Mets reunion with Adam Ottavino isn't going so well
We all know that it has been a very disappointing season for the New York Mets. Actually, it has been a disaster so far for this team that won 101 games a year ago. The Mets now sit 12.5 games behind the first place Braves and to make matters worse, are in fourth place in their division with the road ahead for this club not getting any easier.
Blame for the Mets troubles can be put on many from bad starting pitching, an offense that can't come through in the clutch, and an inconsistent bullpen. But there has been one player in the Mets bullpen who pitched very well with the Mets last season that has been anything but productive. It begs the question if the Mets ever should have brought him back in the first place because reliever Adam Ottavino's second season with the Mets looks like a wrong move by the Mets and their front office.
NY Mets reunion with Adam Ottavino is lookin like the wrong move
There is nothing wrong with having a veteran presence in your bullpen. Primarily if the Mets' best reliever, Edwin Diaz is out for the entire season. That can lead to such a big hole in your bullpen so you would think resigning Ottavino would be a good move right? Unfortunately, the veteran is not living up to the expectations he had for this season after a tremendous first year in Flushing, Queens.
After an excellent first season for Ottavino in a Mets uniform, pitching to a 2.06 ERA in 31 appearances to go along with five saves in 2022, we have seen a totally different pitcher in 2023 and after his latest outing on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals giving up a home run that cost the Mets the game, has Mets fans not wanting to see Ottavino on the mound for the Mets anymore. As it stands now, his ERA has doubled from a year ago as it sits at 4.13 and he has given up five home runs on the season after only giving up only six all of last season.
This Mets bullpen has been put to work this season so with the Mets starters failing to go deep into games this season, this Mets team must address this problem they have. Ottavino has not been the same pitcher and is one of several reasons why the Mets are where they're at in the standings in the National League East. While the decision initially was thought to be a good idea with key pitchers like Trevor May and Seth Lugo leaving the Mets bullpen, it has backfired for the New York Mets. Unless Ottavino does not turn things around in a major way, the decision to bring him back may be one that never should have happened.