New York Mets: Jeurys Familia has learned from World Series

It has been a while since the New York Mets were in the World Series, and for the closer, Jeurys Familia, there has been a lot of time to think about his performance against the Kansas City Royals.

“I think that affected me in a very positive way,” Familia said through a translator to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. “Just being so early on in my career, to have that experience, I feel like it’s really prepared me. I’m really appreciative for it.”

After being dominant in the first two rounds of the playoffs, Familia ran into a lot of trouble against the Royals, as he blew saves in Games 1, 4, and 5. Familia was worked awfully hard in the postseason, and especially in the World Series, as the Mets’ bullpen was very unreliable.

“From that experience, you just learn about pressure and how to stay calm under pressure,” Familia said to Feinsand. “How to pitch and keep your emotions under control under pressure, so just living that experience really teaches you so much.”

“We went in there as underdogs, to have made it as far as we did,” Familia said to Feinsand. “In the end, even though it was second place, we were proud to win the National League championship.”

The Mets did address their need for help in the bullpen, as they were able to sign Antonio Bastardo this offseason. In addition to being a good relief pitcher, Bastardo has also had an impact on the career of Familia already in a positive way.

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“When I first started pitching in the Dominican league, he was one of the first people that approached me,” Familia said to Feinsand. “He was really there for me, to give me advice and help me out. He’s just a really special person for me because he was always there for me. Part of who I am now as a pitcher is because of him. He’s an amazing pitcher.”

The Mets have made lots of moves this offseason to hopefully help them reach the World Series in 2016, and one player who is hungry for that is Familia.

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“I think all the moves that they made for us have been really good moves,” Familia said to Feinsand. “I think that they’re really setting us up to do what we did last year, but do it even better this time around.”

It will be hard to top what he accomplished in the regular season, as 43 saves and a 1.85 ERA is amazing for a closer, but like the Mets’ organization, Familia has his eyes on the World Series.

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