NL DIVISION SERIES: METS VS PHILLIES

October 6, 2024

Carlos Mendoza

Citizens Bank Park

New York Mets

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Q. What do you think was Díaz's primary issue in the eighth inning there?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yeah, I thought after he got Schwarber in the seventh to get out of that huge inning, then he gets Turner to lead off the eighth. It looked like he was pitching around Harper a little bit. And then he just couldn't put away Castellanos and Stott, that finally got him for the big hit. That 3-2 slider, I think it didn't too much.

But yeah, two hitters, two pitches that probably too much over the plate and they got him.

Q. How much of this in your eyes is just a tough inning for him versus he's been worked very hard over the last week?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yeah, but he's also coming off two days off. He wasn't going to finish that game. He came in in the seventh, I thought that was the game right there with their best hitters coming up, and he got Schwarber and then he got Turner, like I said.

Look, they're a good team, they're great hitters. It just didn't happen today.

Q. If he had gotten through that clean, it would have been Megill in the ninth?

CARLOS MENDOZA: I was going to go with, depending on where they were at, I was short today back there. So I had few options. As the games unfold and that inning started it and Butto was claiming that dribbled we couldn't finish that inning at that time, I thought the game was right there. And then I was going to let it play out and figure it out in the ninth.

Q. What was your opinion of the seeming pitch around on Harper and then the 3-2 sliders to stop?

CARLOS MENDOZA: I was fine with him pitching around Harper and then, you know, he just left that slider over the plate and Stott got him.

Q. You never know how a player is going to react to the playoffs the first time. But what are you seeing out of Mark these first five games?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Pretty impressive. His ability to slow the game down, just having awareness of the situation, and he continues to come through. Whether it's early in the game, it was pretty impressive the way he went the other way and took Sánchez deep, pitch up in the zone and just drove it to right field. But then we get down, he gets on top of a fastball from Strahm and ties the game in the ninth.

Pretty impressive. His at-bats, the way he's controlling the strike zone, but he just looks calm and very aware of the situation and in control. So impressive.

Q. When it comes to Megill in that ninth, is the one batter, the walk to Turner, you think that is going to be the one he thinks more about?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Probably, but, look, when you're facing that part of the order, it's one after another, you know? So he was careful with Turner, he can take you deep, as well. And then obviously you've got to pitch around Harper and we just left that slider, I think it was too good of a pitch for Castellanos, and that's another good hitter, and made him pay.

Q. Being short in the pen, how tough is it to do the math to get to 27 outs against that lineup?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yeah, that's a good lineup, and Sevey was really good. But when they got back and tied it in the sixth, that's when, okay -- because you have an idea going into the game how you're going to get through nine innings if you win it. And, yeah, you're short. Potentially a Butto-Díaz combination, Megill somehow there. That just didn't happen today.

Q. When the Phillies came back and tied it in the sixth, it all happened so quickly, too quickly to get a reliever up in the pen. Severino was twice through the order. How close was he to a point where you were just going to have somebody ready to step in regardless?

CARLOS MENDOZA: He's our guy, especially when you have a short pen, I'm not going to be as aggressive. The way he was throwing the baseball, I don't care about third time through, he's pitching really well. And like I said, if I pull him early, then they'll have to cover 12 outs, and that wasn't the case today.

Q. You guys have bounced back from a bunch of losses similar to this. How do you expect the team to come out Tuesday?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Same. And we came back in the ninth inning after losing the lead. So off day tomorrow and can't wait to play in front of our fan base. It's been a while. So we'll be ready to go.

Q. Given the way your season has gone with a flair for the dramatic, the way these teams seem to play each other, in your heart of hearts do you think you'll be back here for Game 5?

CARLOS MENDOZA: I don't have a crystal ball. Look, we've got to take it one day at a time and we've got to win the series. That's a really good team today. And you saw it today. They got down, it was 3-0, and it seems like we took the crowd away and before you know it, they got back and tied the game. They continued to fight.

It was a great game, and we expect to be this way moving forward. Like I said, one day at a time. One game at a time, and see what happens.

Q. You guys have played a ton of games lately, been close games, you've had to use your leverage arms in ways you never really did during the regular season. How difficult is it to manage a bullpen when you're dealing with everything you guys have dealt with?

CARLOS MENDOZA: It's a challenge, but, you know, guys will step up. We saw it with Peterson yesterday. I thought Megill was good today. You're trying to stay away from different guys, because you're going to need all of them. Not only the high-leverage reliever guys are going to be in the game and I'm going to ask them to get huge outs. Everybody is going to have to contribute.

Off day tomorrow, and then another important game on Tuesday. But no excuses. It's been hard, but here we are. I'm just looking forward to get back to Citi Field on Tuesday.

Q. Was Megill trying to get Turner to chase? It looked like he was throwing balls in the dirt and outside the zone.

CARLOS MENDOZA: Look, he's a really good hitter, and if you make a mistake, he's going to make you pay. And he didn't chase. He did a good job and he controlled the strike zone, got on base. And then same thing with Harper, so, yeah.

Q. Is Nimmo okay after that collision in the outfield with Mark?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yeah, he's good.