NL DIVISION SERIES: METS VS PHILLIES

October 8, 2024

Carlos Mendoza

Citi Field

New York Mets

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. You think about this season, we covered you the first day of Spring Training, the first Opening Day game here. The first home playoff game, what's going through your mind right now?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Special. A lot of emotions. Since we got back from Philly, just driving through the city and just feeling the whole thing. And then today it's different. It's different than Opening Day. It's different than every regular season game, obviously. But it's just kind of like you look back and what we've been through, and it's like, man, we get to play here again today.

So definitely special. I'm enjoying every single moment and every single second. Grateful for the opportunity, thanking God. And here we are, just what a special day.

Q. Yesterday you mentioned the group behind closed doors, what a special group of guys they are, and a lot of it is because of what they've set out to do. When the trade deadline comes along and you add a couple of pieces like Winker, Stanek, and Maton, how important is that personal makeup, when they enter that room? Jesse seemed to fit right in from day one.

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yeah, and when they throw out names and talking to David and he goes through with his people about potential people that we could be acquiring, and just doing kind of like the homework. We're looking not only for really good players, but really good people. And that was the feedback we got from some of the guys that we asked around.

You mentioned Jesse Winker, and he fit right in. We got Stanek and Phil Maton earlier and a lot of different guys. Not only guys we acquired during the trade deadline, but just whether it was free agents, guys that came from Triple-A, and they bought in right away. That's a credit to those guys in that room because of who they are and they way they go about their business, how much they care about each other.

I think everybody has got a part of it, and that's what makes this group such a special group.

Q. Most of Brandon's hits the last two weeks have either given you a lead or been part of a big rally. What's it about Brandon that allowed him to thrive during those situations?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Nimmo, he's a good player. He's a really good player. He's been in this League for a long time, very successful career, and he's not done. He's pretty young.

He's just embracing the whole thing, not trying to do too much. How much he wants it for the team, for the organization, just like a lot of our other guys. I'm just proud of him, especially going through the ups and downs throughout the year. It wasn't easy for him. But he stayed the course, trusted the plan, trusted his preparation, trusted his teammates, and now here he is getting results. He's not done.

It's baseball. You understand that you're going to go through some ups and downs, you're going to go through some struggles, and you just have to keep going. He's done that. He will continue to do so.

Proud of him. He deserve that and, like I said, he's a big part of this team.

Q. In Lindor's previous postseasons with Cleveland he would get really fired up after some of his big hits, big plays. Now he's kind of just business as usual. Does that tell you anything from him as a hitter, player, how locked in he is right now?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yeah, not only he's locked in but he's a lot more mature. He understands that it happens quick. Can't get too high; can't get too low. You have to continue to play every pitch, every play, every at-bat, regardless of what's happening, whether you get down, whether you go up, because it happens quick. We saw it over the past week, where we took the lead, we lost it, we got it back.

There's a lot of back and forth. You're playing really good teams. The crowds are electric. Like I said, you have to stay consistent and stay where your feet are at. He's done that.

And that's part of experience. He's been in a lot of playoff games, he's been in the World Series, and I think he's enjoying it. I don't think he's probably expressing as much but deep inside this is what he wants. This is what he wants not only for him but for the team and the organization. So proud of him.

Q. When you face somebody like Aaron Nola who you faced a number of times before, is it difficult not to get, A, complacent in the scouting report because you've seen him so many times, but, B, also think outside the box if he's going to do anything differently?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yeah, I think you never get complacent. I've been saying it since we started playing this team, because they're so familiar with us; we're familiar with them. It's a game of adjustments. I'm pretty sure he'll be ready to make some adjustments and we have to be ready to do the same.

But also, we've got to go out there and execute. You can game plan all you want and have a really good strategy, you still have to go out there and execute. That's why baseball is such a great game, because it's played by humans. They're not going to be perfect all the time.

You've got to go out there. You've got to have a really good plan, be ready to adjust because they're going to be doing the same thing.

Q. We saw McNeil hitting on the field yesterday. How is he coming along, and is he a realistic option to be on your roster in the LCS if you're able to advance?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Hopefully that's the case, and we're having those conversations. But, yeah, he continues to progress and feels good. Went through another extensive and full workout yesterday where he was able to hit on the field.

So, yeah, all the reports are trending in the right direction. And like I said, we will continue to go day-by-day, series-by-series, and hopefully we get into a position where his name is in the conversation for a potential playoff roster.

Q. Your last game here Pete had the ovation from the crowd in what could have been his final game. What do you think the reception will be in the first at-bat? And for Pete, what do you think it will mean given the struggles he went through earlier this year?

CARLOS MENDOZA: It's going to be electric. It's going to be loud. People have been waiting for this moment for a long time, for years. And for Pete to come through the way he did and now he's back here -- not necessarily just for Pete -- but I'm going to say there's going to be an ovation for the whole team; the lineup, the extras, the coaches, and everyone. Like I said, special day. We all should embrace it and enjoy it because we haven't experienced this, definitely a lot of these guys, in a long time.

So for Pete, proud of him, too. And I just want him to go out there and be himself and embrace the moment and embrace the situation and just be Pete Alonso.

Q. For all the high-profile games you're playing in the last two weeks, what are some of the most unexpected and surprising texts you've received?

CARLOS MENDOZA: You got me there, because I've gotten texts from so many people. People that I have a lot of respect for in the game, whether former managers, current players, former players. Yeah, it's hard for me to sit here and say a name because like 400, 500 text messages. It's unbelievable.

Just a grateful and humbling experience. When you go through games like we went through the past week and they just keep on coming. That shows you that you've got a lot of people in your corner, people that are pulling for you. It's definitely a special feeling and humbling.

Q. In talking to a few people that sent them, they all said you texted back. How did you find the time?

CARLOS MENDOZA: I always try to find time. It means a lot for people that have taken the time to reach out to you, that you reach back to them. It doesn't matter if it's late at night, early in the morning. That's the way I am. I treat people the way I want to be treated. And if I send you a text, I expect someone to at least say thanks or something. That's what I try to do with everyone that's reached out to me.