NEWSLETTER
The imaging on New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz’s knee unfortunately showed a tear of the patellar tendon, and he may very well now miss the entire season and the postseason. It’s a brutal bit of news following what was, I’m sure, a very exciting win in the World Baseball Classic for Team Puerto Rico, closed out by Diaz. The injury occurred in the ensuing celebration.
The injury, a freak thing that could have happened in any number of other circumstances, is going to have some questioning the wisdom of allowing important players to participate in the WBC before the MLB season. I understand that, and I also understand the conflicting feelings among fans and teams. But I keep landing on … these games MATTER to so many players and countries and fans. So if they want to participate, I think it would be wrong to take it from them.
Diaz, 28, had just signed a monster new contract with the Mets this past offseason (I’m sure there will be some insurance involvement here), and his loss will be a stinging one for a team expected to win a whole lot of games. The Mets have a loaded rotation, but a slightly thinner bullpen (and the rotation was always a little riskier than most because of the ages of its two aces). This injury is a big blow to the team, and will impact the NL playoff races. No other way around that fact.
None of which is to say the human impact here isn’t greater. I think this injury sucks so much for Diaz, so much for his teammates in New York and on Team Puerto Rico, and for the fans of both teams. Everyone is undoubtedly reeling a bit from this one, but I’ll just say it again: none of that means the injury is a referendum on the WBC, itself. Freak injuries happen all the time. Unfortunately. But life is to be lived, baseball is to be played, and the WBC has been a whole lot of fun. I just don’t think this injury should change the value of the international event.
