The image of Edwin Diaz — arguably baseball’s best closer — being wheeled off a baseball diamond, his crumpled knee unable to bear the weight of his lithe body, lost for the season with a patellar tendon tear, will serve as another piece of evidence for those who lament the real damage that can ensue from meaningless games.   

The injury to Mr. Diaz is especially galling to Mets fans because of its circumstances. The flamethrower, so accustomed to uncorking blazing fastballs and Frisbee-like sliders, was injured while celebrating a win for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.