Mets: Three Jeurys Familia predictions for the 2020 season

Bring back Fat Familia!

Familia lost a lot of weight this offseason which tells us a few things about him. He’s motivated and capable of doing things we may not have thought he could.

While it’s admirable to see anyone take charge of their diet and life, I don’t think this is necessarily the best thing for a relief pitcher. I like my pitchers to have some power. The less their legs look like tree trunks, the less of it they may have.

Familia was fine in the past pitching as a fat man. Although it’s quite possible his weight steadily increased over the years and he’s much bigger than he was during his prime, I don’t think the scale was a reason at all for his weak 2019 season.

For the first time in his major league career, Familia is now dealing with the balance of keeping his weight down while maintaining strength. It’s not an easy thing to achieve. If it was, you better believe I’d be walking around shirtless carrying a barbell set on my shoulders.

I worry this dramatic change could lead to an injury. I’m not a doctor nor do I pretend to be one in bars when talking to women—anymore. I do think this could potentially help or hurt his recovery in one extreme or another.

This is just speculation so you’d probably want to consult with your doctor and bookie before making a bet on this prediction.

On the bright side, Familia is less likely to get gassed on the mound early. This could help turn him into a different kind of pitcher and become the asset Brodie Van Wagenen wanted him to become when he re-signed the single-season Mets saves leader.

An option for the opener

The Mets have already discussed the possibility of using openers in 2020. I don’t think it will be a common occurrence, but I do think there’s a really good chance we see it happen at least once.

In the early talks, it seems the team would use it during the fifth spot in the rotation. Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo are the pair mentioned as potential options before either Steven Matz or Michael Wacha enter the game. Why not consider Familia?

Lugo has no business in baseball as an opener. If he’s on the mound in the first inning, he has to be a starter. His innings are far too valuable.

Gsellman is a little different. But because he has started in the past, I would like to have him available for more than one inning.

Familia is a traditional reliever and someone the Mets could and should actually consider as an opener if this is the direction they got. I understand it’s unfamiliar territory for him. But isn’t the whole idea of an opener strange to just about everyone?

I’m not confident enough to predict we actually see Familia open games for the Mets in 2020. I do envision a scenario where he becomes a viable option.

As one of the relievers in the bullpen we wouldn’t want to see go more than an inning at a time, it makes much more sense to use him early. Who knows what can happen? Maybe the Mets stumble onto something great like when Jim Carrey started doing serious roles.

For a bonus prediction, I think Familia ends up with at least one save this year. Last season was the first time since 2012 when he tossed just 12.1 innings that didn’t feature one from him. I see an unplanned new streak beginning in 2020.

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What do you expect from Familia in 2020?