Sal Licata was all smiles opening Thursday’s show, as his Mets clinched an NLCS berth for the first time in nine years with another comeback win over the rival Phillies.
But there was one part of the unforgettable win that had Sal furious. It was the decision by Carlos Mendoza to pull David Peterson and turn to Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning with New York holding a 4-1 lead.
“No way, shape, or form, should David Peterson should have been removed from that game for Edwin Diaz, who is as soft as they come!” Sal said. “I can’t stand the sight of Edwin Diaz. It made me sick last night.
“It’s infuriating. I hated the sight of Diaz in that game when there was no need for it.”
Diaz, who has been struggling of late, came out of the pen and promptly walked the first two batters, seemingly having no command of the zone. A mound visit helped settle Diaz down and he eventually shut the door without allowing a run, but Sal remains petrified that Diaz will be responsible for a backbreaking loss at some point during this playoff run.
“Right out of the gate, you can tell this guy doesn’t have it,” Sal said. “He’s walking the ballpark because he’s afraid to get beat because he’s been beat so many times before.
“If the Mets don’t win the World Series, it will be because Edwin Diaz can’t do his job the right way, because he doesn’t have the guts to pitch and attack when he needs to.”