GDT 8/6/21 New York Mets (Stroman) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Gibson)

[gmwannabe]

if you had seen the Harper homer or a replay of it, watch Diaz' hand after harper hits it. he puts his arm up in the air (like it is a pop up) and turns and watches it. Yes, Edwin, it certainly was pop up. That's the kind of pop up i like to see.
gm

[andyb]

Ian Kennedy ERA since June 30: 4.91

Kennedy was OK. I have no great expectations for him other than just another average arm back there.

Biggest relief thing for me last night though was Hector. He was really good. He was locating both his fastball and his split. A couple of his splits were as good as I have seen this year. I think he'll be closing again within a few weeks or Girardi will start splitting the back end 3 ways with Bradley and Kennedy.

Of course without Suarez there is not a LHP back there I trust. Alvarado will be a wild ride. Figuring out how to get the most from him will be important. I have no confidence that Falter can be a short relief serious option.

[Austinfan]

Kennedy doesn't impress, yet he rarely blows a save. There's something to be said for being able to handle the pressure of the job.

[zambonir]

That's your take with just a one-game sample, huh?

(Yeah, he closed in Texas, but rarely under pressure. And even a 50-game sample doesn't mean much. Some of the greatest closers we've ever seen still had bad months and bad years.)

[Austinfan]

There is always pressure when closing games.
Some RPs are just more comfortable in the set-up role than the closer role.
Conversely, we've seen RPs who are better closing but lose focus when used in less stressful situations.