LOS ANGELES — The signs were there in Philadelphia. On the surface, Kodai SengaThe two one-run innings in Game 1 of the National League Division Series seemed like a triumphant return. He had adjusted after allowing a leadoff home run to Kyle Schwarbergood?
Not really, according to people whose eyes are sharper than mine or yours.
“I don’t know what they’re seeing in Senga,” one veteran scout said after Senga’s return to the mound in Philadelphia. “After Schwarber’s home run, it was all nibble, nibble, nibble. It seemed like he was afraid to throw it for a strike.”
And how was his command of the fastball?
“Doubtful,” said the scout.
And the characteristic “ghost” forkball?
“Passable,” the scout said, shrugging his shoulders.
A different scout said before Game 1 of Sunday’s National League Championship Series that the Mets I shouldn’t start Senga, based on what I had seen in the previous outing. After Senga allowed three runs in 1.1 innings, throwing just 10 of 30 pitches for strikes, the scout said: “He’s scared. There is no challenge to anything. Cut and divide, away from the attack.”
Senga bounced the ghost fork, threw the cutter everywhere but where he intended and watched the velocity of his fastball drop.
Not that, in an ideal world, the Mets would have chosen Senga for the series opener. Pitching plans this time of year require input from the coaching staff, coaches and, of course, the players themselves.
In this case, and this is an important point, the Mets’ decision makers were told that Sean Maneathat he would have been throwing with normal rest, and luis severinowhich would have had two more days of rest, should be delayed even further. That doesn’t indicate a health problem for those pitchers. It simply means that Manaea and Severino were considered more likely to be effective in Games 2 and 3 than in Game 1.
What’s done is done, but that doesn’t mean the Mets should try again.
When asked if Senga would definitely start in Game 5 (if necessary) as scheduled, coach carlos mendoza He said: “We have to wait and see how he responds. I think it will all depend on how he recovers.”
Senga, who missed most of the season with arm and calf injuries, said he was healthy and the problems were mechanical.
The Mets may want to get him to a doctor as soon as possible to make sure that’s the case. In late September, Senga reported triceps tightness in a minor league rehab outing. If that issue arises again, the Mets could remove him from the roster and make Adam Ottavino replacement of the injury. After Game 1, the bullpen will be without David Peterson and Jose Butto in Game 2, and could use Ottavino as early as Monday.
Removing Senga due to injury from the NLCS would make him, under MLB rule, ineligible for the World Series. It wouldn’t be an easy decision.
On the other hand, the team is thinking a lot about whether they will be able to let him pitch again anyway.
