In recent memory, it feels as though the Mets have really struggled to find many "diamonds in the rough" bullpen guys. We've had some successful signings and trades (Ottavino and Diaz, of course), and the occasional effective in-house piece (Lugo). But rarely have we taken a struggling player out of another organization and turned them into something special.
The Dodgers, Yankees, and Rays do this all the time. And a fair share of Mets have gone elsewhere and really elevated their stuff (Paul Sewald, anyone?). We've historically had a hard time with this, but it seems like things are really coming to fruition this year.
Reed Garrett demonstrated the power of the pitching lab especially well tonight. It's no coincidence that Foolish Bailey just published a video dubbing this the "Year of the Splitter." Garrett, who only threw his splitter 14% of the time last season, has reworked the pitch and threw it more than any other offering against the Pirates. And to great results. 17Ks in 8.2IP is insane!
If we can really start to pluck guys off waivers, out of AAA, out of NPB, or wherever, and turn them into legitimate backend bullpen pieces… that might be an even more encouraging sign for the future of this team than Baty or Alvarez. Good things are happening!
![[SNY] Brandon Nimmo shares offseason conversation with David Stearns about Mets outfield](https://www.rawchili.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2S4YXsltv3_fJurt_lo45M5qHByHPe7StnBnISp90es-480x336.jpg)
7 comments
The splitter looks gnarly. I don’t know if he can maintain a 50%k rate and 0.00 era, but he’s definitely a find.
I can’t agree more… it seems that Stearns had 50 pitchers in camp… they all threw against each other… who ever pitched poorly was gone …the fact that the bullpen, which we were all concerned about, could be a strength … is a massive development…
Butto has pitched very well and is controllable for a very long time. Our team ERA is first in the NL.
It’s been so long and few and far between since we had a lockdown bullpen. God, I love a nasty bullpen.
If this is a diamond in the rough, great. I was going through his savant page and looking year over year and not seeing much different other than swapping out some four seamers for sweepers, and the sweepers have more spin. He’s getting results, but I’m a bit hesitant to jump on the bandwagon unless some nerd can parse the data better than I can and actually point out something new.
Reed Garrett was actually acquired last June by Billy Eppler, not Stearns.
I love Stearns, but let’s give credit where it’s due.
[https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/06/mets-claim-reed-garrett-from-orioles.html](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/06/mets-claim-reed-garrett-from-orioles.html)
I’m not sure if it’s him or baty. A LOT of people wrote baty off, even being upset that he wasn’t sent back to AAA. From what I can see, he looks like the bear and soul of the team so far.
Either way what sterns has done with no major signing a has been nothing short of amazing! I can’t imagine when cohen says eff it, let’s spend some money
He has only pitched 9 innings. Prior to this year, he has been pretty bad. It is difficult to say why he has done better this year. Let’s hope it continues but I would not count on it