This Week in Mets Quotes: Wilmer Flores is happy in Arizona, Dave Roberts responds to ‘sign stealing’ claims

Wilmer Flores must miss NYC, I mean what could be better about leaving the best city in the world...

“I’m getting a bigger house for what I was paying. A much bigger house.” —Wilmer Flores [Newsday]

...but he must miss his teammates and coach...

“It’s been great. I love this city, I love the team. This is a really good group of guys. I love the manager [Torey Lovullo]. I couldn’t be in a better place.” —Wilmer Flores [Newsday]

...well yeah, but it’s not like the fans in Arizona know to clap to his Friends theme walk-up song, right?

“[The fans] picked it up right away. They like it, they clap. It’s nice.” —Wilmer Flores [Newsday]

Since 2011, only Clayton Kershaw has more complete game shutouts than Jason Vargas.

“It’s just nice to give all the guys in the bullpen a day off. It’s nice to be the guy walking off the field with the baseball, but I think it’s more satisfying to the guys down in the bullpen, [who] get to have a full-day recovery.” —Jason Vargas [Mets]

Dave Roberts responds to Mets’ claims that the Dodgers might be stealing signs.

“I guess if they feel ... the quality of at-bats we put up against these guys was not as a result of our talent and our preparation, then that’s their decision. I can’t change their thoughts.” —Dave Roberts [MLB]

To be fair, Callaway did soften his language.

“I don’t know what [the Dodgers are] doing. It seems like they’re on every pitch. So I don’t know if they’re teaching better than everybody else. You see them out there with the pitching machine in early work, throwing hard, 96, 97, and those guys are on time and crushing those pitches. And they’re fouling off our really good pitches. So I don’t know if they have something, or if they’re just really talented and they’re working the right way. … The bottom line is it doesn’t matter really what they’re doing. We’ve got to figure it out and adjust.” —Mickey Callaway [MLB]

Anytime you can compare yourself to Adrian Beltre, you must be doing something right.

“You’ve gotta get underneath it. The back leg has to get really down. … I know Adrian Beltre used to do that really well. [He] used to get his back knee down low, so I kind of did that and found a way to get my bottom hand underneath it. You have more time on a curveball, so just one of those things where I do have that kind of swing sometimes and … I’m either going to foul it off or miss it wildly. Just one of those times where I found a way to get a good piece on it.” —Todd Frazier [MLB]

Not sure if this was a typo or if Carlos Gomez’s nickname really is ‘Gomie’.

“Gomie has put great at-bat after great at-bat together. Credit to us going out and getting the depth pieces that we need in case something like [an injury] happens and we need to weather the storm.” —Mickey Callaway [MLB]

While there have been some questionable moves from Mickey lately, he was 100% correct to take deGrom out.

“We let [deGrom] face one more hitter, and then he kind of looked like it was still bothering him a little bit, and then we just can’t leave him out there with anything bothering him, he’s too important to this franchise. He’s here for a long time and we can’t get him hurt just to try to get another out or another inning out of him.” —Mickey Callaway [MLB]

“I knelt down, I was kind of watching that play, and then when I went to get up, it just cramped up. I said I was fine and I wish I could have stayed out there. It just cramped up for a second and I just wanted to throw a couple pitches to make sure it was fine, and it was. It’s a tough loss for us tonight, and I wish I could have stayed out there.” —Jacob deGrom [MLB]

Hope the younger players use Cano as an example to be honest with the trainers and take yourself out to prevent something worse from happening.

“Not even close to [the previous injury], what it was. It was just tightness. I came over and they did all the tests after that, and everything was still good. I felt it got a little tight, and I didn’t want to push it. I told the trainer, and they said, ‘You’re tight, let’s just take you out. We don’t want anything worse.’ ” -Robinson Cano [New York Post]

Jeurys Familia reviewed video of himself pitching, hoping for answers.

“Everything looked the same for me. I know I am not having the season that I want to have, but every time I go out there I am trying to make my pitch and get my job done, so there is nothing I can do.” —Jeurys Familia [MLB]

Ramos really wants to catch deGrom.

“I was surprised because I’m not in there. I was ready to catch [deGrom], but it happens … We want to give a little more time for us to get better communication. Happy for him because we’ve been having more communication, so hopefully next time I’ll be behind the plate with him.” —Wilson Ramos [Newsday]

“I don’t feel happy, because I want to be behind the plate. Especially [being off Thursday in addition to Saturday]. I want to play. I feel better at the plate hitting, too, so I don’t want to lose my timing.” —Wilson Ramos [Newsday]

Aaron Judge supports Pete Alonso’s lobby for being in the home run derby.

“It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it and I’d recommend it for him. After seeing his swing, he’s going to do pretty well in it. I know that.” —Aaron Judge [Newsday]

/Requisite Jim Mora voice/ Playoffs?!

“We could [continue to use deGrom and Nido together], but then in the playoffs we’d be running into a sticky situation. So, look, it’s not something that we’re debating. It’s something that’s going to happen.” —Mickey Callaway [Newsday]

/Requisite Joe Morgan voice/ Consistent.

“We can’t allow people to have their best games of their career against us. That’s the bottom line. We’ve got to go out there and consistently get it done. We beat up on [Zack] Greinke a little bit [on Saturday], who’s one of the better pitchers in the league. And then you have a night like tonight. That kind of inconsistency just is not going to win you games. That is why we are where we are in the standings and what our record looks like right now. We’re just too inconsistent.” —Mickey Callaway [MLB]

Tommy Tanous might be a little happy with how the draft went.

“This talent isn’t there in the third round very often. It was too good to pass up. It felt like you throw Matt Allen in with Brett Baty and Josh Wolf, and I can’t remember starting a draft with the Mets, or any other team I’ve been with any better than that.” —Tommy Tanous [MLB]

Brett Baty is happy as well.

“I love New York. The city, the atmosphere around it, it’s just an awesome city and I can’t wait to get here.” —Brett Baty [MLB]

Speaking of the draft, I really recommend reading Tim Healey’s piece on 40th round pick (and 9th from last player drafted) Daniel Zamora.

“As long as you have a jersey, you have a chance. That’s all it is really.” —Daniel Zamora [Newsday]

“If you’re not much of a prospect, they’re not going to work with you. You are what you are. I didn’t have much one-on-one instruction. Coordinators come to town, I didn’t talk to them when I was with the Pirates, at least. Me and my teammates, we learned from each other.” —Daniel Zamora [Newsday]

“I hope it gives a lot of people hope. Me personally, I always look up big leaguers and I’ll look at when they got drafted. Oh, he was drafted in the 34th round and he’s there, so why can’t I make it? I just hope it gives other people a feeling that they have a chance, too.” —Daniel Zamora [Newsday]

So good to have Ron back in the booth.

“You don’t realize until you’re away how much this is in your blood. As far as how I feel, it’s kind of the unknown. I don’t what my stamina is going to be like in the game or voice-wise. So if Keith is talking a lot, you’ll know where I’m at.” —Ron Darling [New York Post]

“I feel like you just do this simple little job of being on air, but it reaches a lot of folks. I was 22 years old when I was called up to the Mets. I’m 58 now. I feel like I’ve gotten love from these fans that entire time, and none more evident than the last 60 days. You feel like it’s just a personal struggle, challenge you have, but so many people want to make sure you feel as though you have their hugs. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around that one, too. It’s completely humbling.” —Ron Darling [New York Post]

Mets Tweet of the Week

SiteBot FacePalm of the Week

“Vargas wanting his first complete game shutout in a long time can’t take priority over common sense.” —JackStrawbOne

AA Quote of the Week

“Keith wishes he got to play with juiced balls.” -MetsFan4Decades