Brodie on Diaz said. . .what?

[Mex17]

I heard Francesa bloviating today about Diaz. He was insisting that, if the Mets are to bring Diaz back that Diaz is going to be the closer.



Has Van Wagenen actually stated this? I know that they are more than likely going to bring Diaz back to the team, but has Brodie specifically stated unequivocally that Diaz will be the closer?



I don't think that he has said that. Has he?

[MFS62]

=Mex17 post_id=25982 time=1572918474 user_id=67]
Francesa bloviating

I don't think that he has said that. Has he?

[seawolf17]

I don't think he said it either, but I'd be really surprised if Diaz wasn't the guy heading into ST.

[Ceetar]

I mean, that's probably going to be Beltran's call. And depends on the rest of the roster. And ST. Like, If I can tell that Diaz needs to keep the slider down, than I assume the Mets know that too. Hell, it might make sense to have him only throw sliders all spring training and just do that. walk a billion guys if you have to, train that muscle memory!

[Centerfield]

There is no chance Diaz (or anyone else) would be named the closer for 2020 while we are still in 2019.



I think eventually, he will get that designation, but not until March of 2020. You will hear:



*completely different pitcher



*may have been tipping his pitches



*fixed a flaw in his delivery



*different mindset after experiencing a year in NY



None of that will mean much, unless we hear:



*the ball feels back to normal



or



*debuting his new changeup

[Lefty Specialist]

=Centerfield post_id=26045 time=1572982342 user_id=65]
There is no chance Diaz (or anyone else) would be named the closer for 2020 while we are still in 2019.



I think eventually, he will get that designation, but not until March of 2020. You will hear:



*completely different pitcher



*may have been tipping his pitches



*fixed a flaw in his delivery



*different mindset after experiencing a year in NY



None of that will mean much, unless we hear:



*the ball feels back to normal



or



*debuting his new changeup

[Frayed Knot]

=Centerfield post_id=26045 time=1572982342 user_id=65]You will hear:



*completely different pitcher



*may have been tipping his pitches



*fixed a flaw in his delivery



*different mindset after experiencing a year in NY

[Mex17]

I'm so on the other side of this. I'm fine with bringing him ack to the team, but you cannot hand him the closer job by default again. I'm thinking that they have to bring Will Smith or Betances in. At the very least Addison Reed on a reclamation project to provide some options/competition.

[Frayed Knot]

Nobody here, Francesa aside, is handing anyone anything.

But a guy who earned himself the closer's job after just two months in the big leagues, then followed that up with a real good season as closer, and then followed that up with a GREAT season is clearly the

one with the inside track, even coming off a poor season. He's 25 y/o (26 by early next season), is healthy as far as we know, and probably hasn't forgotten how to pitch. They'll have to see how he looks

next spring (which is pretty much what folks are saying in this thread) but that he'll be the guy when it all comes out in the wash isn't exactly a wild assumption.



Or if Familia, Lugo, Gsellman, or some TBA import looks better ...

[Edgy MD]

Is there any reason to be so disappointed with Seth Lugo that you want to announce he's lost his job on paper in November>



If Diaz wins the job back, great. If Familia finds himself and shows his best self, better. Not declaring somebody has "won" the job helps Mets win games.



You want to be a closer? Pitch like one. It's not complicated.

[Mex17]

Edgy MD wrote: Is there any reason to be so disappointed with Seth Lugo that you want to announce he's lost his job on paper in November.

You have to count on your closer to be able to pitch on consecutive days. It's just that simple.

[Edgy MD]

No, it isn't.



1. The "consecutive days" thing is an artificial construct.



2. It was instituted under the regime of a manager who has since been dismissed.



3. Even that manager begrudgingly abandoned that rule eventually as the situation forced him to confront grim options.



4. In games when he did pitch on zero days rest, Lugo still pitched effectively, giving up two runs in eight innings.



5. Any injuries that Lugo is recovering from are one more year into the past.



6. Loogie himself spoke on more than one occasion last season, suggesting that he didn't agree with how the team was coddling him.



7. If Diaz is truly a better option, or even one as good, then he is welcome to show his quality in those opportunities where Lugo allegedly can not perform due to having pitched the previous day.



8. Just what could you count on Diaz for on zero days rest, any way? (Looking it up ...) He had a 13.50 ERA in 10 innings over 13 games. Opposing hitters went .404 / .463 / 1.000 // 1.463 against him. Goodness, gracious, he basically turned the whole league into Ted Williams' better-hitting younger brother in such situations.



So no, it isn't particularly simple at all. And to the extent that it may be considered simple, it's simple in the opposite way, I think, from what you are suggesting.

[LWFS]

You know who your closer is? It's the guy who's available and best suited to close that day.

[Edgy MD]

Preach!