Mets News: Sean Reid-Foley looked good in his orange and blue debut

In an otherwise disappointing New York Mets game, there was one major bright spot from relief pitcher Sean Reid-Foley. Hours after getting promoted to the big league squad for the first time this season, Reid-Foley relieved starter Joey Lucchesi for three innings.

Reid-Foley entered in a 3-2 game against the Chicago Cubs. He wasted no time picking up his first Mets strikeout, fanning Javier Baez to get things started.

The newest member of the Mets bullpen went on to retire nine straight Cubs in order. He finished his evening with four strikeouts and a memorable beginning to what could turn into a nice career in New York.

Strikeouts haven’t been a problem for this young Mets pitcher

Since becoming a professional ballplayer back in 2014, Reid-Foley has been a good strikeout pitcher. Every year, he finished with a rate of at least eight strikeouts per nine.

Reid-Foley’s issue has been finding his control. In his 71.2 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays previous to this season, he had 48 walks for a rate of six per nine innings.

A strong beginning to his Mets tenure was nice to see. Reid-Foley is 25 and in a make or break season. Considering the woes the bullpen has experienced this season, there’s plenty of opportunities for him to dig his heels in and become a permanent fixture for the Mets in relief.

Reid-Foley’s performance was contagious in his first game in orange and blue. The bullpen didn’t allow a single run until Edwin Diaz’s allowed a run to score in the bottom of the tenth. The run that did cross the plate, of course, was only ever on because of MLB’s extra inning rule where a guy starts off at second base.

In other sports news, Rob Manfred hopes to change the NFL overtime rules by replacing the football with an egg.

Joey Lucchesi’s second start with the Mets left me wanting more

Only sixty pitches and three innings. That was all we got to see from Joey Lucchesi in his second start for the 2021 Mets. Although he did give us three runs and may not be quite ready enough to go further into games, I’m not so sure he’s the right choice anymore.

The Mets knew well before the season began that Lucchesi was probably going to need to start the year in the rotation. The Carlos Carrasco injury didn’t come too late to stretch Lucchesi out. I can’t buy this excuse. The Mets are punting every fifth day by putting such little trust in their starter.

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There wouldn’t be any solution to this either. With no minor league games and only an alternative site to turn to for lengthened arms, it’s Lucchesi or other guys in the same position as him.