Mets' rubber game win over Padres a prime example of relievers adapting to changing roles
Since taking over as Mets manager prior to the 2022 season, Buck Showalter has never been afraid to mix and match with his bullpen to put his relievers in optimal spots. Look no further than Showalter using Edwin Diaz in the eighth inning at times last season, ensuring that Diaz would face the heart of the lineup.
And even without having Diaz at the back end this season – though the reliever still hopes he can come back at some point this season – Showalter has again used his relievers in a variety of different roles, including in Wednesday’s 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres.
David Robertson has a pair of saves this season, and he’s also pitched twice in the eighth inning this season. But on Wednesday, Robertson was called on to pitch in the seventh inning. With two runners on and Juan Soto coming to the plate as the go-ahead run, Showalter turned to Robertson, who has proven to be effective against lefties with his cutter-curveball combo.
Robertson got Soto to fly out to end the inning, and then pitched the eighth as well before giving way to Adam Ottavino, who closed things out in the ninth.
Prior to Opening Day, Showalter and the coaching staff made sure that all the relievers knew their roles could be different on a daily bases, but there’s also a trust factor involved.
“We had a meeting right before the season started with all of them about (their roles being situation-dependent),” Showalter said. “I think there’s a trust that we’re going to try to put them into situations that best suit their skills. Sometimes it doesn’t happen. Otto’s really trying to attack left-handed hitters better and Robbie gives us a left-handed look there.”
When the news broke that Diaz would require surgery and would be down for most of, if not the entire season, Robertson was looked at as the logical choice to lock down the night inning night in and night out. After all, the veteran had 157 career saves to his name coming into the season.
But the 38-year-old has taken his role with the Mets in stride, and it’s been a good partnership for he and the team as of now, as Robertson is yet to allow an earned run in 6.1 innings of work.
“I’ve adapted to it over the last five or six years,” Robertson said. “When I got traded back to New York from Chicago I kind of had to jump back in that role of throwing whenever. It doesn’t really matter to me. I feel like the game’s changed a lot and a lot of times managers are using guys in different situations and it’s all depending on leverage or the matchup of who they want to see you against. For me, I just kind of look at the game as my role now is just to pitch whenever I’m called on.”
“I’m getting a little older,” he said with a smile. “I’ve played through some tough seasons and had that big injury a few years back, but I’ve managed to work my way back to the big leagues and I still think I have good enough stuff to pitch here, so I’m going to continue to play as long as there’s an opportunity for me and my wife’s happy for me, letting me play.”
Plus, it certainly helps matters that Robertson and Ottavino have a combined 28 years of major league experience between them, so they don't really pay much attention to who pitches win. The only thing that matters, at the end of the day, is winning games.
"At our stage in our career, I don’t think we really care too much," Ottavino said. "There are different nuances about the seventh, the eighth, and the ninth. If anything, with the ninth inning you have a little more information. You know how many runs you can give up and stuff like that. … Don’t make too big a deal of it and just try to get [whoever is in front of you out]."
