N.Y. Mets: Mickey Singing The Bullpen Blues

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

OPENING DAY SERIES

Nats def. Mets; 2-1

I - WAS 4; NYM 0

II - NYM 6; WAS 5

III- WAS12; NYM 9

New York Mets: Will the trustworthy relief pitchers please stand up and identify themselves.

The Mets have nine games in the books.  All but two of their relief pitchers already have five appearances each.  Of the 81 total innings played to date, the bullpen has accounted for 43% or 35.1 innings pitched. That's a reasonable load considering this early stage of the season.  Their actual performance, not so much.  They've surrendered 20 earned runs for a collective 5.12 ERA; allowed 35 hits and issued 16 walks for an unsightly 1.459 WHiP; and amassed 35 strikeouts for an 8.9 K/9 average.

At least Edwin Diaz is performing up to expectations.  He has thus far allowed two hits and a walk, with five strikeouts and four saves through 3.2 scoreless innings of work.

Unfortunately the same can't be said for Jeurys Familia, Seth Lugo, and Robert Gsellman.  Each is presently performing worse than the next.  Familia has surrendered three earned runs on four hits (two home runs) and three walks for a 5.40 ERA through five innings pitched.  Lugo has allowed five earned runs on eight hits and three walks for a 9.64 ERA through 4.2 innings.  And Gsellman has allowed nine hits and three earned runs in five innings pitched.  Together, the three boast a problematic 6.97 ERA.

And those are the guys I trust ...

Tim Peterson is leading a conga line with six walks and four hits through four innings.  Meanwhile Luis Avilan's ineffectiveness is only worsening matters.  As such, Mickey Callaway has called upon Avilan the fewest times for a reason.  The 29-year old import has allowed six earned runs on five hits and two walks in just 2.1 innings pitched.  In turn, he himself becomes a burden on the bullpen.  I suspect BVW will revisit Avilan's status in the very near future.

After a bad first impression import Justin Wilson thankfully is performing well, allowing just one earned run on three hits and a walk, for a 1.59 ERA and 0.71 WHiP, with five strikeouts over a bullpen leading 5.2 innings pitched.

This bullpen will ultimately make Mickey Callaway appear smart, or get him fired.  Good thing for him, it's early.  But we shall see.  The starting pitching plays a part in this too.

• Mets.com/stats