A bombshell from Edwin Diaz on Monday: his recovery from the torn patellar tendon he suffered in the World Baseball Classic "has been perfect," and he wants to pitch this season.
"That's the goal. The progress has been perfect, and I want to finish the season on a positive note," Diaz told reporters Monday.
Díaz threw his first bullpen session Sunday and was 'hitting (93-95 MPH) easy,' and while that's only a first step, it's a big step – but with 31 games left entering Monday and the Mets now re-tooling at 60-71, is there a point to the righty returning?
Evan Roberts understands that if it's important for Diaz to do so just to make it back, then, well, so be it.
"Edwin Diaz is coming off a catastrophic injury, an injury that probably wrecked him this season. He wants to prove to himself to his family to everybody. Hey, I made it back, didn't matter, didn't pitch in the postseason, but I made it back. And if that matters to Edwin Diaz, I don't think that's something I would scream and yell about, like you have to save him from himself."
Shaun Morash, though, is not having it.
"We've gone this far where we have four weeks left in the season," Mraz said. "Spring training goes on forever and ever, he can't prove himself in March? Is he going to sit there through Christmas and go, 'Gee, and I gonna be able to do this?'"
Evan still thinks that if the doctors say it's okay, then it may mean nothing to him, or the team, but there's no reason not to let him come back…and that's when Mraz went back to the 'money grab' idea he had posed (and had a caller corroborate) just before this exchange.
"Even if that is true, and I'm not necessarily denying that that's where Edwin Diaz's mind is at, but if you are the Mets, what is the benefit to Edwin Diaz coming back – are you really worried about him that much mentally? Because that would scare me going forward," Mraz said. "But, I think they see that there is a financial benefit to it. People who already have tickets who otherwise may not go, may go. 'You know what? Hey, Diaz is back, I'd like to see him.' You can deny it all you want, but every dollar is gonna count for these teams in September. We are on the verge of two football teams that could have insane buzz. Everybody's ready to check out. Judge is gonna play because the Yankees still want people there. And if Diaz comes back, aside from Diaz himself wanting to prove it, the Mets want him in there because it again, it's a draw for them – otherwise, the Mets should just tell Edwin to shut it down and get ready for March. There's no reason for him to pitch unless it's a financial gain."
Take a listen to the entire exchange above!
Follow WFAN's afternoon team on Twitter: @EvanandTikiWFAN, @EvanRobertsWFAN, @TikiBarber, @TommyLugauer, and @ShaunMorash
Listen live to WFAN on the Audacy App or Online Stream
Follow WFAN on Social Media:
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
