Last week, the Mets acquired LHP Eric O’Flaherty from the A’s with cash in exchange for a minor league pitcher.
The apparent intent was for O’Flaherty to serve as an instant upgrade to Alex Torres, who was subsequently designated for assignment and outright to Triple-A Las Vegas. He would eventually team with Jerry Blevins to form a tandem of left-handed relief specialists in the Mets bullpen, neutralizing threats from the left side late in ballgames.
But the Mets had an idea Blevins might not be returning when they acquired Blevins, as hours earlier the rehabbing left-handed reliever fell backwards off a curb, re-breaking an already weakened distal radius in his left arm.
So O’Flaherty, who suffered a shoulder strain earlier this year and had been designated for assignment by the A’s a few days earlier, became not only an upgrade for the Mets bullpen, but a necessary replacement to Blevins, who was ultimately lost for the year.
The formula to use O’Flaherty is pretty simple: do not allow him to face right-handed hitters.
Why? Because right-handed hitters have a .743 OPS against O’Flaherty in his career, compared to left-handed hitters who have a .533 OPS against him in his career.
In other words, he is strictly a situational left-handed relief specialist who has thrived over the years in that role.
Terry Collins called upon O’Flaherty in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 4-0 win over the Rockies. He retired Charlie Blackmon – a lefty – for the first out of the inning. But almost like clockwork, Jose Reyes – turned around to bat from the right side – doubled to center field.
Once again, O’Flaherty should not face right-handed hitters if at all possible. But in that case, the situation was partially forced.
Up came Carlos Gonzalez, who proceeded to ground out weakly to Daniel Murphy at second base.
Two lefties, two outs.
Then, up came the right-handed hitter Nolan Arenado. For a moment, it looked as though he might have had a two-run home run, as he hit a deep flyball to center field. Fortunately, Yoenis Cespedes caught it at the base of the left field wall, stranding Reyes to end the game.
Left-handed hitters went 0-for-2 against O’Flaherty, just as it had been drawn up. Right-handed hitters went a loud 1-for-2 against him.
The part to hone in on is the 0-for-2 against the two left-handers in Blackmon and Gonzalez, two tough left-handed hitters that play right into O’Flaherty’s strength as a reliever. He’s deceptive and difficult to pick up from the left-side thanks to a somewhat quickly delivery and his ability to hide the ball.
He’s so dominant against left-handed hitters, his presence also forces opposing managers to counter act his insertion of the game to use right-handed pieces off their bench, which can be advantageous later in games when that player is no longer at the other team’s disposal. Sure, it forces O’Flaherty to face a right-handed hitter in those situations, which again is hardly ideal. But if he can be effective, his presence alone is a formidable, late-inning weapon in Terry Collins’ back pocket.
But that’s why they brought him in. And since his forgetful Mets debut against the Marlins on August 5, O’Flaherty has retired all four of the left-handed hitters to face him.
Of course, it has to continue, and the more his distances himself from his Mets debut (which is forgivable considering he was traveling all day from Seattle to Miami, and the Mets won anyway), the more he can be counted on as the left-handed ace in the Mets bullpen.
Just Mets 