Carlos Mendoza has acted like himself through his first Mets spring training, through an 0-5 start to the year and through a strong bounce-back as the club’s season got back on track.
Team president David Stearns has only had one camp and 2 ¹/₂ weeks worth of regular-season games to analyze, but he has been pleased with the job that his manager has done.
“I think he’s been very steady from Day 1 of spring training through today,” Stearns, speaking publicly for the first time this season, said before Tuesday’s 3-1 win over the Pirates at Citi Field. “And that’s so important over the course of the major league season. You’re going to go through ups and downs, you’re going to go through losing streaks and winning streaks. Understanding that it is a long season, and there are going to be times where it’s tough … I think he’s done a great job of doing that.”
Mendoza, a first-year major league manager after serving as the Yankees’ bench coach, did not call a closed-door meeting when everything went wrong in the first week of the season.
There has been no notable, rally-the-troops speech in the clubhouse. Instead, Mendoza continued to publicly preach faith in a team that has since turned it around and risen above .500.
“I think during those times, it’s often the things you don’t do,” Stearns said. “I think during those times it’s being yourself, and it’s being consistent and it’s not deviating. I think Mendi is and was very capable of doing that and demonstrating that.”
Stearns pinpointed Mendoza’s “consistency and positivity” as attributes that have stood out.
The Mets did not wallow.
They climbed out of an early season hole and have played like an energetic bunch over the past week.
“More than anything the last couple of nights, the last week, just the energy coming from the team I think has been great for all of us,” Stearns said. “That’s really tough to manufacture from a front-office perspective. It just has to sort of happen.
“It’s a product of coaches and the coaching staff working really hard to create an atmosphere. It’s a product of players believing in each other, and I think genuinely enjoying spending time with each other. To see that early in the season on a couple of different nights has been great for me to see.”
Jose Quintana allowed one run on four hits and three walks in five innings, often unable to put hitters away but pitching his way out of trouble.
The lefty has allowed two runs or fewer in 11 of his 17 Mets starts.
“Games like tonight, for me I don’t have my best stuff,” Quintana said. “Keep fighting to put us in a position to win the game.”
Jeff McNeil smacked an RBI double in the seventh inning and has a .438 on-base percentage over his past eight games.
“I mean, he’s a good hitter,” Mendoza said.
Though still often unhittable, Edwin Diaz has not yet tapped into the velocity that he pitched with in 2022. The closer has averaged 96.6 mph with his four-seam fastball, and Monday averaged 95.8 . In ’22, Diaz’s fastball averaged 99.1 mph.
Stearns called the downturn, particularly Monday’s on the tail end of a back-to-back for Diaz, “within normal range.”
“I’m not concerned,” Stearns said.
Tylor Megill (strained right shoulder) was set to throw from 120 feet Tuesday, Mendoza said. Megill, out since March 31, began a throwing progression last week.
Sean Reid-Foley (right shoulder impingement) is set to pitch on back-to-back games for Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday and Thursday.
This would be the final box to check off for Reid-Foley, who struck out the side with High-A Brooklyn on Sunday.
The Mets would have a decision to make with Reid-Foley, who is out of options. The only option-able pitchers in their bullpen are Reed Garrett and Grant Hartwig.
Kodai Senga (right shoulder capsule strain) is out until at least May 27, when he would be eligible to be activated from the 60-day IL.
Stearns said he did not know if Senga, who is throwing from 120 feet, would be able to return once he is eligible.
“I don’t think it’ll be too far after that,” Stearns said.
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