Is history in the Mets' favor?
(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek, File)
With yesterday's news of Billy Wagner's elbow injuries, the Mets are left without their closer for most (and possibly all of) September, and potentially the playoffs. This forces the Mets to have a "closer by committee" system in the bullpen. If they can overcome Wagner's injury, they would join a small fraternity of teams who got by without a dominant closer. Some others include:
- The 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks only got 19 saves out of closer Byung-Hyun Kim. Kim, who sported an ERA approaching 3.00, was also ineffective in the World Series against the Yankees. The D-Backs overcame this bullpen shortcoming, winning in dramatic fashion against Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth in game 7.
- The 2006, the Detroit Tigers got 37 saves from Todd Jones, but he was anything but consistent. Jones recorded 6 losses and had an ERA just under 4.00, but the Tigers were still able to make it to the World Series before falling to the Cardinals.
- In 1993, Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams tallied 7 losses and a 3.34 ERA for the NL Champion Phillies.
While these teams didn't lose their inconsistent closers during the home stretch, Jerry Manuel's crew has the potential to survive a severely flawed NL East, with the potential for Wagner's return in the postseason looming if they can get to that point. There's no underestimating the importance of mental toughness in the postseason, and the next 6 weeks will be test to say the least.
-- Tim Fiorvanti
