With the news Sunday that Alexis Díaz is back in the house, and the Cincinnati Reds plan to return him to the bullpen Tuesday, they might be advised to resist the temptation to slot him immediately back into the closer role, where he has struggled for more than a season and a half.
They have other choices, which they’ve vetted under fire through the first five series of the season. Albeit, with mixed results. But mostly with success.
And the one who has risen to the top, in the ninth, so far is the one they should stick with, at least as a significant part of the closer mix: veteran Emilio Pagán.
Pagán, after all, has been preparing for this all winter, whether he knew it or not, with a dietary regimen that, combined with workouts, led to a 30-pound weight loss, along with strength gain.
He got the idea after talking about it with former teammate Justin Wilson last season.
“He came across this carnivore diet where he basically just ate steak and eggs. Just red meat and eggs. That’s it,” Pagán said. “I decided I’m going to try it. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t I’ll try something else.
“Within the first three weeks I was down 15 pounds.”
And within the first three weeks of the season, his ERA is down to 1.23.
Along the ...
