GSELL’ YEAH!
WITH MOVE TO BULLPEN IMMINENT, HURLER LIFTS METS WITH ARM & BAT
SANDY Alderson liked what he saw on Memorial Day at Citi Field. In his Mets and in his manager. Sorry, all you Terry Collins bashers out there.
The 4-2 win over the NL Centralleading Brewers on Monday put the Mets five games under .500. There is a strange optimism brewing as the starting pitching begins to straighten out for Collins’ club.
Addressing reports the front office is unhappy with Collins’ bullpen management, Alderson said, “I’m happy with the job Terry has done under the circumstances, nobody is happy with the won-loss record that we have. I think there are reasons for the record that we have that have nothing to do with Terry. I would hope in the future that when people write about my views of Terry that they’ll actually ask me about my views.’’
There are plenty of reasons for the record the Mets have, including some of the moves made by the GM. His bullpen has been caught short.
But here is the bottom line, and it was offered by a rival scout.
“There is no way I’m counting the Mets out of this,’’ the scout said. “Their pitching is starting to come around.’’
Robert Gsellman followed up Matt Harvey’s strong effort in a 7-2 Sunday night win over the Pirates with seven excellent innings Monday, allowing one earned run on three hits. Those wins marked the first time all season the Mets have held opponents to a total of four runs or fewer in back-to-back victories. Imagine that.
The Mets entered Monday with a 4.93 ERA, the worst mark in the majors.
Collins was playing the mental game with Gsellman last time out, pulling him after six innings, wanting to get him out on a high note to build his confidence.
Collins was heavily criticized for that move. Most people, maybe some in his own front office, could not comprehend what he was doing. On Monday, that move paid huge dividends with Gsellman going seven strong even when Collins could have pinch hit for his starter with two outs in the sixth and the bases loaded. Gsellman walked to drive in the final Mets’ run.
That was a message to Alderson and everyone else.
“You walk that fine line, try to stretch him a little too much or let him feel good about himself,’’ Collins said of his decision-making last time out. As for those who question his bullpen moves, Collins said, “That’s part of the job, you take the body blows, that’s what this job is about. I do my ab work every day so that I can get through it.’’
Gsellman will find himself back in the bullpen when Steven Matz and Seth Lugo return as starters. Because of their injuries, they cannot take the pounding of coming out of the bullpen. Gsellman’s role will change. He said he would rather start but will do what’s best for the team.
Collins has had Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring, quad) for just 18 games and 63 at-bats. Keeping Cespedes healthy is a team management issue, not a manager issue.
As for having Cespedes together with Michael Conforto, Collins said, “We are dreaming of it, but I try to deal in realities and he is not here.’’
Cespedes is now dealing with soreness in his quad.
“It reappeared,’’ Alderson said of the injury that pretty much wrecked Cespedes’ 2016 season. Alderson insisted this was only soreness.
“My hope is he will be back in a week to 10 days,’’ Alderson said, pointing to DH-ing versus the Rangers next week in Texas. “The key here is that we have a comprehensive understanding of him physically and have a program that provides the kind of maintenance that he needs.’’
Collins made it clear he appreciates those words of support from Alderson but added the two have not talked about his status.
“We don’t talk about that stuff,’’ Collins noted. “I never ask him, ‘Hey are you happy with the way I handle the bullpen?’ I don’t go there.’’ Now these two wins offer hope. At this Memorial Day marker, Collins, body blows and all, will take it.