This Week in Mets Quotes: New GM, Same old Mets

May we all be blessed with Jeff McNeil’s attitude...

“[Jeff McNeil] always says that he can play any position. He thinks he can go throw a shutout tonight. That’s who he is.” -Mickey Callaway [MLB]

...even if it’s slightly qualified...

“I don’t know. I think I could pump some strikes.” -Jeff McNeil [MLB]

...because at the end, Jeff is rightfully confident.

“It’s a dream of mine to play in the All-Star Game. I think I’ve done enough. I think I’ve been the best possible player I could be up to this point, playing multiple positions and doing it really well. I don’t think there’s much more I can do.” -Jeff McNeil [MLB]

Nice piece where Justin Wilson admitted he came back too early. Really wish teams told players it’s not selfish to make sure you’re healthy to help the team.

“There was days, especially after my live BP, that I felt great and recovered good the next day. The first time I came off, I threw my inning and truthfully felt pretty good the following inning playing catch. When I went out the second day, that’s when there was some swelling and it was a little bit more sore. It’s kind of tricky as far as where the inflammation is and how it feels on certain days, I guess, or how it reacts to throwing.” -Justin Wilson [North Jersey]

‘I don’t think about the record but...what’s the record?’

“I really don’t think about [the Rookie HR record], honestly. I just try to help this team win. That’s all I can do. All I can control is my effort, my preparation level and what I do between the lines and whatever happens, happens. Judge has [the MLB rookie record], right? 52?” -Pete Alonso [MLB]

Narrator: It has not.

“You do expect [the Bullpen ERA] to level off — you would have hoped it would have leveled off by now. It hasn’t, so we have to keep on working. It will even out. We have enough talent where it will even out.” -Mickey Callaway [New York Post]

From the team that brought you a Rhame/Hoskins non-beef. [As brought to you by Deesha Thosar (New York Daily News)]

“See you tomorrow, Mickey.” -Tim Healey [New York Daily News]

“Don’t be a smartass.” -Mickey Callaway [New York Daily News]

“Motherfucker.” -Mickey Callaway [New York Daily News]

“Shut the fuck up, get out of my face. Get out of here,” -Mickey Callaway said as Tim Healey attempted to explain he did not mean to slight the manager in any way [New York Daily News]

“Get this motherfucker out of here, he’ll be here tomorrow.” -Mickey Callaway [New York Daily News]

“A few beats later, Jason Vargas and Tim Healey were in a stare-down. Vargas asked Healey why the reporter is looking at him, to which Healey replied...” -Deesha Thosar

“It looked like you had something to say.” -Tim Healey [New York Daily News]

“I’ll knock you the fuck out, bro.” -Jason Vargas [New York Daily News]

“It was an unfortunate confrontation. I don’t think all the information is really out there. I don’t think this is a time to get into that. But I think that anybody that knows me, anybody that has played with me, there’s never been a situation like that. So to think it happened out of the blue, it’s foolish. It’s over. Our organization made a statement. We put an end to it. But I think it’s pretty obvious all the info isn’t out there.” -Jason Vargas [ESPN]

This Q&A with Jerry Koosman is a great read. Personally, my favorite Koosman quote was when he was asked why he was such a fast paced pitcher, Koosman replied that he could never figure out what else he was supposed to do on the mound.

“Q: What was the real story about the shoe polish in Game 5 of the 1969 World Series with Cleon Jones at the plate?

A: The ball came into the dugout, it came to me, and I’m sitting probably 2 feet away from Gil [Hodges]. Gil just told me, “Swipe it on your foot, on your shoe,” and I did and he reached over and I handed it to him and he took it out and showed the umpire. Now maybe the shoe polish was from Cleon’s shoe, or maybe it was from mine, I don’t know. It all took a matter of 10 seconds. Just think about that, how quick-thinking you have to be if you were Gil Hodges to say, “Swipe it on your foot.” -Jerry Koosman [New York Post]

AA Quote of the Week

“How much did Magnum sign for?” -MetsKnicksGmen

“20K” -IPA

“Well, now we know where Mickey and Vargas’ fines went.” MetsFan4Decades