Yankees coming to Queens, Diaz Suspended
date
Jun 24, 2024
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Mets-update
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Published
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Mets
Baseball
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Post
The first installment of the Subway Series takes place tomorrow, following a successful six-game road stint for the Mets, where the team went 4-2, scoring a total of 41 runs. On June 1st, the Mets were 9 games under .500 with a record of 24-33. Today, their record stands at 37-39, just one game back from the second wild card spot in the National League.
Conversely, the Yankees have been struggling after a scorching start to the season. They have lost 7 of their last 10 games, with the Orioles, who took 2 of 3 games in the Bronx last week, closing in on them for the top spot in the AL East division.
A Yankees-Mets matchup is always a must-watch event in the tri-state area for many reasons, but the anticipation has grown tremendously over the past few weeks. The Mets have been the subject of many undesirable headlines this season, yet their resilience has brought them back into contention after a tumultuous start. Whether it’s due to a team meeting, Grimace, or the baseball gods, the Mets have transformed into a different team from just a month ago.
In the last seven days, the Mets have collectively batted .302 with a .898 OPS, smashing 12 home runs. Players like JD Martinez, Francisco Lindor, and Francisco Alvarez have been leading the way on offense. However, despite leaving Wrigley Field with two wins in their pocket, the Mets were dealt some unfortunate news. Closer Edwin Diaz was ejected from last night’s game before throwing a pitch in the 9th inning for the alleged illegal use of a foreign substance.
Crew Chief and third base umpire Vic Carapazza stated, “It definitely wasn’t rosin and sweat.” Despite Diaz pleading his case, the decision to eject him was made almost instantly. Since the crackdown on foreign substances began in June 2021, eight players have been ejected for illegal substance use during a game, three of whom were Mets pitchers.
Not to suggest there is a conspiracy against the Mets in any way, rather this raises questions about the consistency of umpire discretion. In the past, relievers have been asked to wash their hands when an application of rosin is deemed excessive and reapply any rosin/sweat combination in front of the umpires to comply with regulations, but that option was not offered to Diaz. There needs to be a clear standard for what constitutes too much or illegal use of substances, as these ejections impact more than a player's ego and reputation—they leave the team down a roster spot for 10 games.
While enforcing the integrity of the game is crucial, the disparity between how umpires enforce the rules is concerning. As a result, the Mets will be without Diaz for the upcoming Subway Series, but they remain optimistic after a strong stretch of baseball.
Onward and upward.