The identity of the Mets’ closer matters and it doesn’t.
There will be a comfort level in the clubhouse and, especially, in the bullpen if the Mets can uncover a late-game pecking order after trading Francisco Rodriguez. But deciding on a short man is truly a short story, unless Bobby Parnell or Pedro Beato somehow defy big odds to become a long-term, late-game stalwart.
If not, then the Mets just become another team on which the closer is rather interchangeable and the fate of the team is about, well, the team. It is about the guys who get the lead and get the ball to the ninth inning with meaning.
If you need proof of that, then Exhibit A was the Mets’ opponent last night, the 2011 Phillies.
By beating the Mets 7-2 last night, Philadelphia improved its major league-best record to 58-34 despite being up to its fourth closer. Designated closer Brad Lidge had a rotator cuff strain and is yet to pitch a major-league inning in 2011. He is currently on a rehab assignment and scouts sound unimpressed by the 86 mph fastballs they are watching.
Lidge’s replacement, Jose Contreras, had five saves before breaking down and he now may be out for the year with an elbow injury. Ryan Madson followed Contreras and produced 15 saves in 16 tries before he incurred a hand contusion. Madson returned from the disabled list last night, but in a set-up role. That is because Closer No. 4, Antonio Bastardo, has emerged as one of the majors’ most impregnable relievers (11 hits in 34 innings).
That the Phillies had four relievers capable of helping them to the fewest blown saves (three) and highest save percentage (89 percent) is a compliment to their baseball operations department. So is assembling a team this good for so long.
In other words, this is the model that another big-market, northeast team called the New York Mets must follow. The Phillies have built a team structurally and mentally that can navigate through one closer after another for half a season, never flinch and never make a concession in seeking a fifth straight NL East title.
Terry Collins is trying to impart the same mental toughness now in this group. He met with the team after Thursday’s workout to say the clubhouse would remain a no-excuse zone despite the money-centric trade of K-Rod. The Mets manager told his players opportunities, not alibis, were now available.
Collins’ plan last night was to close with Jason Isringhausen rather than foisting so much, so quickly on the inexperienced Parnell/Beato tandem, especially with the mighty Phillies in town. However, all that was closed in the second-half opener was more of the Mets’ long-shot playoff hopes as they fell 12 games behind Philadelphia and 8½ behind wild card-leading Atlanta. Thus, the quality of the Mets closer suddenly is not quite as meaningful.
Nevertheless, Isringhausen actually has two more career saves (293) than K-Rod (291). Izzy acknowledges he has lost velocity since collecting those saves while adding maturity that makes him say, “I wish I knew then what I know now.”
Mainly to value location over trying to overpower with his hardest fastballs and to better appreciate that the hitter has as much pressure on him in those spots as the closer. The Mets want Isringhausen to impart these kinds of lessons on Parnell and Beato. And, while willing, Isringhausen insisted the value of such tutorials is limited.
“You are not going to make someone into a closer with words,” Izzy said. Translation: Parnell and/or Beato either have the temperament for the ninth inning or they don’t, and Isringhausen cannot alter that no matter how much knowledge he offers.
“There is no secret code to do it,” Izzy said. “You have to get three outs in that situation on your own. Period.”
The Mets are hoping that over the coming weeks Parnell or Beato prove capable of coping and excelling in that forum; that they unearth a low-salaried closer for the future. That would be a nice bonus moving forward. But as big as that issue feels now, with K-Rod freshly departed, it is minor in the big picture; a small step toward where the Mets want to go.
Because if the goal is to overtake the team that was across the field last night, well, then the Mets have a lot more roles to Phil than just closer.