The Mets didn’t give up on Paul Sewald, he figured it out with the Mariners

After earning a win on Friday night against his old club, Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Paul Sewald proudly proclaimed how good it felt to beat the New York Mets because they gave up on him.

It’s certainly an interesting take for Sewald. And while it’s unfair to ever tell a person how they should feel in any situation, this one just doesn’t seem right.

Sewald was 1-14 with a 5.50 ERA in 147.1 innings for the Mets. His time in New York started in 2017 and lasted through the 2020 season. Relegated to mop-up duty and regularly asked to get them through less desirable innings, Sewald was one of many relievers in during those years that seemed to regularly bounce between the majors and minors because of inconsistent play and also the need for fresher arms.

The Mets didn’t give up on Paul Sewald and his 5.50 ERA

By the time the Mets did release Sewald, he was already 30. He had been a member of their system dating back to 2012 where he first began to close out games for a variety of different Mets farm teams. He was fantastic in this role and excelled whenever he did pitch in the minor leagues. Was this simply a case of Sewald needing a little more pressure in order for him to succeed?

Sewald joined the Mariners for the 2021 campaign where he went 10-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 64.2 innings of work. He even saved 11 games and managed to strike out 104 batters in only 64.2 innings of work. He has continued to pitch well into 2022, now 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA after 10.2 innings of work.

This is an entirely different pitcher than the one the Mets employed for all of those years. He looks electric. And clearly, he isn’t shy about voicing his frustration with his former club. It’s a good mentality for any late-inning reliever to have. They can’t be soft. Clearly, Sewald isn’t.

But he is wrong with the belief that the Mets gave up on him. Maybe they guided him poorly. Someone may not have given him the right coaching tips along the way either. Sewald has every right to feel like the Mets gave up on a 30-year-old pitcher with a 5.50 ERA. Wouldn’t anyone with common sense?

Sewald should give himself a little credit. He has turned his career around since joining Seattle. Too bad he couldn’t be half the pitcher he is now during his time in New York.