Díaz Replaces Hot Floyd

Click here for a recap of yesterday’s game.

Imagine yourself a major league manager. Your team is playing well, you have injured players returning to active duty and your team seems poised to turn the corner and make some noise. Today you will see your number 3 starter pitch his first game of the season at the same time as your regular right fielder makes his debut. So what do you do with your star left fielder who has been carrying the offense while on a 20 game hitting streak?

Willie Randolph answered this question by giving Cliff Floyd a day off yesterday. This seems like an odd move and is being second guessed by a lot of people. (The second guessing would be a lot more widespread and critical if the Mets had lost the game.) Randolph justified it by saying the left fielder formerly known as “Glass” was hurting and this seemed like the right day to give him a rest. Anyone who has followed the Mets the last few years knows how fragile Floyd has been since coming to the team and can understand if he’s given an extra day off here and there in the interest of keeping him rested and healthy so he can stay on the field later in the season. But why would this day be the right day?

The answer to this can be found in the roster moves made after the previous night’s game. Jae Seo and Royce Ring were sent to AAA to make room on the major league roster for Kris Benson and Mike Cameron. Most people thought that Víctor Díaz, who replaced Cameron in right field while Cameron’s wrist healed, would be one of the players sent down to the minors. Díaz apparently dodged a bullet there but was probably still a little emotional about the transactions. Randolph saw how Díaz responded to the moves and wanted to make a gesture to show the young outfielder that he still had his manager’s confidence. Randolph did just that by resting the hottest bat in the league and having Díaz take his spot. Díaz responded by hitting his 6th double of the season and knocking in a run.

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