This Week in Mets Quotes: Van Wagenen on Cespedes’ Opt Out, Alonso is going to miss Cespedes

Your 2020 New York Mets: We’ve got to be able to flush it.

“It can be frustrating, but that’s the best part about this game — we’ve got another one tomorrow where we can get right back on track. We’ve got to be able to flush it.” -Michael Wacha [MLB]

This whole incident was just all around so on brand for the Mets. Just a perfect distillation of #lolmets.

“As of game time, Yoenis Céspedes has not reported to the ballpark today. He did not reach out to management with any explanation for his absence. Our attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful.” -Brodie Van Wagenen [The Athletic]

“(We) definitely were not aware prior to the game or leading up to the game or until during the game that this was on the horizon. It was surprising, without question.” -Brodie Van Wagenen [The Athletic]

“The team issued that first statement during the day, even without complete information on the well-being and whereabouts of Céspedes, in an effort to be “transparent,” Van Wagenen said, without “any other hidden agenda.” Issuing such a statement in the middle of a game is highly unusual; the Mets did not do it, for instance, when Matt Harvey did not show up for a game in 2017. The team was not especially transparent after the game Sunday, given that Van Wagenen’s Zoom press conference was halted with questions still in the queue and the only player provided for media access was rookie pitcher David Peterson.” -Tim Britton and Marc Carig [The Athletic]

“Nimmo said he’s heard the team version of Sunday’s events — that the Mets didn’t know of Cespedes’ opt-out until late in the game — and a different version floating around the clubhouse, in which Cespedes’ agents let the team know pregame. Said he didn’t know which to believe.” -Tim Britton [Twitter]

“Whichever story is the right story, it ends with the same result.” -Brandon Nimmo [Twitter]

“Obviously there’s a lot of uncertainty with the behavior of this virus and what’s going on, and that’s why this option is there. The guys are going to be very understanding of it, I’m sure.” -Luis Rojas [The Athletic]

“We’re going to miss him.” Pete Alonso [Twitter]

Luis Rojas is not committing to Edwin Diaz being The Closer...

“We didn’t talk about a specific role moving forward, but we talked about looking forward to getting him back in there as soon as we can.” -Luis Rojas [ESPN]

...and credit to Diaz for a team player about it.

“I’m open to pitching whenever. That doesn’t matter to me. It’s just one of those things where I would like to pitch more frequently, as opposed to having those long layoffs.” -Edwin Diaz [ESPN]

Common theme for struggling bullpen arms.

“I feel like the more repetition I get, the better I’ll be able to get. I’m still not there right now. I missed a lot of time. I felt like I was out of the game for a year and a half, so it’s a little different this time.” -Dellin Betances [Newsday]

Savvy business insight that NYC is a ‘great market’ from a guy who’s company was charged four separate times for allegations of war profiteering.

“[New York City’s] a great market. There’s a lot of upside. If you turn that team around, you could do as well as the Yankees, in my opinion.’’ -Owner of the Astros Jim Crane [USA Today]

Always a delight to hear deGrom talk about his craft.

“My thing is, I consider [my curveball] my fourth-best pitch. I had a really good feel for everything early in the game, so I mixed it in … just for mainly a speed difference. But I really don’t want to get beat on my fourth-best pitch. That’s kind of the way I view it.” -Jacob deGrom [MLB]

deGrom on his new, consistent 100+ MPH fastball.

“This [coronavirus] break — and even in spring, just working on my delivery — I actually feel like it’s coming out with less effort than in years past. I think just with that time off, I continued to work on my delivery, and feel like everything’s kind of in line where I want it to be.” -Jacob deGrom [MLB]

I am not sick of talking about how good deGrom is.

“[deGrom] goes with what’s working that day. That’s what I’ve noticed about him. Some days, he doesn’t like his slider. I don’t know how you don’t like a 94 mph slider, but some days he doesn’t like it and he goes with his changeup. Some days, he goes with his fastball. He has that feel. He’s just got the complete package. I’m kind of sick of talking about how good he is, but I’m glad he’s on our team.” -Michael Conforto [MLB]

Rojas blames Atlanta in general for the injuries to ³⁄₄ of our infield.

“It was our fourth game here in Atlanta and coming in from [Sunday] it was real hot. It’s unfortunate it happened to three guys today.” -Luis Rojas [New York Post]

Ouch, poor Rosario.

“It’s really tough to lose those guys. We need those bats in the lineup, especially Robbie and McNeil — they’re really hot right now.” -Wilson Ramos [Newsday]

Being better starts with making better moves during the off season.

“We have to be better. I don’t think there’s any way to sugarcoat that.” -Brodie Van Wagenen [MLB]

Conforto on Mike Soroka’s season ending injury.

“It kind of makes you sick, honestly. [Soroka’s] a bright star and we know he’ll come back.” -Michael Conforto [New York Post]

Billy Hamilton is willing to do anything for the team...

“They told me just be ready for anything . . . I told them I’m willing to do anything they need me to do.” -Billy Hamilton [Newsday]

...except take a train to the ballpark.

“I told them I watch too much ‘Criminal Minds’ for the train, man. I said, I wanted to take a car service and get down there. So I ended up getting a car service and getting on down here.” -Billy Hamilton [Newsday]

Alonso continued, ‘Gosh darn it, people like me.’

“It’s been tough stringing together the results, but they’re going to come. I know they are. I know what I’m capable of. I work hard. I work diligently and I’m a smart ballplayer. So this is rough now, but it’s temporary. Every ballplayer goes through struggles and rough patches during the season.” -Pete Alonso [MLB]

Very excited for Ruben Tejada+.

“[Gimenez’s] going to be a great player. His defense is incredibly smooth and he’s going to make every single play and he’s a good scrappy bat as well. He’s going to put the ball in play and he’s going to make a lot of things happen for this team.” -Jeff McNeil [New York Post]

“I think last year was a year of adjustments for me and it led into the Arizona Fall League. I also included a leg kick in my swing and I think that has helped me as well, but I continue to work every single day and it’s not just my hitting I work on. I try to work on my entire package.” -Andres Gimenez [New York Post]

“I saw it in spring training, back in February and March, the difference in [Gimenez’s] stance, how he is more upright. He is more on top of the ball and creating more leverage opposed to before when he used to be more squatted and kind of timing, balancing back and forth to get the bat out. Now it’s less effort to get the at out. He’s a little bit stronger and that causes him to have more recognition of pitches and create more power. -Luis Rojas [New York Post]

SiteBot FacePalm of the Week

“Cespedes is an asshole.

I mean we already knew that, but the man has been impossible to deal with his whole career. It was one thing when you’re crushing the ball, but right now he’s striking out half the time and clearly isn’t ready. We are likely better off without him and Smith in the lineup.

And I don’t buy for a second the COVID concerns. In this rare case, I’m calling shenanigans and see this as a convenient excuse. The way I see it, If he was really concerned about COVID he would have acted like normal being and not skipped town in the dead of night, not reaching out to the team and blowing off their attempts to contact him. Obviously something was bothering him and he quit.

Maybe it was his own performance and him thinking that continuing to play was bad for his future

Maybe his legs were bothering him and didn’t want to risk further injury.

Maybe he was mad he wasn’t allowed to play the way he wanted to (aka playing LF)

Maybe he was made he wasn’t batting cleanup.

Maybe he was concerned the Mets were trying to prevent incentives from happening

Or maybe this was just the plan all along. Get the first round of bonuses, show he had the bat and leave to rest up for 2021

But he’s hiding behind COVID and he’s a coward and a fraud. Good Riddance.” -oleosmirf

AA Quote of the Week

“You know, I’m not even surprised. About everything.” -IPA