JUPITER, Fla. — A gray, drizzly day in what has otherwise been a sunny, warm spring in Florida wasn’t conducive to high velocity pitches for two veteran Mets pitchers. What Sean Manaea and Craig Kimbrel need is the bright lights and the adrenaline of a big game to get a few extra ticks on their fastballs.
“I’m not concerned about it,” the left-handed Manaea said Tuesday after throwing four perfect frames against the Miami Marlins in the Mets’ 5-5 tie at Roger Dean Stadium. “I think once I get up to Citi Field and get the adrenaline going, I think it will shoot back up.”
Much has been made about Manaea’s velocity this spring, or lack thereof. After posting a 5.64 ERA in only 12 starts last season, there is legitimate worry that the 34-year-old is quickly heading toward the downside of his career. That worry, however, appears to mostly be coming from outside of the organization, from fans and scouts, though members of the latter group came away impressed with the way Manaea mixed his pitches against Miami.
Manaea threw 52 of them, striking out four hitters to lower his spring ERA to 3.72. His fastball sat in the 88-89 MPH range, down from the 91-92 range he was in last season. Two years ago, when he won 12 games for the Mets, it was around 92-93. It’s still the middle of March, so he’s hardly the only pitcher who is still trying to get his pitch speeds up, but if this is what he is now, then so be it, as long as he’s getting outs.
“In the past, I’ve pitched with 86-87,” Manaea said. “Obviously, I don’t want to be there, but it’s nothing if I’m still effective.”
The movement on his fastball and the cutter will help maintain his effectiveness if the velocity doesn’t return.
“Now he’s got something to go in and up against righties,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Then he’s got the changeup and the sweeper. But I think the velocity will come.”
Unlike Manaea, Kimbrel’s spot on the team isn’t guaranteed. The Mets like him for the final bullpen spot. They like his experience, his willingness to help younger teammates, his overall character and the fact that he’s won a World Series. But five walks in five outings (five innings) doesn’t exactly help his cause.
At nearly 38, Kimbrel isn’t the fireballer he once was, but after 15 years in the Major Leagues, he understands what he needs to get the most out of himself. He just has to hope his arm can keep up.
“It might just take a full crowd and having the lights on,” Kimbrel said. “I don’t know. Down here, working on stuff I can’t tell myself to throw any harder. All I can do is put my foot down and make a pitch.”
Kimbrel walked Miami’s Own Cassie to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Cassie eventually stole second and came around to score on a single by Esteury Ruiz. He’s allowed two earns runs this spring (3.60 ERA). Is it enough to make the team?
“It’s not up to me,” Kimbrel said.
Kimbrel is scheduled to throw again Thursday night. The lights of a night game might give him the jump he needs. Lucky for him, there isn’t another pitcher making a case to be included on the roster over Kimbrel.
“He’s hungry, he’s got the stuff,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got to make some tough decisions, so we’ll see.”
McLEAN vs. VENEZUELA
Mendoza already had mixed emotions about Nolan McLean starting for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic final, but once Venezuela clinched their spot as the opponent, the Mets’ manager grew even more conflicted.
“I’m rooting for obviously Venezuela, but with Nolan pitching, I want him to get his pitch count where he needs to be,” Mendoza said Tuesday. “Then when he comes out of the game, [I’m rooting] for Venezuela to put a rally on.”
Mendoza, a native of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, was a bench coach for the Venezuelans during the 2023 edition of the tournament, helping them to a quarterfinal appearance. This is the first-ever WBC final appearance for Venezuela. They’ll benefit from a friendly crowd with more than 250,000 Venezuelans living in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area. Monday night’s game against Italy spotlighted the dancing, drumming and national pride.
It’s a complicated matchup for reasons other than baseball. It’s tough to stick to sports when the backdrop of the tournament includes heightened tensions between the two countries, immigration raids and president Nicolás Maduro sitting in a New York City jail. The US team has used a military salute as a celebration and had a former member of Seal Team Six, Robert J. O’Neill, visit the clubhouse before a knockout game against Canada.
The tournament has largely been a huge success this year, and it’s also shown how tough it can be to focus solely on sports when there is an entire world outside impacting those who play the game and consume it. Human emotions are involved, which are never straightforward.
If there’s one thing McLean can stick to, it’s throwing strikes. If there’s one thing he should avoid, it’s not talking about geopolitical matters or emotional ties to his country.
It’s jumping up and down. Take it from Edwin Diaz: When celebrating the WBC, it’s best to stay on the ground.
LINDOR UPDATE
Francisco Lindor went 1-for-4 with a run scored Tuesday, and reached on an error. In his second game back after February hamate bone surgery, the switch-hitting shortstop took swings from both sides of the plate with no noticeable pain.
Lindor will be back in the lineup Thursday. The Mets are off Wednesday.
“There’s conviction,” Mendoza said. “There’s aggressiveness on his swing from both sides.”