Lugo to rotation, Diaz is the closer

[Benjamin Grimm]

Let's talk about this!



I'm okay with making Lugo a starter, given how shell-shocked the rotation is, but Diaz still frightens me.



Would we be better off it it was Wilson? Or Betances? Or Drew Smith? Or Chasen Shreve? Maybe they can coax Jesse Orosco out of retirement?

[kcmets]

I haven't heard or read anything yet but in short weird season about half done

it's hard to see the upside in declaring cemented in stone bullpen roles.



Win every game, whatever it takes.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I say yes on Diaz, especially if the Mets are going to use him in high leverage spots regardless, and for more than one inning like they did yesterday (even if it was a little shaky).



He's striking out 2/3rd's of the hitters he faces. The HR% is down. Hell, the league's BABIP against him is .500, so there's still room for improvement. The only knock against him is the walks. But I'm back on #TeamDiaz.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I don't really care for there being "one guy" especially if it means using Diaz on consecutive days where he tends to err. I do believe when you get the baton in a relay, you're the 4th guy, and your team have you a lead, most times a competent pro can win.



Also this is more about the opener than closer.

[Edgy MD]

I'm all about giving up the delusion of bullpen perfection that has drained good pitchers away from rotations for far too long.



How much better is a bullpen with Lugo/Diaz/Betances/Familia/Wilson/Shreve/Hughes/Brach than a bullpen with Diaz/Betances/Familia/Wilson/Shreve/Hughes/Brach? The answer has to be something marginal, right?



I was very impressed by Rojas sticking to his guns last night.

[Frayed Knot]

Tampa, who are in first place in the AL East as of this writing and who use the concept of an 'Opener' more than probably any other team, have ten saves in their 18 wins so far this season and have

those ten saves split among seven different pitchers with no "closer" having more than three: 3, 2, and five with 1