BY MARK HALPERN
Kodai Senga, who went 12-7 his first year got Met fans excited. But it’s been downhill ever since. Whether it’s injury or just bad pitching, Senga has not replicated his rookie season. He also hasn’t adjusted to MLB, and pitching every fifth day or every sixth day, as he did in Japan. So, there are two sides to every coin and right now it is clearly the side of failure. However, the Mets didn’t trade him (no offense I don’t think he was ever brought up) so the question became what to do?
The first question you need to ask is his starting days behind him? Yes, I don’t believe that Senga should be a starter again. We have seen Senga now regulated to the Bullpen and he has had a few shots out of it as a long reliever with the results being the same. If we were to go back and analyze every game, he pitched his first inning is usually his best, 2nd-5th is where he usually falls apart. So, the fact he failed at being a long reliever surprising not really. Over the last week we have seen Senga now come out towards the end of the game either as a setup pitcher or as a closer. We have seen Starting Pitchers who had lost their ability to go deep into games turned into closers and that’s Kerry Wood of the Cubs and John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves. Both had huge success and were able to extend their careers by 3-5 years each. The question becomes is Senga willing to accept this role. Well, while he is under contract with the Mets, it’s the Mets way or he just won’t pitch. The second option makes no sense because one day he will be a free agent and most teams won’t pay for someone who hasn’t preformed. Senga has to embrace this chance because it very could be his last not as a Met but in the MLB as a whole.
As I said Senga is at his best in the first inning. His velocity is at it’s best (just as with any starting pitcher) as he hit triple digits on his first pitch against the Braves. but all of his pitches are crisp and on target. Is this the answer to solve all problems with Senga no but, if can tackle a few of the major internal problems with his pitching and with the fact that Devin Williams (Mets current closer) now on the IL this gives the Mets a chance to see if Senga can adapt to the role before the end of the season. If he’s successful than that’s one piece off the Mets offseason needs.
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