Jeurys Familia enjoyed a lights out 2015 as closer for the Mets. His 43 saves, 1.85 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in the regular season alone was impressive. He posted all zeroes in the NLDS and NLCS to help the team win its first pennant since 2000. While he was the first closer ever to blow three saves in a single World Series, the blame can hardly solely be his, as he still had nice numbers in the Fall Classic. The only thing with Familia is that he wasn’t supposed to be the closer heading in to 2015.
On Friday, Major League Baseball gave Jenrry Mejia a lifetime suspension after his third positive test for a performance-enhancing substance in under a year. MLB said that Mejia, 26, tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid. In April, a Stanozolol PED test handed him an 80-game suspension. Then in late July it was 162 games just weeks after his previous suspension was served. Reportedly, it was both Stanozolol and Boldenone for which Mejia had tested positive that transpired when he was suspended the first time. The man who saved 28 games for the Mets in 2014 and was supposed to close out games last season, has now closed out his career on a sour note, becoming the first player ever to be given a lifetime ban over usage of performance-enhancing drugs.
There is both pity and disgust to feel for the Dominican righty. How could he just throw away an opportunity that so many would love to have but so very few actually have the privilege of receiving? Here is a man who was suspended, and another man took over his role and his replacement was on the mound when the team clinched the NLDS and won the pennant. Mejia was not going to be the closer when he returned in July, but still could’ve been a solid option in getting the lead to Familia.
Who knows? Maybe Mejia could’ve posted a great year as closer in his own right last season. Maybe with him as closer, he would’ve nailed the three saves Familia blew and the Mets, not the Royals, would be going into Spring Training next week as World Series Champions. Perhaps if he failed just once, or even twice, he might have gotten new life on another team. He could have possibly been back in the Mets closer role if Familia struggled this season. The two parties avoided arbitration just a few weeks back agreeing on a one-year, $2.47 million contract. Now Mejia will see none of that money.
Instead, there will be no closing for the Mets, or any other club, for that matter. Mejia dissipated all of that. Now he has to find a new career for himself. On top of that, it seems like he needs help for his substance problems.
Oh, Jennry.
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