NY Mets manager Carlos Mendoza learns costly lesson after risky move

The New York Mets have faced some tough decisions this season, but Saturday’s move stood out. After struggling through his last four outings, Paul Blackburn told the staff he was good to go following a 90-minute rain delay. With that assurance, Carlos Mendoza took the chance. But trusting a starting pitcher to return after such a long stoppage felt less like a strategy and more like hope that things wouldn’t spiral.

Blackburn’s return turned messy almost instantly. Five straight hits later, the damage was done. Next time, Mendoza would do well to remember Michael Scott’s famous words: “Fool me once, strike one. But fool me twice...strike three.” This wasn’t just a bad inning; it was a reminder of the risks of sending a cooled-off starter back into the fire.

The NY Mets’ decision to send Paul Blackburn back out after the delay became a turning point, offering a case study of how well-intentioned choices can unravel fast.

The Amazins' bullpen has been running on fumes during this 15-game slide, tossing the sixth-most innings in all of baseball at 58.2. Unfortunately, quantity has not translated into quality, as relievers have pitched to a bloated 5.98 ERA. Not to mention a staggering 21 different relievers have been called upon, including Jared Young’s cameo of a third of an inning in the blowout loss to the Rays, and it is clear the relief corps has been stretched thin and beaten up.

That wear and tear on the bullpen helps explain why Mendoza might have felt compelled to roll the dice on Blackburn, especially after the long delay. It is not like the starting staff has been giving him much of a break. Injuries to key arms like Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill, and most recently Griffen Canning have wreaked havoc. Over these 15 games, Mets starters have failed to reach the fifth inning in ten of those starts. Simply put, the starters have not lasted long enough to keep the bullpen fresh.

So, when Blackburn said he was ready to go after the rain delay, Mendoza’s decision was not just about faith; it was a calculated move born of necessity. Blackburn was expected to throw 35 to 40 pitches, and during the long delay, he mimicked the innings by getting up and throwing to stay loose. He hoped he could eat an inning or two to give the bullpen some much-needed rest. Unfortunately, that gamble unraveled quickly as Blackburn surrendered five straight hits, adding fuel to an already rough stretch.

Mendoza was caught between a rock and a hard place with a worn-down bullpen and a struggling rotation. While the need to save arms was real, sending Blackburn back out after such a long delay was still a questionable choice. Sometimes necessity forces tough calls, but that doesn’t mean they’re good ones. In the future, Mendoza will need to make sharper decisions to avoid letting hope cloud judgment.