After shutting down the Nationals in all three games with his electrifying stuff, Jeurys Familia has officially joined the conversation about top closers in the game and most valuable players on the Mets. While everyone is buzzing about the impact Yoenis Cespedes has had on the Mets’ second half surge, Familia has been spectacular all year long.
His 39 saves are third in the majors and, with just five more, he can wrest the franchise season saves record from Armando Benitez. With a 0.98 WHIP, 1.70 ERA , .202 BAA, 74 Ks and just 50 hits allowed over 68.2 innings scattered over 66 games, Familia has quickly established himself as one of the most reliable and dominant closers in the game. Among qualified closers, he ranks in the top five in nearly every significant statistic. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t supposed to be our closer this year.
Familia’s close friend Jennry Mejia was the expected 2015 closer after doing a solid job in 2014, but has been twice suspended for PED use. 2013 closer Bobby Parnell has had a rough year trying to come back from Tommy John surgery. Additionally, 2014 fire baller and valuable setup man Vic Black has been on the DL or struggling in AAA all season fighting a variety of injuries to his neck and shoulder. Throw in season ending injuries to last year’s lefty specialist Josh Edgin and his replacement Jerry Blevins and what was supposed to be a strong bullpen quickly developed into a weak spot on the team that could have derailed the team. But Familia took ownership of the 9th inning and GM Sandy Alderson solved the setup issues by trading for the reliable veterans Tyler Clippard and Addison Reed.
Heading into the playoffs, the Mets can now feel confident in closing out tight games. With Hansel Robles, Sean Gilmartin and Carlos Torres in the mix, the Mets have a good chance to stay in close games long enough for their never-say-never offense to pull out the big wins. And once they get the lead, watch out, here come Familia.
With a hard sinking fastball and a nasty slider, Familia was hard to hit in the first half of the season. Then he developed a devastating splitter that has given him an impossible pitch to hit. It comes in hard, mid 90’s, like a four-seam fastball, and then the bottom drops out and even the best hitters are swinging at missing it by two and three feet. After perfecting it in the Red Sox series, some opposing players were in awe.
“That Familia, man, throwing that splitter 95 miles an hour, you crazy? No one can hit that,” David Ortiz said in the post-game press conference.
“Nastiest pitcher in the world,” infielder Brock Holt added.
Glad he’s on our side in a pennant chase. All that remains to be seen is if he can throw his mitt as high in the air as Jesse Orosco.
Tough to argue against those numbers. But any discussion of Mets MVP has to include Nationals manager Matt Williams. Too bad he probably won’t be around in 2016.
No, I don’t think that a closer can be a team’s MVP
Yes, Familia has been outstanding.
BK, that’s brilliant. Hat tip to Ruben Amaro too.
I think he’s been the key to the season.
It seems the only time you need a closer is when you don’t have one. Closer’s that don’t close turn victories into defeats.They demoralize a team and cause losing streaks and lost seasons’ 13 times he came in and successfully obtained a one run save. 3 of his blown saves still resulted in victory which indicates that even under adversity he does not melt down. Twice he came into a tie game and pitched two scoreless innings without a decision. Closers are paid to close and Familia is 39 out of 43 so 91% of the time you can rely on him to finish. I don’t know where this team would have been without him especially when this team had the worst offense in the league..
Im going a different direction with this: The Mets MVP this year is the 40-man roster, the coaches and staff, the FO, and ownership. Im calling it the Most Valuable Persons.
After years of trying to find something rewarding about crappy season after crappy season, and ultimately finding a Cy Young winner, a no hitter, a batting title, a RoY, a Gold Glove, Im ready for team accomplishment. This year many individuals at different times have shined in ways that have led us to 79 Wins on 11 September. At each juncture we can point to individuals on a streak or with a standout game to deliver a win. Every win has mattered. Yes Familia has been awesome, but we dont get to familia without being in the lead. We wouldnt have had so many leds without fine pitching in the first half, we now have leads because our offense is supporting a tiring set of young cannons. That offense would not have come were it not for excellent FO moves and the money from ownership to cover it. My MVP for this team is the NY Mets organization. Id rather have it that way too.
Chris F – well said. I’m with you.