Mets Fire Dave Eiland as Purge Begins

With the New York Mets coming off a listless performance in Atlanta this week, and starring at two nearly impossible series' against Chicago and Philadelphia coming up, the Mets decided to fire pitching coach Dave Eiland and Bullpen Coach Chuck Hernandez.

Eiland, considered by many in baseball circles as one of the best pitching coaches in baseball, was in his second season as Mets pitching coach. Hernandez was only in his first year with the Mets. When the Wilpon's hired Eiland, along with Mickey Callaway in November 2017, they hired two pitching coaches who helped guide the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians to pennants in recent seasons. In the case of Eiland, he won the 2015 World Series with the Royals against the Mets.

A year ago Eiland watched Jacob deGrom put together a historic season en route to the Cy Young Award. deGrom could have been the MVP. While many didn't give him credit, Eiland deserves some. He was there to guide the Mets ace. 

Now Eiland is out of a job, because he couldn't get a horrible Mets bullpen to pitch well. 

Replacing Eiland will be Phil Regan who is ... wait for it ... 82 years old!  

Entering Thursday night's action, the Mets have a team ERA of 4.67, third worst in the National League. The bullpen is even worse. The Mets own a 5.38 bullpen ERA, which is ranked 28th in Major League Baseball. Only the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals are worse. 

deGrom has the lowest ERA on the starting staff at 3.26. Everyone else has an ERA near or well over 4. 

Is Eiland really to blame for everything?  Is he really to blame for the likes of Jeruys Familia and his 7.81 ERA? Edwin Diaz, once one of the games most formidable closers has an ERA over 10 since May 29, and has been the face of a number of horrid blown saves this seasons. Justin Wilson, when he was healthy, didn't impress either. Drew Gagnon (7.65 ERA) was demoted to Triple-A after Monday's 12-3 smackdown to the Braves. Robert Gsellman has been inconsistent. Luis Avilan? Tyler Bashlor? Lets not even go there. It's not like the Mets have the bullpen depth of the Yankees. 

The Mets and General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen will blame Eiland and Hernandez all they want, but at the end of the day this pitching staff was constructed and given the stamp of approval by Van Wagenen himself. He traded two top prospects to the Seattle Mariners for Diaz and Robinson Canowho is hitting .238 in 50 games. He is the one who signed Wilson to a two-year deal. And Van Wagenen is the one who gave Familia $30 million over three years. Eiland didn't. He just tried to coach up these guys to the best of his ability. 

Now the media's daggers will be out for Van Wagenen, who a month ago told reporters that he would stand by the Mets coaches, especially Mickey Callaway. Now with the team four games under .500 in the midst of another June swoon, changes are coming. Today it is Eiland and Hernandez. Tomorrow it could be Callaway. Nobody is safe as the Mets plan to blow this mess.