On Friday, former All-Star closer Brad Lidge spoke with SNY's Andy Martino about the Mets bullpen during Lidge's Sirius XM MLB Network Radio show.
"The Mets don't need to do anything in that bullpen," Lidge said. "Because if Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia, if they get back to even close to their normal selves, then this could actually be one of the better bullpens in the National League."
Martino and Lidge would then go on to talk about Diaz specifically, and try to figure out what he can do to get back to his 2018 All-Star form.
"I mean he's a fastball/slider guy, and all of a sudden started giving up a lot of home runs on the slider," Martino said. "How can a guy who's fast ball/slider, with a home run rate that goes through the roof, which in some ways I think was you in '09, how do you turn that around and become an elite closer again?"
In 2009, Lidge gave up a career-high 11 home runs, while also blowing 11 saves that season for the Philadelphia Phillies. This came just one season after Lidge was an All-Star and finished fourth in Cy Young Award voting, after going a perfect 41-for-41 on save opportunities with a 1.95 ERA in 2008.
Diaz's stats are very similar to Lidge, as he gave up 15 home runs and blew seven saves in 2019 -- just a year after being an All-Star while leading all of baseball with 57 saves to go along with his 1.96 ERA.
"You got to figure out how to pitch. You got to go from a thrower to a pitcher," Lidge said. "I think he needs to evolve on the command of the slider, and realize it's not just something you throw as hard as you can. You can't throw everything 110 percent. Maybe back off a little bit here and there, and learn the command of the pitch. The fastball is still electric... it shocks me he gave up as many home runs as he did last year."
Lidge believes that Diaz can get back to his old self in 2020 and have a strong season for the Mets.
"If he gets off to a good start in 2020, then watch out," Lidge said. "He could have one of the better years of his career... I'm going 90 percent on Edwin Diaz having a fantastic season this year. I think the reset button will be huge for him."
