On Wednesday night, Sal saw a different manager with the way he handled the pitching staff, starting with removing Sean Manaea after five innings of work in game two.
“The fact that they took him out after five innings - this is what drives me nuts,” Sal said. “I thought Mendoza was a better balance than this. Last night was a data applicator-type game. You get your ace starter out after five. He’s on normal rest. He was looking pretty good. Let him go another inning!
“Odds are, the more arms you have to use, the more likely you’re going to get beat at some point with one of those arms. So once Manaea was out after the fifth, I knew they were in trouble.”
Sal saw Mendoza get away from his gut in game two after handling his pitchers brilliantly in game one, and if the Mets don’t respond in a must-win game three on Thursday night, it could cost the Mets their fairytale season.
“Mendoza basically just stuck with the plan,” Sal said. “‘Let’s go with Reid Garrett here. Check.’ ‘Let’s go with Stanek here. Check.’ ‘Let’s go with Maton here. Check.’ What did you think was gonna happen?
“You have to lessen your opportunities out of the bullpen. Stick with your best pitcher. How do you justify taking him out in a postseason game…after five innings? I didn’t think Mendoza used his gut. I think he was too formulaic, and it cost them.”