Through no fault of their own, the Mets found a way to #lolmets and make Opening Day weird
“It is weird. We’re watching games, we’re seeing everybody’s playing in the league. but at the same time, we understand this is the situation happening. It’s really tough to control once it happens. What can you do? We’re trying to do the best facing the circumstances right now.” -Luis Rojas [New York Post]
“It’s a weird feeling. It’s like a kid on Christmas morning, looking forward to Opening Day, and having it taken away. The two words I would use are ‘tough’ and ‘strange.’ You use spring training to build up and kind of reach a point where you’re ready to go in a real-game situation, and all of a sudden we’re sitting around for a week waiting around for that opportunity. That’s the toughest part, staying sharp for the high speed of the game.” -James McCann [New York Post]
The Mets’ new owner on his expectations for this season
“I’m not going to predict the World Series out of the gate. What I do think is we’re competitive and I do believe we’re going to make the playoffs. And once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen, right?” -Steven Cohen [New York Daily News]
Steve Cohen on Lindor’s extension...
“I look at Francisco as a cornerstone of our present and future. I think he’s going to lead us to division titles, pennants and World Series championships. He’s all in, I told you I’m all in, and this should leave no doubt.” -Steven Cohen [New York Daily News]
...as well as the future of the franchise
“We’re going to be significant players for free agents down the road, and we’re going to act like a major-market club.” -Steven Cohen [New York Daily News]
For some reason, I never saw Dom Smith speak this way about the Wilpons
“The buzz and the excitement started at the early part of Spring Training. And it all revolves around [Steve Cohen]. Obviously when he took over ownership, and the moves he’s made, he’s just been tremendous. Every move he’s made has been great. We’re just excited to see him take over in leadership and to see his passion and his will to want to come and win.” -Dom Smith [MLB]
“He shows us on an everyday basis that he wants to help us get better as a team, as an organization, as a club. As a player, all you can do is just want to run through a wall for him. So I’m super excited to get Steve his first win, and the team is super excited to win a lot more games for him. This is just the first of many for him. We’re all just happy that he’s our owner.” -Dom Smith [MLB]
Mike Piazza reacts to Lindor’s extension
Amazing news on an amazing day. Contrats to @Lindor12BC on signing with the @Mets. Wish you and the team a Great season, and many Great ones to come! You cannot compliment @StevenACohen2 enough, has stepped up in a big way. #Mets #Lindor #OpeningDay #LGM
— Mike Piazza (@mikepiazza31) April 1, 2021
Michael Conforto is not interested in talking about a potential contract extension...
“At this point, I’m not interested in really talking about it. Right now, I’m focusing on baseball. I’m focusing on getting ready for the Phillies.” -Michael Conforto [MLB]
...but he is willing to opine on his teammate’s lucrative contract extension for some reason
“I think [Francisco Lindor] got what he deserved. I think it’s good for the game, a good sign of a player of that caliber being paid what he has earned over the course of his career. About the direction of the team, that’s huge to get a guy with the leadership, his all-around baseball ability and the head on his shoulders. I think it’s a great sign for this team. He’s certainly a guy you can build a team around.” -Michael Conforto [MLB]
Luis Roja’s on every loss so far and also to come this season
“We want to win every game. We didn’t get a win tonight. We’re definitely disappointed because of that.” -Luis Rojas [MLB]
Feeling shame after letting Jacob deGrom down, Trevor May is already true Met
“Jake shouldn’t have to do everything himself. That’s not what teams are and frankly, Jake did almost everything today.” -Trevor May [MLB]
Jacob deGrom is in mid-season ‘un-controversially agreeing with coaching decisions’ form
“Talking to them, coming in, it felt like that was the right decision. So that’s what we went with.” -Jacob deGrom [MLB]
Got to hand it to Luis, after a rough day leaving men on base, Conforto was the right man to ‘Roger Dorn’ a walk off HBP
“Michael’s the guy that we want in that situation. That’s why he’s consistently hitting in the first three of the lineup regardless of who the pitcher is. We trust that he’s going to be clutch in RBI situations. He’s going to take a clutch at-bat. He’s going to get deep in counts. He’s going to get a pitch to hit because he lays off well. These are things that we understand can happen. If we run into this situation tomorrow, we want Michael to be the guy at the plate.” -Luis Rojas [MLB]
We’ll take it
“From my point of view, it was a slider. It felt like it was coming back to me. I turned. There may have been a little lift to my elbow just out of habit, out of reaction, and it barely skimmed the edge of my elbow guard.” -Michael Conforto [MLB]
J.D. Davis hasn’t really thought about getting the Covid-19 Vaccine but has over 200 words about it
“I haven’t really thought about it. I have been so focused on baseball and getting ready for the season. I have been concentrating on getting at-bats and getting my swing right, getting ready for defense. It’s a personal preference for me. It really hasn’t crossed my mind. This topic has come up over the last couple of days. With us moving from Florida to D.C. the last couple of days, I just really haven’t sat down and really thought about it.” -J.D. Davis [New York Post]
“Vaccinations, I am trying to be sensitive to the general public and to the family and friends out there. But at the same time I think it’s been a topic that has been in the works. I don’t really know the attitude or guys’ personal decisions if they want to get vaccinated or not. I think some of the details are going around in text messages of trying to figure out who wants what.” -J.D. Davis [New York Post]
“We’re a pretty close-knit group of guys. I know a lot of the guys really aren’t getting the itch to really go out and mingle or outdoor dining or go to bars or restaurants and have that kind of normal lifestyle. We are so focused on baseball right now and getting ready for the season.” -J.D. Davis [New York Post]
Conforto also has a lot of empty words when asked about the Covid-19 vaccine
“It’s a personal choice. Everybody has their own opinions on whether or not they’re going to go into get vaccinated. But what I will say is when we get home. Anyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one and I think that’s a good thing for the league, good thing for the teams.” -Michael Conforto [New York Daily News]
Great, the players are educated, so that means they’re going to get the vaccine...right?
“I can tell you we have great doctors, we have all the current information on these specific vaccines and, in particular, we’re very educated. Beyond that, I don’t think I can really speak to the reasons why they would or wouldn’t.” -Michael Conforto [New York Daily News]
Personally, I wouldn’t rely on the Mets athletic trainers to answer a question like “how long antibodies will stick around”
“Right now I have the antibodies and so that’s something that I’ve continued to talk to the trainers about, what that means and how long those antibodies will stick around. So at this point I’m not comfortable sharing, whether or not I will. But I can say we have all of the current information, we’re very educated on it. And, you know, it’s going to be available to us anytime that we do want to get vaccinated.” -Michael Conforto [New York Daily News]
Sandy Alderson provides “education” to the Mets’ players and staff (Full Disclosure: I was fully vaccinated in January and had minor symptoms within 24 hours of my second dose with no other symptoms since AMA in the comments if you have any questions)
“The first and most important thing for us is providing the necessary education to our players. We want to encourage not only our players, but everyone to be vaccinated.” -Sandy Alderson [New York Daily News]
“I’m hopeful that we will get a large number of our players vaccinated as well as our additional traveling party. There are incentives for public health, there are incentives to lift the kind of restrictions that they’re faced with now. So there are lots of reasons and hopefully, we’ll get as many players vaccinated as possible.” -Sandy Alderson [New York Daily News]
“I think that’s in the best interest of the team. It’s in the best interest of their families, it’s in the best interest of those who work with the players. So I hope you know that in addition to their own personal medical considerations that they take all of those things into consideration as well.” -Sandy Alderson [New York Daily News]
Zack Scott on unexpectedly being promoted to GM during the offseason...
“So then it became, well, what’s going to happen now? My wife’s asking me, ‘Are we going to see you this year?’ The whole thing was kind of jarring.” -Zack Scott [New York Daily News]
...ultimately deciding to take the job
“I was up for it. Up for the challenge.” -Zack Scott [New York Daily News]
AA stans Good Process
“We want to build an elite baseball operation and have really good processes, have really good people, and put a winning team out there every year. A championship team. That’s the goal.” -Zack Scott [New York Daily News]
Mets Tweet of the Week
You know you won a baseball game in an incredibly tight walk-off fashion when you've got the HOME announcers doing a three-part harmony on the words "oh come ON" as it happens. The Mets continue to innovate in the space like no other organization.
— David Roth (@david_j_roth) April 8, 2021