Mets Ryne Stanek clinging to roster spot as…
ATLANTA — Ryne Stanek started the season as a top Mets bullpen option but is nearing the ultimate month just struggling to preserve a roster spot.
It’s a actuality the 34-year-old fireballer acknowledges but says he chooses largely to ignore as he makes an attempt to rebound from what he considers a career-worst stretch.
“If you play long enough, you know how the business works,” said Stanek, who didn’t seem in the Mets’ 12-7 win over the Braves on Friday. “My job is to go out there and pitch and get outs and get better and take what they tell me and implement it. I can’t concern myself with [potentially getting released] at the moment. All that is, it’s a distraction.”
Stanek has compiled a 5.65 ERA in 50 appearances this season. His latest tough outing was Thursday, when he allowed 4 earned runs in the eighth inning in the Mets’ 9-3 loss in Washington.
It marked the third time this month Stanek surrendered a number of runs during an outing. He now has an 18.56 ERA for August with 11 hits allowed and 5 walks over 5 ¹/₃ innings, spanning seven appearances.
Stanek’s frustration stems from the fact his uncooked stuff stays elite — his average fastball velocity of 98.5 mph ranks in MLB’s 97th percentile, according to Statcast, with a slider on which the anticipated batting average this season is .168. The precise quantity is .229, as Stanek hasn’t caught many breaks on balls put in play.
“This is the best stuff I have had my entire career,” Stanek said. “Velocity, shapes, execution over the course of the yr has been better, but the outcomes have been worse. And that’s the half, like, is it a sequencing issue? Is it a pitch-tipping issue? We are going over all the issues it may very well be.
“I have never had a stretch where my stuff is as good as it has been and the results have been what they have been, which is the most frustrating part. It’s way easier if, ‘Oh, the velocity is down, I’m getting hit harder.’ If it’s something noticeably different, you can pretty easily pick that up.”
Mets veteran reliever Ryne Stanek has compiled a 5.65 ERA in 50 appearances this season. Robert Sabo for New York Post
Stanek was a vital addition last season after arriving at the commerce deadline from Seattle. He emerged as the staff’s top setup option as the Mets progressed into the postseason before returning last winter on a one-year contract value $4.5 million.
The season started with Stanek as a main option main into Edwin Diaz, but Stanek’s lack of consistency modified the script. Before the commerce deadline, the Mets acquired Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley, relegating Stanek to a lower-leverage position.
Mets veteran reliever Ryne Stanek is trying to regain the shape he has had in the past. AP
“The preparation is definitely way different,” Stanek said. “A lot of things are different, but I am not going to use that as an excuse. That does no good, right? My job is to go out there and get outs when my name is called and that is what I am going to focus on.”
Manager Carlos Mendoza said he spoke with Stanek following Thursday’s outing, which included the right-hander surrendering a three-run homer to James Wood.
“I am going to continue to be supportive; the stuff is there,” Mendoza said. “You are looking at 100 [mph] and displaying it, and it’s kind of crazy, but we continue to believe in him.”
Mendoza said the key to success is ending hitters when he will get forward in the depend.
“Maybe he’s a little too much in the strike zone and they put the ball in play,” Mendoza said. “And he’s been a little bit unlucky as well, but I think executing when he’s ahead in counts is the biggest thing.”
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