N.Y. Mets: Giving Blown Saves a Name

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

MY KINGDOM FOR A SAVE

We know the Mets are blowing half their save opportunities.  Flushing is up in arms about it.  But simply blaming "the bullpen" is no longer good enough.  It's time to name names.

While I'm not a big fan of WAR, I'm not necessarily averse to it.  That said, Edwin Diaz' -0.4 WAR is terrible.  His overall numbers are quite unsightly for a closer but there's a weak argument to be made he is still doing his job.  Diaz is 1-6 with a 5.50 ERA and a 1.46 WHiP.  He has so far yielded 39 hits, including seven home runs, and issued eleven walks though 34.1 innings pitched.  Compared to last season his rate of line drives and fly balls are up and his rate of ground balls is down.  He is throwing his fastball slightly more than last season and in turn is throwing his slider less.  Yet his velocity appears unchanged (all) according to Fangraphs.  Diaz naturally leads the Mets with 23 save opportunities and to date has converted 19 (83%) of them.  His four blown saves account for 19% of all Mets blown saves this season.

Mickey Callaway to date has summoned 22 other pitchers from the bullpen including starters Steven Matz and Jason Vargas.  But only six of them are ever put into save situations.  Justin Wilson, recovering from injury, converts his lone save opportunity of the season.  Drew Gagnon accounts for one blown save.  However the trio of Seth Lugo, Tyler Bashlor, and Jeurys Famila, are 0 for 11 in save opportunities which accounts for 52% of all Mets blown saves.

At least Gsellman has converted one save through five opportunities.  But if we lump together Seth Lugo, Robert Gsellman, Tyler Bashlor, and Jeurys Familia, they've combined on 17 save opportunities but just two save conversions.  That's a rate of 88% blown saves or a 12% conversion rate - pick your poison.

• Seth Lugo - 3.35 ERA; 4 BS
• Robert Gsellman - 5.09 ERA; 4 BS
• Tyler Bashlor - 5.40 ERA; 3 BS
• Jeurys Familia - 7.59 ERA; 4 BS
• Edwin Diaz - 5.50 ERA; 4 BS

But what of the competition?

San Diego leads the National League with 51 save opportunities and a league high 35 (68%) save conversions.  The Mets are second with 42 save opportunities, but lead the league with 21 (50%) blown saves.  The league average is 65% conversion rate.  San Francisco has had the least amount of save opportunities, yet lead the National League with an 84% conversion rate; Cincinnati is second with a 73% conversion rate; Milwaukee is third in the National League with a 72% success rate.  Even Miami is converting saves at a rate of 71% but have created the second least opportunities for themselves.  Among the Mets other division competitors Atlanta is converting 61% of save opportunities, Washington is converting at a 56% rate, and the Phillies are one of five National League teams converting at least 70% of their opportunities.

The Mets are not one of them.

In the meantime, Brodie says there's enough talent in place, and 72 games left in the season for the bullpen to prove their mettle.

That is all ...

• NYM Baseball Reference