The eighth-inning is a puzzle for the Mets and will be for most of the spring.
Japanese pitcher Ryota Igarashi is in the mix. The Mets like his splitter with Jerry Manuel saying today it’s a bit “different.’’ Eventually, the job will belong to Kelvim Escobar.
Here’s the real story on Escobar and what’s going on with him.
Despite the hysteria of last week, he is right on time in his rehab, according to the Mets and, more importantly, according to his representatives. The plan from the beginning was not to rush Escobar. The Mets made that mistake with Freddy Garcia last year. If they had taken their time with Garcia, he would still be a Met. The Mets just didn’t make their Escobar plan clear, which happens with the Mets.
The Garcia mess was a Tony Bernazard special. Once the Mets had pitching woes early in the season last year, they panicked and pushed Garcia north when Bernazard was pushing those buttons. The plan was for Garcia to take his time in Florida, rehab slowly, next thing you knew he was shuffled off to AAA Buffalo, which is a bit cooler than here in Port St. Lucie. Garcia never came around as a Met.
Escobar insists he will be ready by the start of the season, but the Mets are not counting on that and are taking it slow with his rehabbing shoulder. That is why there is so much emphasis now on trying to find an eighth-inning pitcher. Sean Green threw against hitters today and is dropping down in an almost submarine-like fashion. Igarashi drew a lot of media and team attention today, but as one Mets coach told me, the plan today was simply to “just throw the ball down the middle.’’
Hisanori Takahasi, the little lefty, could wind up as the second left-hander in the bullpen.
Escobar told me after lunch that, “Things are coming along, I feel good, but I am not going to rush myself. It’s more important to be ready later in the season.’’
That’s a smart move. That’s the right move.