He’s providing the Reds almost exactly what the Mets are missing – stability and context to bullpen roles. "And it’s wild that they’re so wildly good." It’s special – electric fastballs, low three-quarter slots, slingshot quick arm. "He had a great teacher – he got to watch Sugar. He’s got that Sugar slider," says Alonso. None moreso than the man who closes out the night. They lead the Central by a game over the Milwaukee Brewers, with superstar rookie Elly De La Cruz rightfully commanding the buzz from the last month and a gaggle of first- and second-year players gaining more confidence and conviction with each passing month. The Reds certainly are where the Mets want to be. "We want to maximize the second half and play the best we can for as long as we can." "But at the same time, we gotta put ourselves in a really good position to have him come back. "Having him come back would be phenomenal," says Alonso. The Mets are fourth in their own division, 18 ½ games out of first and in eighth position in the wild card. That said, there needs to be something worth coming back to for the elder Díaz to leave it all on the rehab table. Edwin Díaz has at various points indicated he’d have a chance to return this year, cutting short the typical eight-month recovery timeline closer to six, with a Mets stretch drive in the offing. WHAT'S NEXT: Shohei Ohtani, MLB's most coveted player, focused on season, not free agency "(Edwin) said, 'You know what, that (All-Star honor) is all the hard work that we’ve been able to do.' I told him, if you put in the hard work, you’re going to be able to get there." "Last year gave me the ability to create that confidence and sure enough, this year is helping a lot. "I think it’s been the offseason hard work I’ve been able to do and coming into this season with much more confidence," Alexis Díaz said through a translator. Raising that to an All-Star level of production and consistency came with a push from his older brother. It’s a relatively stunning rise for a player who debuted in 2022, saving 10 games in 59 appearances and striking out 83. Super happy, super proud, super well-deserving." "I love sharing a clubhouse, love sharing a bullpen with him. "Most of the time, when he pitches, we win. "He’s a beast," says fellow reliever Lucas Sims. Priceless contributions, both tangible and intangible, just as his brother was. This year, it is his brother proving indispensable for a team in first place at the break.Īlexis Díaz leads the major leagues with 26 saves, striking out 61 in 40 innings, allowing just one home run and a key reason why they’re 20-16 in one-run games. He was going to go out and execute.įIRST HALF WOES: Mets, Padres fall short of expectations at All-Star break "You knew anytime he got the ball, it was going to be a shutdown inning. "Sugar, the year he had last year, was just automatic," says New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. His loss has poked open too many holes to fill. 3 ranking one year ago, when Diaz struck out 118 in 62 innings and saved 32 games. Their 4.12 ERA ranks 10 th in the NL, down from 3.55 and a No. While the Mets’ problems run deep and have many tentacles, their bullpen minus Diaz exacerbates all of them. He was the backbone of a 101-win Mets team one year ago, earning a $102 million contract, only to rupture a patellar tendon celebrating alongside Alexis during Puerto Rico’s World Baseball Classic victory over the Dominican Republic. All game times are Eastern.The New York Mets have been baseball’s stinker, a team slated to spend nearly $500 million on payroll yet floundering at 42-48, equally likely to dismantle the roster than enhance it.Īnd Edwin Díaz’s absence has in many ways been too much to bear. news rumor opinion analysis trivia Serious image video gif game thread feature notice misleadingĪround the Horn general discussion thread - July 17, 2023 Welcome to /r/Baseball! If you haven't visited before, please stop by our wiki to read our rules and FAQ before posting.
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