, this time a 7-2 defeat to the Philadephia Phillies, New York Mets manager, Mickey Callaway refused to commit to keeping his beleaguered closer, right-hander, Edwin Diaz, in a strictly-closing role.
“We talk about all kinds of things internally, all the time. The one thing we always will try and do is try to use our personnel in the best [way] we can,” Callaway told the media (video via SNY). “If somebody steps up and is getting the job done better in that role, then we would consider it, probably.”
As per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Callaway says Diaz is “definitely healthy”, adding “he feels great; the [velocity is] there”.
After coming to Queens in the trade that sent Jay Bruce, Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, Anthony Swarzak, and right-hander Gerson Bautista to Seattle in exchange for Robinson Cano and the young righty, Diaz, 25, began his tenure with the Mets just as advertised.
From Opening Day through the end of April (eight appearances), Diaz pitched to a 1.54 ERA and 2.52 FIP with 20 strikeouts, two walks (15.43 K/9, 1.54 BB/9), and held hitters to .194 BA/.387 SLG with his four-seamer and .182 BA/.273 SLG on his slider. A dastardly combination, no doubt.
Since then, Diaz owns a 7.89 ERA and 4.36 FIP over 21.1 innings of work. He still holds respectable strikeout numbers (14.54 K/9) but is issuing walks at a simply unacceptable clip (3.74 BB/9). Batters are hitting a troubling .308 versus his heater and .351 against his slider since May 1.
Whether he’s telegraphing what’s coming next or just leaving too many pitches over the plate, this level of non-productivity can’t continue; even in what’s looking like a losing season. Something’s up, for sure, and Diaz understands that.
“To be honest, I really don’t have an answer right now [as to my performance]. Because when I go out there and pitch, I try to do my job every day,” Diaz said, through an interpreter. “I think lately, in this last stretch I haven’t been able to find those three, four, five games in a row where I can put up zeroes. At the beginning of the season, I could, but lately, I just haven’t been getting it done.”
SNY’s Steve Gelbs (video via Anthony DiComo, MLB.com) asked the 24-year-old right-hander is it’s been difficult to maintain a high level of confidence, to which Diaz seemingly replied as honestly as he could, considering the circumstances.
“When I have a good day or a bad day, I just throw that to the side because every day is a new day. What I try to do, I try to do my job every single day. I try to execute my pitches. Right now I’m just trying to find the consistency to do that every day.”
“I want to be the closer of this team. But if [Callaway] thinks [moving out of that role is] the way I can find my confidence, or just feel more comfortable trying to get right, I’ll pitch in whatever role that he wants me to.”
In all honesty, the only thing that can help Edwin Diaz keep his job at this point is better on-field performance.
