Your 2026 New York Mets: It just didn’t go our way there
“It was close. Especially from our angle, I couldn’t tell. And whatever they called on the field, I was pretty sure it was going to stand. And we called down and [replay analyst] Harrison [Friedland] said the same thing — there’s not an angle there where you could really tell whether it was fair or foul, and it just didn’t go our way there.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
I feel like a theme of this season is a lot of ‘hoping’ and ‘feeling’…
“I was hoping
it was foul, but after they called it fair and after looking at it, they decided it was a home run.” -Craig Kimbrel [MLB]
“With first and third, I was just trying to get a strikeout. And I felt like I did. Felt like [Willi Castro] went on the check swing, and it turned into a ball. Which turned into a grand slam.” -Craig Kimbrel [MLB]
… the other theme is players giving quotes along the lines that ‘it’s difficult not being there for the team’
“It is difficult, but at the end of the day, some things you can’t control. I’ve just got to keep going, keep working, just trying to get better to get back as soon as possible, and just trying to help the team. But it’s difficult not to be there.” -Jorge Polanco [New York Daily News]
My twice quoting that I “respect the decision” has people asking a lot of questions already answered by quote
“I respect the decision. Obviously, coming third time through the order and you have a lead there and you obviously want to hold it. I left those pitches arm-side for the four-pitch walk there, but I respect the decision.” -Christian Scott [MLB]
Huge go head home run by Ronny Mauricio but /Insert notecard that ‘Poochie died on the way to his home planet’ reference/
“It feels great to be able to help the team in a situation like that — obviously a situation where my hit put us ahead. We’re coming out here, we’re working, we’re doing everything we have to do to get out in front. It feels excellent.” -Ronny Mauricio [MLB]
While the Thursday’s loss was disappointing, let’s have a palate cleanser and acknowledge that the Mets did win two series on the road this past week
“We can’t sit here and think about the past. It’s one day at a time. But it’s good to see the guys playing loose, with confidence, just playing their games.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
“You want to have good games in this ballpark. It’s a good place to hit. It’s a big outfield. The ball carries. Juan starting off with a home run was good for everybody just to feel like it’s going to be a good day. And it definitely was.” -Marcus Semien [MLB]
“To punch first in the first inning … it’s always great.” -Juan Soto [MLB]
“I think it’s what I was personally expecting. I think this is who we are. We just have to keep it that way — that’s it. Without thinking about the past.” Freddy Peralta [MLB]
“They’re playing the game the way they’re capable. There’s a lot of smiles on their faces. It’s good to see them having fun.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
I mean, Benge is the current owner of a wRC+ of 74, but he is healthy, so this is factually correct…
“[Carson Benge] can play. He can play.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
…and it’s probably a good sign when we cleared runway so that the team can learn if a top prospect panics when they continuously fail…
“Even when it was really, really hard for [Carson Benge], I never sensed any type of panicking. He handled it pretty well. He continues to show a lot of good signs on and off the field.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
…but in all seriousness, he did make a real nice play last Sunday and might be starting to hit
“I dove still not knowing but I know I was going to try to make a play for my guys.” -Carson Benge [MLB]
So to all you mother’s out there, happy birthday
“There’s so many times that she’s [his mother, Alana Hix] driven my truck. She probably has more miles on it than I do. There’s so many times that she’s driven my truck. She probably has more miles on it than I do.” -Austin Warren [MLB]
“She’s been there every step of the way.” -Austin Warren [MLB]
Swaggy V is coming back (wRC+ 89)
“I feel good. I just want to keep on it and keep putting good at-bats together.” -Mark Vientos [MLB]
“We’ve seen it. We haven’t seen that in a while, but when [Vientos] gets hot, man, he can carry a team.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
“The injuries for sure suck. I’m not too happy about those. I just feel like if I trust my process and my routine throughout the season, eventually I’m going to come through and I’m going to do my thing.” -Mark Vientos [MLB]
Just wanted to note this fun story about a fan that celebrated attending his 10,000 MLB game by Matt Monagan
“My father took me to Yankee Stadium on May 26, 1963. I was 10 1/2 years old. The Yankees won the first game, the Senators won the second game.” -Mike Casiano [MLB]
Congrats on Luis Torrens on getting his first extension of his career
“I’m really happy about it. Ever since I got here to the Mets, everyone has treated me great. I feel like I’m a part of the family, and there’s great value in that.” -Luis Torrens [MLB]
Just in case you missed it, probably due to Steve Gelb’s viral moment when he reported on the vending machine’s at Great American Ballpark in 2024, we have a new segment ‘Let’s Be Frank with Steve Gelbs’
“To me, this is a classic beer-and-dog baseball game hot dog. For that reason … I’m going to give it a 5.5.” David Wright [MLB]
It’s amazing that it’s been a whole decade since this happened
“Oh, [Bartolo Colon] works. He takes pride in it. He works his butt off. Out of his five-day cycle, he probably hits three out of the five days, and probably takes 40 to 50 swings a day. He’s a strong guy. He’s got tremendous hand strength. When he squares it up, it goes. So we’re not surprised he hit a home run. We’re surprised he hit it in a game.” -Pat Roessler assistant hitting coach [MLB]
Wishing Pete and Brandon the best with their new teams
“I feel like that having that respect from the guys I was with every day, the guys that I was going to battle every day with, so to speak — whether it be from the manager and other players — having that respect is obviously nice,” Alonso said before the Orioles opened a four-game series at Yankee Stadium. “But there’s no final conversation from a brass or ownership standpoint.” -Pete Alonso [ESPN]
“[If he was surprised by not having a final conversation] No, not really because I think things were kind of progressing in the way with Baltimore, and they were just like, ‘OK, all right.’ The No. 1 thing through the whole process … it’s kind of when you’re going through free agency and things are coming across, when things are so good you really don’t want to mess that.” -Pete Alonso [ESPN]
