Bullpen is New York Mets’ X-Factor for 2016
The New York Mets are coming off their best year in over a decade. They made it to the Fall Classic in a year they were projected to have a sub .500 record. The Mets were propelled to the playoffs and eventually, the World Series, by a number of key additions to their lineup.
These additions came primarily in the form of Yoenis Cespedes, Kelly Johnson and Tyler Clippard. These additions were a godsend for an offense that was on life support and relief to a bullpen that struggled bridging the innings between their starters and their closer.
With the loss of Clippard to free agency and Jenrry Mejia suspended for life, the bridge from starter to closer has collapsed once again and the Mets must rebuild it if they hope to have a successful year. A major step to rebuilding this bridge was taken when the team acquired reliever Antonio Bastardo via the free agency wire.
In 2015, Bastardo appeared in 66 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates for a total of 57.1 innings. In his time on the mound, Bastardo compiled an ERA of 2.98 with 64 strikeouts. His presence in the bullpen will provide much needed support.
In a mid-season acquisition last year, the Mets acquired reliever Addison Reed from the Arizona Diamondback. In the regular season, Reed appeared in 17 games for the Mets and had an ERA of 1.17 with 17 strike outs. On top of recent acquisitions such as the aforementioned Reed and Bastardo, the Mets will also be looking to familiar faces to aid in this reconstruction.
Another crucial piece will be Jerry Blevins who is coming back from a fractured left arm which sidelined him the entire 2015 season. In his last full season with the Washington Nationals, Blevins had an ERA of 4.87 in 64 appearances along with 66 strikeouts.
As the season progresses, the fifth and final piece of the Mets young pitching dynasty will make his comeback and complete the quintet of aces on the mound for the Amazins’. Zack Wheeler hopes to pick up where he left off when he comes back to the major league club around June/July. Wheeler missed the entire 2015 season due to Tommy John Surgery. Before the season had even started, Mets fans hopes of seeing their highly touted pitching prospects compete together had been dashed and postponed a year.
When Wheeler comes back and is able to compete at a major league level, the Mets will have an embarrassment of riches at the starting pitcher position. It is likely that they will delegate Wheeler to the bullpen for a while and use him in the middle relief role, or they will move veteran hurler, Bartolo Colon to the same spot. Each man has been a starter their entire career and it is impossible to know how they will react to this change. This decision will be dependent on a multitude of variables and will undoubtedly be made in the best interest of the team.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
With Jeurys Familia entrenched as the closer and a solid middle relief core, the Mets should prosper this upcoming season. In the 2015 season, Familia was as good as it gets. In 78 IP, he earned an ERA of 1.85 with 43 saves and a league leading 65 games finished. Famila carried his stellar numbers into the playoffs and was perfect in 5.1 innings in the NLDS. Following a great NLCS, in which he only allowed two hits in 4.1 innings, Familia seemed like he was cruising and would continue his domination agsinst the American League champion Kansas City Royals.
Unfortunately, Familia hit a wall and in four appearances, he blew three saves. Regardless of his postseason inconsistency, his regular season numbers were outstanding and if he can continue to shut down opposing batters, the bullpen will be the least of the Mets worries.
After capturing their first NL pennant since 2000, the Mets are primed to follow up their exciting 2015 season with what is sure to be an exciting and thrilling season for Met fans all around the country in 2016.