According to a report by Mike Puma and Joel Sherman of the New York Post, there is belief among the New York Mets organization that manager Terry Collins overused closer Jeurys Familia and it’s possible that led to his needing surgery to remove a blood clot in his right armpit.
Collins had been warned by not to use Familia in non-save situations or too frequently, and he blatantly ignored both warnings.
Familia, 27, led the league in games finished in 2015 and 2016 while pitching in 76 and 78 games respectively during those seasons.
From the start of the 2014 season to the end of the 2016 season, Familia threw 233 regular season innings which is the second most in the majors during that span. He also faced 951 batters in that time, third most in the majors.
Familia’s 2017 season was delayed by a 15-game suspension before he was immediately tossed into a heavy workload including three of the first four games he was active for in April.
Familia would then pitch in three straight games from April 27 to April 29. He also threw in three consecutive game from May 8 to May 10, his final appearance before opting for surgery that kept him out until August, nearly four months.
The right-hander has struggled this season overall with a 4.56 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 25 games.
“Once he (Terry Collins) falls in love with you, he abuses you,” one Mets official told Newsday. “He has run players into the ground. He has no idea about resting players. Even when you tell him, he doesn’t listen.”
