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New York Post
Mets’ Carlos Mendoza sticking with struggling Francisco Alvarez: ‘our guy’
By Mike Puma,
3 hours ago
CHICAGO — Francisco Alvarez’s offensive nosedive has been steep but not to the point manager Carlos Mendoza is considering a change to the Mets catching structure.
“Alvarez is our guy,” Mendoza said Saturday when asked about the possibility of Luis Torrens receiving additional playing time. “Louie has done a hell of a job, but Alvarez is our guy.”
Alvarez began the day with an abysmal .435 OPS since the All-Star break and last had a multi-hit game on Aug. 7.
Francisco Alvarez Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Alvarez had one hit in each of his last three starts (all were singles) entering play, possibly a step in the right direction.
“Even though he’s not getting results — he’s chasing at times — but I think he is getting close,” Mendoza said before the Mets topped the White Sox, 5-3, Saturday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “[Friday] there were a couple of swings where he missed a couple of pitches, a couple of sliders off the end of the bat. But I like what I’m seeing. He’s worked real hard.”
The Mets closer worked a perfect ninth on Friday for a second straight strong outing after blowing the save on Wednesday in Arizona on Corbin Carroll’s grand slam.
Since then Diaz has largely abandoned his slider — the pitch on which Carroll homered.
Three days earlier Jackson Merrill hit a walk-off homer in San Diego against Diaz on a slider.
Diaz utilized the pitch only once Thursday and once Friday.
But Diaz said he liked the slider he threw Friday and wanted to throw another, but deferred to Alvarez.
As for working three straight days, Diaz said he’s ready to repeat as needed.
“We are playing playoff games, so I will be ready always,” Diaz said.
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