As if an awful 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Friday night wasn’t enough, we may be without the team’s most valuable player for at least the next two games and maybe more.
In the bottom of the eighth inning Jeurys Familia was brought in with the bases loaded to try and stop the bleeding after the Braves scored two runs to take the lead.
Like the warrior that he is, Familia got the third out without any further damage, but then was seen grimacing in pain and clutching his left leg as he left the mound and limped into the dugout.
Several players came to his aid and soon some Mets coaches and trainers tended to him before they all disappeared into the clubhouse.
After the game, Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters that it was “just a cramp” and that Familia is “OK.”
However, Familia didn’t sound as optimistic and unconcerned as his manager. He told reporters that he felt significant discomfort in his left groin area and that he would need at least a day or two to recover.
Familia said he felt his groin tightening up on him during his final two pitches of the inning. We’ll know more on Saturday, after he is examined by team doctors and they diagnose the extent of the injury.
One critical question that is gaining traction is why Terry Collins brought Familia into the game in the first place. The Mets needed just one out, it wasn’t a save situation, and it wasn’t even the ninth.
Collins seems fixated on bringing Familia in during the eight inning whenever he can, having done so in four of his last six outings.
It shows little regard for the wear and tear on Familia’s arm and shoulder, and Collins seems oblivious to the risks of constantly having him pitch under duress and high leverage situations, often entering the game with runners on base.
It’s certainly something to keep an eye on as the Mets can ill-afford losing Familia to an arm injury.
