Phillies closer Gomez doesn't get strong vote of confidence
NEW YORK - For a rebuilding team that is less than 10 games from the conclusion of another losing season, the debate over who should serve as closer is not the most pressing of issues. Far from it. The Phillies never envisioned Jeanmar Gomez as a closer, and he became the man by default.
NEW YORK - For a rebuilding team that is less than 10 games from the conclusion of another losing season, the debate over who should serve as closer is not the most pressing of issues. Far from it. The Phillies never envisioned Jeanmar Gomez as a closer, and he became the man by default.
"He carried us for five months," shortstop Freddy Galvis said.
So Phillies manager Pete Mackanin wanted Gomez to remain the closer, even through his six-week swoon, as a tribute to what the Venezuelan righthander had done. Even on Friday, when Mackanin said he would try different pitchers in the ninth inning, he insisted Gomez was still his closer.
"The way I look at it is he's in a slump like hitters are," Mackanin said. "I told him for the next couple chances to close, I'm going to try somebody else. Just to give him a mental break."
The Phillies want all of their players to depart next weekend feeling well. To completely strip Gomez of his closer's title, Mackanin decided, would not be best for Gomez or the Phillies clubhouse at this point in the season.
So, carefully, he compromised.
If anything, the last few weeks will make it easier next spring for the Phillies to replace Gomez - should they wish. Both Hector Neris and Edubray Ramos, a rookie with plus stuff but inexperience in tense situations, have emerged as shutdown arms. The bigger picture suggests this: The Phillies would not be near 70 wins without Gomez's many one-run saves in April and May.
But his recent struggles forced Mackanin's decision. Gomez allowed a game-tying, two-run homer to Jose Reyes in Thursday's ninth inning. Mackanin said he was prepared to insert Neris had Reyes reached base as the potential tying run. The home run robbed him of that chance.
Neris is the likeliest to assume Gomez's duties, although the 27-year-old Dominican righthander has appeared in a whopping 76 games. He, like Gomez, could be low on gas.
Gomez spoke Thursday of the mental toll stemming from his recent problems. He has never endured a stretch like the last six weeks, in which he has a 11.20 ERA.
"You're still the closer," Mackanin said he told Gomez. "Stay positive. There's a good chance you'll have another opportunity to close a game."
Extra bases
For the second straight day, the Mets had to scratch a starting pitcher. Noah Syndergaard will not pitch Saturday as scheduled because he has strep throat. The Mets will opt for a bullpen game, started by lefthander Sean Gilmartin. They had planned to pitch Steven Matz on Friday, but the soreness in his shoulder would not subside. . . . Alec Asher will make his fourth start Saturday. He pitched against New York last September and could not make it through the first inning.
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