The New York Mets’ bullpen always seems to be an issue. Any time the team is good, the bullpen seems to be the weak link. However, there’s always a shining light. For whatever reason, the Mets always seem to have one or two good pieces shine through in their awful bullpens. In honor of those lights, and hope that ’20s will be better, here’s the Mets’ all-decade bullpen for the 2010s.
LOOGY: Jerry Blevins
Blevins was with the Mets from 2015-18. Over that span, the lefty had a 3.38 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 10.8 K/9, and 4 BB/9.
Blevins was without a doubt the Mets’ best LOOGY of the decade. He was flat out dominant against lefties. During most of his time with the Mets, lefties couldn’t touch Blevins. The only exception was Blevins’ final year with the Mets, 2018. Even in 2018, he found his use. He was deadly against righties.
Blevins wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for his role. There isn’t any other LOOGY who would be a better fit for this bullpen.
Middle Reliever: LaTroy Hawkins
Hawkins spent just one season with the Mets, 2013. What a season it was. Hawkins had a 2.93 ERA, 3.06 FIP, 7 K/9, and 1.3 BB/9.
Even more important might have been his mentorship. He was a huge influence on the Mets’ young relievers. Specifically, he had a huge impact on Jeurys Familia. He taught him professionalism, quick pitching, and how to work out of a major league bullpen. It could be said that Familia wouldn’t have developed into the dominant reliever he’s been the majority of his career without Hawkins.
So, Hawkins makes this list not only for his phenomenal performance in 2013 but also for his impact on the Mets’ bullpen for years to come.
Middle Reliever: Justin Wilson
Wilson makes the list for two reasons. The first is that his 2019 season was fantastic, even with the injury. His 2.54 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 10.2 K/9, and 4.4 BB/9 make Wilson’s 2019 one of the best seasons a Mets’ reliever has had this decade.
The other reason is that there’s a lack of relievers who fit this spot. Hansel Robles struggled for the majority of his tenure. Pedro Feliciano was a LOOGY for his tenure this decade. Francisco Rodriguez’s propensity to blow saves left him off the list. There just wasn’t another reliever who seemed to fit this spot as well as Wilson.
Yes, that’s a disappointing indictment of the Mets’ bullpens in the 2010s. However, it shouldn’t be understated how good Wilson was when he was healthy in 2019. If the Mets get that Justin Wilson in 2020, over a full season, he would be an elite set-up man.
Long Man: Carlos Torres
This was an easy decision. Carlos Torres was one of the best long men in baseball during his time with the Mets. He wasn’t an elite reliever, he wasn’t flashy, but he got the job done every time he was called upon. Over his three years with the Mets Torres had a 3.59 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 8.2 K/9, and 2.7 BB/9.
He made 10 starts and 161 other appearances. Overall he threw 241 innings in his three years with the team. He was also a major part of the bullpen during the Mets’ playoff run in 2015.
Swing Man: Seth Lugo
This was another easy decision. Seth Lugo is arguably the best swing man in all of baseball. He is an elite reliever. Since moving to the bullpen full time in 2018 Lugo has a 2.68 ERA, 2.96 FIP, 10.3 K/9, and 2.2 BB/9. Lugo has also thrown 181.1 innings in the last two years.
The Mets are lucky to have found a gem like Lugo. It’s not often that 34th round picks make the majors, let alone become elite pitchers. Yet, that’s what happened with Lugo. Here’s to a successful 2020 for the Mets’ swing man of the decade.
Setup Man: Bobby Parnell
Parnell spent six years with the Mets this decade. Parnell is a cautionary tale about time Tommy John surgery. From 2010-2013 Parnell was one of the best non-closer relievers in baseball. He had a 2.79 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 8.5 K/9, and 2.8 BB/9.
However, Parnell fell victim to Tommy John surgery in 2014. When he returned in 2015 he wasn’t the same pitcher. He pitched to a 6.38 ERA, 4,18 FIP, 4.9 K/9, and 6.4 BB/9. He was out of the league after 2016.
However, we shouldn’t let his downfall color our memory of Parnell. He was an above-average to elite reliever for most of his tenure with the Mets. He deserves this spot in the All-Decade bullpen.
Setup Man: Addison Reed
Reed spent parts of three seasons with the Mets, 2016-2018. During that time Reed was unquestionably the best set-up man in baseball. He pitched to a 2.09 ERA, 2.47 FIP, 9.9 K/9, and 1.5 BB/9.
Reed was a huge part of the Mets’ run to the playoffs in both 2015 and 2016. The Mets had arguably the best one-two punch in baseball in Reed and Familia during those two seasons.
Closer: Jeurys Familia
Some fans won’t like this, but Familia is one of the best relievers in Mets’ history. Before his collapse in 2019 Familia was one of the best relievers in baseball. From 2012-2018 Familia had a 2.73 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 9.4 K/9, and 3.6 BB/9.
Familia set the Mets’ single-season saves record in 2016. He also has the second-longest streak of saves without a blown save in NL history at 52. His save streak from 2015-2016 is the fourth-most in MLB history. Only Zack Britton, Tom Gordon, and Eric Gagne have longer streaks.
The shine came off Familia with an awful 2019, as it should. However, there is no denying how great he was for the Mets for the majority of this decade.
