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          New York Mets

          Collins worried about Edgin, lefty relief

          • Adam Rubin, ESPN Staff WriterMar 9, 2015, 05:30 PM ET
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              Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
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          PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Terry Collins is concerned with Josh Edgin, the lone established lefty in his bullpen.

          For a second straight spring training, Edgin’s velocity has sagged. Unlike a year ago, though, the Mets this time cannot quickly demote him to minor-league camp.

          Josh Edgin

          Josh Edgin

          #66 RP
          New York Mets

          2014 STATS

          • GM47

          • W1

          • L0

          • BB6

          • K28

          • ERA1.32

          After all, the Mets did not sign another lefty to a major league deal. So there is little safety net should Edgin underperform. The other southpaw relievers in camp are Rule 5 pick Sean Gilmartin as well as Scott Rice on a minor-league deal and farmhands Dario Alvarez and Jack Leathersich. Leathersich has walked five in 1 1/3 Grapefruit League innings, essentially already disqualifying himself. Gilmartin surrendered a three-run homer Monday against Miami Marlins prospect Avery Romero.

          Edgin was summoned to face consecutive lefty batters Jordany Valdespin and Derek Dietrich on Monday and served up back-to-back run-scoring triples.

          Edgin’s fastball velocity sat at 88-91 mph, according to a scout in attendance.

          “It’s in the same area, for sure,” Collins said, contrasting this year’s sagging spring-training velocity with what Edgin registered last March before being shipped to minor-league camp.

          After opening the 2014 season at Triple-A Las Vegas, Edgin made his season debut with the Mets on May 15. He produced a 1-0 record and 1.32 ERA in 47 relief appearances. Lefty batters hit .185 against him, with only a .217 on-base percentage. Edgin’s fastball averaged 92.4 mph last season. That allowed him to set up a slider that he threw nearly 20 percent of the time, and which averaged 79.3 mph.

          “In the second half last year he did a nice job against left-handed hitting, as we saw,” Collins said. “I think the last month only one lefty got a hit off of him.

          “What you look for right now is not necessarily anything more than making sure his velocity gets up. That would be right now a concern -- the fact that his velocity is not there yet. That’s going to be something we’ve got to certainly work on long-toss-wise, arm-speed-wise, because that sets the tone for everything.

          “When Josh Edgin is pitching good, he’s throwing 93 mph. And that’s enough to throw it by somebody. And now his slider becomes more effective. If the hitter doesn’t worry about you getting your fastball by him, they settle on his offspeed stuff.”