Your 2016 Mets: He just didn’t have it.
"The win [Tuesday] night was so big, because we said, 'We've got Jake going tomorrow night, and that's going to give us a chance to get the second game, too. He just didn't have it." –Terry Collins [Mets]
Wait for it...
“Yes.” -Yoenis Cespedes when asked by The Record’s Matt Ehalt if he intended to honor all three years of his current $75 million contract, without opting out [North Jersey]
...there it is.
"No. My focus is just to play baseball and help the team win, hopefully make it to the playoffs. I let my agents worry about all of that." -Yoenis Cespedes when asked if that means he has made a decision to stay in New York [Mets]
Healthy players are better players, who knew?
“I’m able to swing better now that I’ve got that strength back in my leg.” -Yoenis Cespedes [Newsday]
Good, this should be the last time we hear about this.
“I just want to make it really clear that I don’t believe golf affected me, and it’s just not that I believe that: The doctor actually said golf did not affect me. Last year, I played golf as well, and there were different results with the team, so I think there was less critique on me doing that in some of my free time.” -Yoenis Cespedes [New York Post]
Close enough for the Mets.
“I’m not 100 percent, but I feel really good.” -Asdrubal Cabrera [New York Post]
There’s always next time.
"I honestly don't know why. Every time I seem to miss, it seems to go right down the middle, and it seems to get hit out of the park or off the wall or something. These last two are frustrating, but I've got another one in five days." –Jacob deGrom [Mets]
Great, looks like Terry’s got a handle on this…
“Obviously we need to take a look and see how [deGrom’s] doing and in this particular stage of the season, the first thing you look at is fatigue. We’ll start there.” –Terry Collins [New York Post]
…oh.
“I don’t feel tired at all.” –Jacob deGrom [New York Post]
Lingering injuries that won’t go away…
"It felt like a cramp that wouldn't let up. I felt like it would get better and go away, and it just didn't. I wanted to let them know, and they decided to take me out as a precaution." –Jay Bruce [Mets]
…and an inability to hit with RISP, Bruce is having no trouble fitting in with his new team.
“As a major-league baseball player, I really, truly believe I can make an impact. I have for a long time.” -Jay Bruce [Newsday]
Just imagine you’re starting and also the other team starts with runners on first and third.
"It was my first time ever coming out of the bullpen, so it felt kind of awkward. But you still have to take the mound the same way [as] when you're starting. I just thought like I was starting the game again all over again, and tried to make some pitches." –Robert Gsellman [Mets]
See, Terry had a plan all along.
"I've hit Niese pretty well, so I had a good game plan, and I was prepared pretty well. Unfortunately, [I] didn't get to see him and had two at-bats off a guy I've never seen before. [Josh] Smoker, I'd never seen before, and [Addison] Reed I'd seen once. So [it was a] pretty tough night to have a game plan." –Randal Grichuk [Mets]
So, of course, the Mets start him.
“I’ve got to get it fixed, I just can’t keep going out there like that. There is a lot of pain, I am altering my mechanics, not able to stay behind each pitch, not able to locate and just really not helping myself out or the team. I can’t compete out there when I am hurt.” –Jon Niese [Daily News]
If only there was someone who could’ve prevented this.
"You can go back to when we were playing good and our bullpen was pitching really well. Right now, with all the different things we've had to do, with some of the turmoil we've had in our starting rotation ... we've taxed our bullpen. The back end for sure. Those guys have been in 60 games apiece." –Terry Collins [Mets]
Well, at least someone is having fun out there.
"The past month and a half, I felt like today was the first day I went out there and actually relaxed and had fun out there. I just kept things simple. The last month and half, I've been trying to think too far ahead in advance." –Noah Syndergaard [Mets]
Enjoy watching Cespedes play while you can.
"I threw the ball well, just really that one pitch to Cespedes, splitter came back and Cespedes took care of it. We struck out on him on the at-bat before. He's a heck of a hitter." –Jeff Samardzija [Mets]
There are more important things in life than baseball.
“I have to try something before he’s dead.” –Darryl Strawberry [Daily News]
“He’s a complete junkie-addict. I’ve been trying behind the scenes to talk to him and get him to go for help, but he won’t listen. He thinks he can manipulate and BS his way through everything. His son called me to beg me to help his dad before he dies. The condition Doc is in, it’s bad, it’s horrible. It’s like cocaine poison. I feel like I’ve got to get it out there because nobody else is doing anything to help him, and it might be the only way to stop him.” –Darryl Strawberry [Daily News]
"The Darryl thing hurt me a lot because I had just thought we re-established our relationship. I forgave him for a lot of stuff. I never threw him under the bus, never said anything about him publicly. For him to say that stuff, you have to draw a line somewhere and I guess do a better choice of picking friends." -Dwight Gooden [Mets]
SiteBot FacePalm of the Week
“Let's Face It Any great player the Mets have gotten, has been by sheer blind luck.” -Dimoon
AA Quote of the Week
“I hope that everyone who criticizes athletes for opting out (or taking more money to play elsewhere) works at one job their entire life because they feel they owe "loyalty" to their employer. And never asks for a raise because they’re a "team player" who is allowing management to employ other workers, which is what’s best for the company!” -eldoot7