Be reason for Familia’s playoff flops
fourth and Lackey failed to record an out in the fifth after walking the first two Dodgers in the frame.
The Dodgers nearly took the first lead of the night in the second when Andrew Toles singled to right with runners at first and second. Jason Heyward unleashed a throw home that took Willson Contreras a few feet to his right, but the catcher lunged toward the plate to tag Adrian Gonzalez, who was called out.
Video replay made it appear that Gonzalez’s hand swiped the plate before he was tagged, but following a review of nearly three minutes, the call stood, drawing jeers from the packed stadium. two years in a row. The Mets manager said he talked to his closer immediately after the game and will remind him again that in any big game, he is the guy he wants closing the game.
Still, as the Mets enter the offseason, there are some voices in the organization who believe that another veteran, back-of-the-bullpen arm would help manage the workloads of the closer and set-up man Addison Reed over the season, theoretically keeping them healthy and fresh longer.
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“I was pretty certain that it was going to get reversed,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “To get a lead would have been big for us, and I thought we put ourselves in a position to get to Lackey. But he escaped.”
With the Cubs’ scoreless skid up to 21, Ben Zobrist opened the fourth with a bunt single. Javier Baez followed with a single to left, then Contreras made it three in a row, scoring Zobrist for the Cubs’ first run since the eighth inning of Game 1.
Toles’ throw home sailed wide of the plate, allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Baez scored on Heyward’s groundout, making it 2-0.
“How about the bunt gets the during the playoffs coming on the free agent market this winter. Aroldis Chapman aside, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has proven how valuable he is in the postseason.
But according to projected arbitration salaries, the Mets are going to be paying Reed and Familia over $19 million next season. Their payroll, expanding because of arbitration and in all likelihood because they’ll need to go after Yoenis Cespedes or another bat if he opts out of his contract as expected, probably would not afford them another top bullpen arm.
And should it really? whole thing rolling by your No. 4 hitter?” Maddon said. “How unlikely is that? It’s always best when Benny does something extemporaneously. Whenever I give him a sign, it never works. So I’m glad he thought of it on his own.”
Three pitches later, Russell – who was 1-for-25 in the postseason and hitless in the NLCS – socked a 2-0 fastball over the wall in right-center for a two-run home run and a 4-0 Cubs lead.
“I’ve been struggling this postseason a little bit, but I didn’t panic,” Russell said. “My confidence was still there. I was a little more frustrated than anything else. It’s definitely a sigh of relief to have a big night.”
Familia has 90 saves over the last two years and he’s proven himself reliable in almost all but a few spots. Two former relievers who have played with Familia are not worried about him in the postseason going forward and feel the Mets should not be either.
LaTroy Hawkins, now hosting MLB on Tune In Live, said Familia will be fine going forward.
“I am not concerned with his struggles. He has unbelievable (stuff),” Hawkins said. “And his sinker is one of the best in the Game! When he’s strong it isn’t as effective because he, and all sinker
Rizzo led off the fifth with a solo blast off Pedro Baez, only his second hit in 14 at-bats in the NLCS and his first extra-base hit of the postseason.
“When you’re going through the moment they were, it’s a confidence issue,” Maddon said. “It always is.”
The Dodgers got two runs back in the fifth on Justin Turner’s bases-loaded single, but the Cubs answered with five runs in the sixth, seizing control of the game – and possibly the series.
“We know it’s at least going back home at some point,” Maddon said. “Tomorrow would be a pretty nice day to come out on top, going back home having to win one of two.” ballers, throw through the sink. That’s why guys who have sinkers are better when they’re not as strong.”
So maintaining Familia’s health and perhaps giving him a lighter workload is something the Mets should be considering going into the winter. The 26-year-old has made 230 appearances and pitched 233 innings since his emergence as the Mets’ setup man in 2014.
That is a red flag, said Fox Sports 1 analyst C.J. Nitkowski, who played in the minors with Familia, but it is not reason to worry yet. AP
“The most games and the second most innings since 2014 are certainly something to keep an eye on,” Nitkowski said. “Three straight (blown saves) in the postseason raises an eyebrow as well but I don’t have any concerns. I don’t think he is overwhelmed by the big moment. The workload is a legit concern. I’d still take him in a big spot.”
In two of the biggest spots the Mets have had over the past two years, however, Familia has struggled. It’s one more thing the Mets will have to think about heading into 2017.