Carlos Mendoza better not overuse Edwin Diaz

The New York Mets are off to a sluggish start in 2024. They got swept in their first series vs the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, and lost the first game of the current three game series to the Detroit Tigers on Monday, to start the year 0-4.

Not a lot of things have gone right for the Mets so far this season. Their offense is off to a slow start. Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil all have one hit apiece.

Their starting pitching, which is the biggest concern, didn’t do much to quell those worries so far. None of the starters have pitched beyond the fifth inning in the Brewers series. Luis Severino got rocked on Saturday in his Mets debut, and Tylor Megill left Sunday’s game with shoulder tightness. The Mets finally did get a quality start from Sean Manaea, who three six scoreless innings on Monday vs the Tigers in his Mets debut, including a no-hitter through 5.2 innings.

So not much has gone right so far, which led to the 0-4 record. But the fans on Saturday (myself included), got a small treat when closer Edwin Diaz entered the game in the top of the ninth inning, to the sound of “Narco” trumpet blasts. Of course, the fans were all pumped up for it, especially after not seeing him at all last season after injuring patellar tendon in the World Baseball Classic right before the regular season.

Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout on Saturday. He also entered in Monday’s game in the ninth inning of a scoreless game, and threw a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts.

With the starting rotation expecting to struggle and not go deep into games, there will be an urge for manager Carlos Mendoza to go with his bullpen early in games. Diaz was brought into Saturday’s game despite it not being a save situation and the Mets down by two runs.

Mendoza knows without a doubt that Diaz is clearly the best and most dominant pitcher in the bullpen. So there could be an urge at times to put Diaz in non-save situations sometimes when the game is close.

Maybe a few times in non-save situations but not often. First, Diaz didn’t pitch at all last season, so the Mets must be slow and easy on him, for Diaz to get himself fully into game shape. Overusing him early could possibly lead to another injury, which is the last thing that the Mets brass wants to see.

The Mets did a good job easing him back in during Spring Training, not putting him in until the middle of March, for him to start ramping up right before the regular season. They must do the same for Diaz at the start of the regular season, not putting him a lot in back-to-back games unless both games are save situations.

Diaz had a dominant year in 2022 with 32 saves in 35 opportunities, a 1.31 ERA and 118 Ks in 62 IP. In that year, then manager Buck Showalter did a great of not overusing Diaz. Showalter would not always use Diaz in non-save situations, especially after pitching the day before. Not even in a 4-run lead, where closers would be brought in to pitch often, even though it’s not a save situation. That way, Diaz would be fresh, the next time he would enter a game, and he would not wear down in the end.

So this season after missing the entire previous season, Diaz can’t be overworked, as great a closer as he is. Baseball is a long season at 162 games, and the Mets will need Diaz to be in sharp and fresh condition throughout the season, if they want to reach the playoffs.

With a new manager in Mendoza and his first year at the helm, there could be some concern in him putting Diaz in too much and often when there’s not a save situation. Of course, Diaz entering a game, means game over most likely, and is a source of entertainment at home because of “Narco” trumpet blast, when he comes out from the bullpen gate.

But like I said before, it’s a long season, and for a player who missed the entire year previously, you got to be more lenient with him, especially at the start of the season.

Relievers are supposed to be brought in often, because they only pitch an inning or two in a game. But they need resting days in between often, instead of being brought for back-to-back games constantly, otherwise they’ll wear.

Mets general manager David Stearns did acquire more relievers in the offseason, to deepen the bullpen and not tax any of them. Now it’s up to Mendoza, to make sure they’re properly used, especially his closer in Diaz. So not only will Diaz stay healthy but will continue his dominant form.