Mets players talk about National League Wild Card game

With the win-or-your-season-is-over National League Wild Card game tomorrow night, today was the team’s official “workout day.” Terry Collins gave a press conference, beat reporters asked players questions, and fans nervously counted down the hours until the Mets’ season is put on the line. Here are some of the more notable quotes and revelations:

• Terry Collins has decided on a lineup for the Wild Card game, but don’t expect it to be revealed until tomorrow night. Smart money would be on Yoenis Cespedes being somewhere in that lineup.
• Cespedes says he’s forgotten about the past and is ready for tomorrow. He added that the Citi Field atmosphere helps him focus and stay calm.
• It was previously reported that the Mets were deciding on either Lucas Duda or James Loney to start at first base, and now James Loney has dropped some hints that he’s “got a good feeling” that he’ll be getting the nod.
• Collins lauded Curtis Granderson’s leadership, which is of special importance given all of the young players on the roster. Granderson commended the Mets’ organization on their preparation of said young players.
• Speaking of young players, the Mets may have Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo available in their bullpen. Anthony DiComo reports that the team will carry three of their four starting pitchers on their Wild Card roster. By process of elimination, this would mean that Bartolo Colon will be held off of the roster, making him the hypothetical starter for game 1 of the NLDS, should the Mets advance.
• The other remaining starting pitcher is, of course, Noah Syndergaard, who will face off against Madison Bumgarner tomorrow night. “It’s two Goliaths going at it,” Hunter Pence said, in reference to the marquee matchup. If only the Mets still had their David.
• Syndergaard noted that he was “anxious and excited,” but not nervous, adding that it is a “dream come true” to start the Wild Card game. He was also rocking a headband.
• T.J. Rivera will commute to the Wild Card game from his childhood home in the Bronx. John Sickels looks at what’s next for the second baseman, comparing him to Justin Turner.
• Rene Rivera has bleached his hair, so now he’ll look exactly like Asdrubal Cabrera, Jose Reyes, and Jerry Blevins. No word on whether or not Terry Collins will follow suit.