How much more evidence do the Mets need. Correction, how much more evidence does General Manager Bordie Van Wagenen need so he can allow his puppet manager Luis Rojas make the decision that needs to be made: get Edwin Diaz as far away from the ninth inning as quickly as possible.
Diaz once again proved he is incapable of getting the job done in crunch time. With the Mets leading the Atlanta Braves 2-1, needing just one out, hell, one strike, to cement a 2-0 start to a 60-game season, Diaz -- in Diaz fashion -- served up a game-tying homer to Marcel Ozuna to deep right.
The Mets would never lead again as Atlanta, taking full advantage of the international rule with an automatic runner on second in the top of the 10th inning, scored three runs off Hunter Strickland to take a 5-2 lead, en route to a 5-3 victory over the Mets.
Instead of being 2-0, a game ahead of Miami, Philly and Washington, and two games ahead of Atlanta, the Mets find themselves once again in the middle of the pack.
With only 58 games left, losses like this will hurt. Don't remind Mets fans that the expansion of the playoff field could turn out to be a blessing by seasons end, because continued reliance on Diaz in late innings will mean the Mets will almost surely be on the outside looking in.
These games are important. They could three-times of what they would normally mean if this were a 162-game slate.
It's time for the Mets to make the move and let Dellin Betances or even Seth Lugo close games from here on out. Both are capable, and both are much more trustworthy than Edwin Diaz.
It is time for VanWagenen to swallow his pride, accept the fact that his trade to Seattle last year that sent top prospect Jarred Kelenic to the Mariners for Robinson Cano and Diaz was an utter failure. Accept it and move on, before Diaz keeps the Mets from the seventh or eighth seed in the National League playoffs.
The Mets would never lead again as Atlanta, taking full advantage of the international rule with an automatic runner on second in the top of the 10th inning, scored three runs off Hunter Strickland to take a 5-2 lead, en route to a 5-3 victory over the Mets.
Instead of being 2-0, a game ahead of Miami, Philly and Washington, and two games ahead of Atlanta, the Mets find themselves once again in the middle of the pack.
With only 58 games left, losses like this will hurt. Don't remind Mets fans that the expansion of the playoff field could turn out to be a blessing by seasons end, because continued reliance on Diaz in late innings will mean the Mets will almost surely be on the outside looking in.
These games are important. They could three-times of what they would normally mean if this were a 162-game slate.
It's time for the Mets to make the move and let Dellin Betances or even Seth Lugo close games from here on out. Both are capable, and both are much more trustworthy than Edwin Diaz.
It is time for VanWagenen to swallow his pride, accept the fact that his trade to Seattle last year that sent top prospect Jarred Kelenic to the Mariners for Robinson Cano and Diaz was an utter failure. Accept it and move on, before Diaz keeps the Mets from the seventh or eighth seed in the National League playoffs.
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