NL DIVISION SERIES: METS VS PHILLIES

October 5, 2024

Mark Vientos

Citizens Bank Park

New York Mets

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. What was your guys' reaction as players when you found out Senga was starting today?

MARK VIENTOS: Super excited. Super excited to hear the news. I found out yesterday on my way to grab some coffee. I was like, this is a good way to start your morning. So good news, for sure.

Q. The other day I asked Francisco Alvarez what his favorite thing about you is. Now I want to ask you: What is your favorite thing about Francisco Alvarez?

MARK VIENTOS: The way he competes. The way he's a bulldog behind the home plate. I feel like he has all the attributes to what you want as a starting catcher. He's a bulldog. He has confidence, he's a competitor, and I love playing beside him.

Q. (Inaudible.)

MARK VIENTOS: He has a good point on that one (laughter).

Q. How much do you guys enjoy playing in this ballpark?

MARK VIENTOS: Oh, man, I think last year my first time coming here I just talked about the energy and the environment. I feel like it was like playoff atmosphere in the beginning of the season playing over here, not even like towards the end. Just playing over here, the environment is awesome. I'm excited to see what it is today.

Q. Going back to the question about Senga, what are you most looking forward to about what he can bring and deliver to the mound, whether that's just baseball-wise, vibe-wise, anything like that?

MARK VIENTOS: He brings everything to the table as an ace of a good club. So, I mean, I know he's going to go out there and do his thing. He's a confident pitcher. He's always even-keel and I'm excited to see.

Q. There was a story earlier this year about Bryce Harper giving you some advice at first base, telling you not to swing so hard and natural power. My question is: Do you think he regrets it?

MARK VIENTOS: No, I don't think so, to be honest. I think what I heard from lots of people, he kind of tends to give the younger guys coming up some advice. Tons of respect for the guy. He's been doing it for a long time and he's been one of the best for a long time, nothing but respect.

Q. Your journey here has been remarkable. You went from your last day in Spring Training being told you were going down to Triple-A, coming back up and now here you are, starting third baseman for a playoff team. Can you describe that? What has this journey meant to you? Can you just describe it for us?

MARK VIENTOS: It's pretty cool. Pretty cool. I mean, it's an honor just to be on the roster of a playoff team and living out a dream. I mean, it's crazy because I think yesterday was the first day I kind of like sat back and thought about what I'm doing. Because when you're in it, you don't really look at it. You don't even sit back and be like, oh, man. It's like, all right, next, let's keep winning, next at-bat, next pitch, next play.

But yesterday we had the day off and I kind of just sat back and I was like, man, this is crazy, man. It's for sure surreal what's going on and I'm excited to keep continuing this.

Q. Zack Wheeler is a guy who throws several different pitches and on top of that this Phillies team can throw as many as half a dozen different relievers at you in high-leverage situations. Is this a challenging team to prepare for from a scouting perspective?

MARK VIENTOS: I think every team we're going to face from now on in the playoffs, playoff teams all have great pitching, got great relievers, got great hitters. I feel like you just take every team like it's another game and just focus on who's next, who's pitching that game.

Wheeler is a great pitcher, but I mean, we have a great ball club, so I'm excited to see what happens.

Q. How important was it or how valuable was it for the team to have a day off yesterday?

MARK VIENTOS: Oh, I mean, I just felt like we haven't had a day off in a month. It was good. A good little reset button. I feel like a lot of us kind of laid low, just had a good dinner and just focused on today. I feel like it was a good reset, for sure.