See, no reason to book your tickets to Panic City.
"We're better than that. We're a lot better than that." -Terry Collins after the Mets loss' to the Nationals [Mets]
Can’t say I shared the sentiment.
"I said, ‘We have a chance, as ugly as this game is, to tie this game right now.’ That’s why the game’s fickle. We’ve given up 20 base runners, walked 10 guys or whatever it was at the time and I said, ‘We’ve got a chance to tie the game up.’ To be honest, that’s why it’s a great game. If you just keep plugging away, you’ll be surprised how many times you’re in it." -Terry Collins [New York Post]
Poor Lucas Duda, he thought he had the best relationship with Terry Collins.
"Believe me, there was no argument. There was no tiff. My star player wanted to play. And he was hurting. The discussion was, 'I know you want to play. I know the situation -- a big game, a big series, the captain. I get it.' But I have a responsibility to David Wright, to the other 24 guys in the clubhouse, and to myself. I said, 'I just can't let you play. We need you more than just one game.' That was the discussion. And he got it. My relationship with David Wright is the best I've ever had with any player. There was, believe me, no problem." -Terry Collins [ESPN]
#ImWith28.
"It was really nice. It was very nice of the organization to play that video montage before the game. They didn't have to do that. The ovation from the crowd left me humbled to say the least." -Daniel Murphy [MLB]
"I made it clear to Murph that without his substantial contribution, none of us would be wearing that ring today." -Sandy Alderson [New York Times]
Better dead than red.
"You spend almost a decade in the Mets’ organization, so I don’t know if that’s something I will completely wash off. The relationships my wife and our family were able to build will go far beyond baseball. But the red gets more comfortable each day." -Daniel Murphy [New York Times]
As soon as he hit it, I thought it was going to be blue collar, base clearing, extra base a hit.
"[Lagare’s catch] was a really nice play. He has a shot to catch everything. I've seen him out there too much. It was a really good play. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was a sac fly. He made a really nice play." -Daniel Murphy [Mets]
Not the result you want, but cool to hear Conforto cite a stat like that from memory.
"You want to make that big hit. You want to be the guy who drives those runs in. but you’ve just to stick to the approach and I didn’t. It was a changeup actually and he doesn’t throw that pitch. We have him [throwing it] at 2 percent." -Michael Conforto [New York Post]
I’d prefer RC+ but still nice to hear advanced metrics being used.
"We started to work on shrinking the zone, starting to get better pitches. We talked about how his power would go up, his on-base percentage would go through the roof, and ultimately it would affect his OPS, which is probably the most important stat a hitter can have." -Kevin Long [NJ]
The old ‘You can’t walk off the island’ cliché is apropos.
"I'm being more selective at home plate and that has allowed me to hit more home runs. A lot of Cuban players are hitters who swing at balls out of the zone. Having to adjust to a smaller strike zone is a task.'' -Yoenis Cespedes [NJ]
No, ‘concerned’ was the word you were looking for.
"I don't know that "concerned" [about deGrom’s stuff] is the right word... phrase it however you want. I am not sure what word I'd use. All I know is we're trying to work at making sure these guys stay healthy and yet do the things we know they can do. I just don't have a date for you. Is it going to be two more starts? Is it going to be July? I can't tell you. The only thing I have in the back of my mind is what I saw from Matt [Harvey] last year ... to where early in the year he was on that Tommy John thing and then, boy, second half of the season he took off. Is going to be the same way with Jake? Maybe. I don't know. I don't have an answer for you." -Terry Collins [NJ]
The Mets have some strong feelings for the umpires' calls lately.
"I just avoided the tag. What was I supposed to do, hold him? I really was surprised. I don’t know how that play can be an out." -Juan Lagares [New York Post]
"It’s unfair. There no reason for it. Hitter turned around and walked back to the dugout pretty much gives you the answers." -Terry Collins [New York Daily News]
"I thought it was pretty obvious. Wolters was walking back to the dugout; he thought it was strike three as well. We’re all human and make mistakes. It’s my job to pitch out of it and limit the damage and I wasn’t able to do that." -Logan Verrett [New York Daily News]
"Everybody knew he didn’t hit it, everybody in the ballpark knew it.Obviously it didn’t touch his bat, it wasn’t a foul ball. It was pretty clear to me. It’s a pretty bold call by him, I would say. Unless you are dead certain he tipped the ball in that situation, I don’t know how you call it." -Kevin Plawecki [New York Daily News]
It’s a tough read, but I suggest reading the Daily News piece on Gooden.
"The fight is always there. That’s what makes every day so joyous for me right now because I remember the days when I was in houses with people I didn’t know, getting high, not knowing if I was ever going to get my life back together. And at times accepting, ‘maybe this is who I am, maybe I’m going to die like this.’ When I look back at everything I’ve done, even if it’s just everything I did to my body, I never thought I’d live this long." -Dwight Gooden [New York Daily News]
Dom Smith makes it easier and easier to want him to succeed.
"I was born in Los Angeles, California, in the inner city. It was not the best of places to live. My family pretty much sacrificed everything they could to get me in this position -- taking me to tournaments, giving me their last dime and stuff like that. And so after I got drafted -- I live with my mom -- and she never owned a house and we didn’t live in the best of places. So we decided there’s no better opportunity in our lives to move -- especially to Port St. Lucie, where I can focus on my career and not get distracted with all of my friends out there in California -- so it can help me get to the big leagues. I think it was the best decision that I made so far in my young life." -Dom Smith [ESPN]
Just another reminder that baseball is just a game.
"The surgery itself was, I’m going to say, fantastically successful. The doctors were able to do everything they had hoped to do and were able to avoid everything they had hoped to avoid. So from that standpoint, everything worked out extremely well. From where we were to where we are today — still on a road to full recovery." -Sandy Alderson [New York Times]
"We know [Alderson’s] not feeling well, and yet that’s never been in the way. I’ve never been around somebody stronger that’s ever been through something like this before. Ever. The fact that he’s here today after he just had surgery a few days ago tells you how tough he is. It was great to see him, we’re glad he’s doing well and we can’t wait till he’s back here full time." -Terry Collins [New York Times]
SiteBot FacePalm of the Week
"There's a lot of speculating here. No one really knows the pain Wright has except him. He runs and moves pretty well. He needs to play better. His back isn’t effecting his inability to read sliders out of the K zone. I’m at the point where I’m tired of hearing about it every day. If he’s suiting up, he needs to perform. I get that it sounds harsh. Trying for a Sitebot comment!" -David G
AA Quote of the Week
"The 2016 New York Mets: It Could Be Worse!" -StevePA