This Week In Mets Quotes: David Wright On The Team, Sandy Alderson On Payroll, Johan Santana On His Back

Lots of interesting, funny, idiotic, and insightful things were said by the Mets — and about them — over the past week. Here are some of our favorites.

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Fortunately for the Nationals, they’re a bad team that’s just playing very good right now

"I don't think we are a bad team. We are just playing very bad right now." —David Wright

Big Changes with Little Payroll

"For the purpose of this discussion, let's assume the payroll is the same. I don't expect the same team on the field. Look, we've watched this team for two years. We've gotten similar results the two years. There are some positives. ... We need to get better, and not incrementally." —Sandy Alderson [ESPN]

Or not

"The point is there's a light at the end of the tunnel because you know [Johan’s] healthy," —Terry Collins [ESPN].

Still not quite used to the Mets advocating proper treatment

"The most common causes of lower back inflammation in the area of L5 are herniated disc, spondylolysis, and the inflammation of a facet joint. Rest, medication and exercise is a good, proper treatment plan." —Dr. Andrew Hecht, an orthopedic surgeon and co-chief of spinal surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine [Newsday]

Thanks for June 1st

"You know, my season has been a roller coaster. A lot of ups and downs. Good days. Bad days. But I'm very positive about everything, because I'm coming back from a major surgery, and I've been able to be out there every five games. ... Right now my shoulder is fine. I don't have any issues with it. It's just that it has been a long season for me." —Johan Santana [ESPN]

No lack of being lackluster though

"I'm not sure it is lack of effort. It is the lack of execution. It is lack of preparation. It is the lack of thought. On the plays we saw tonight, there is not a day goes by in the 45 days that we are in spring training that pitchers don't PFP (pitcher fielding practice). There is not a day that when they do PFP, they do rundown plays where they know where they are at. There is not a day when we do cutoffs and relays -- (which) we do numerous times-- that pitchers aren't backing up the right bases. I saw some things tonight where pitchers are standing in the middle of the infield where balls are being thrown around." —Terry Collins [ESPN]

Maybe they should start playing like it’s not their job and just have fun out there

“This is our job. We’re not going to go out there and not try hard, because the only way we make money is by trying hard. Everyone’s going to try to do well because it’s the only way, one, to win, and two, they’ll stay in the big leagues.” —Ike Davis [New York Times]

Makes sense

“I only have an issue with it if [Frank Francisco] gets hurt. Those water coolers are made for other things besides holding water. They’re nice and easy to beat up.” —Terry Collins [ESPN]

I see an offseason, low-rating ‘Odd Couple’ series in the making

“[Brandon Nimmo’s] all into the hunting and fishing and stuff like that. It’s not quite in my blood. I’ve never hunted and I’ve never really enjoyed fishing. That’s kind of his deal. I like to relax and just kind of hang out, where he likes to go out. He conned me into going to the Museum of Natural History on one of the last couple off-days. I was actually glad we did it. It was kind of neat to go out and see something different. We definitely get along great. We’ve got a little bit of differences, but nothing too major.” —Kevin Plawecki [ESPN]

Though they are running, just aren’t getting any runs

“We aren’t hitting. We aren’t getting any hits.” —Terry Collins [New York Daily News]

Well I guess this is technically true since Jason Bay is in the starting lineup

"It's not difficult in the sense that I completely understood the strategy of trying to win a game. I mean, everybody on that bench is a better hitter than me." —R.A. Dickey [ESPN]

Reason enough for me to re-sign him

"[Kelly Shoppach] really didn't know too, too much about me. And I didn't know too, too much about him. So at that time we wanted to get things going on the right page. It was awesome. When I wanted to throw a pitch, he put [the signal] down. And if I shook once, the second pitch that he called, it was right there. I give him a lot of credit. I stuck with him the whole time." —Matt Harvey [ESPN]

I still believe

"I think we have a much better sense now of who our players are, who we think are going to develop into those championship-caliber players, who may not, and are in a position to act on that. The last couple of years, we've done a lot of experimenting. Some things have worked out. Some haven't. But feel a lot more confident about where we're going than I did a couple of years ago." —Sandy Alderson [Wall Street Journal]

I concur

"I'm just getting beat with everything, you know? There's nothing you can do about it. I'm struggling right now." —Frank Francisco [ESPN]

Well Aaron Heilman wanted to start but you don’t see him complaining

“I want to have an opportunity to play every day. I know in the past I haven’t really gotten that opportunity. ... and I’ve been on teams where I’ve platooned with another player. But I still have that desire.” —Scott Hairston [New York Post]

SiteBot FacePalm of the Week

“This is NY. Staying in a holding pattern till 2015 is unacceptable.” —Putnam Prince

AA Quote of the Week

“Please see the Second Avenue Subway Line.” —Coolpapabell