'HERE TO WIN'
Mendoza, in first address to Mets, reminds NY demands NY demands sucess
PORT ST. LUCIE — Carlos Mendoza compiled pages of notes over the last few months on what he wanted to convey in his first address to the Mets’ full squad but, when show time arrived Monday, said he didn’t need a cheat sheet.
The rookie manager was clear in expressing the objectives for this season, with focus on building a cohesive group from which winning will be expected.
“It’s not a secret: We’re here to win, and that was pretty clear,” Mendoza said. “It’s New York, and there is no other way around it. The expectations here are always high. It doesn’t matter what the outside says and the public. Our job is to prepare and to win. That was part of the message.”
It’s a message that follows a 75win season in which the Mets traded top stars to help rebuild the farm system. An offseason that lacked juice followed.
The Mets’ payroll will still land north of $300 million this season, but team officials took a conservative route in free agency, adding names such as Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, Harrison Bader and Jake Diekman. The latest PECOTA projections list the Mets at 83.6 wins for this season.
Mendoza was the fifth different manager from who Brandon Nimmo, the Mets’ longest-tenured player, had heard a first-day address from over his last eight spring trainings. Terry Collins, Mickey Callaway, Luis Rojas and Buck Showalter preceded Mendoza in the manager’s seat over that stretch, and that excludes Carlos Beltran, who was forced out before spring training for his role in the Astros’ illegal signstealing scheme.
“[Mendoza] is a different guy; they are not all the same,” Nimmo said. “But he wants the best out of us, and we want the best out of him. I think as long as we’re having good communication and holding each other accountable and having the right standards, I think it will all work out in the end.”
Nimmo said veterans such as himself, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil will have to assist in the leadership.
The 44-year-old Mendoza, a former Yankees bench coach, was hired by president of baseball operations David Stearns in November. Stearns, who arrived at the conclusion of the regular season, also addressed the players Monday before their initial full-squad workout.
Bader, who knows Mendoza from their time with the Yankees, said his new manager’s excitement level was the first thing that struck him.
“We’re all living our dreams out every single day, which we’re so grateful for, but his is to be a manager and he finally has the opportunity to do it,” Bader said. “The positivity around Carlos, when I experienced it in a Yankees uniform, was unmatched, even during what we would consider dark times. But that’s really all you need at times.”
Bader was asked how the Mendoza who addressed the Mets on Monday differed from what he remembers with the Yankees.
“Unfortunately, in my tenure as a Yankee, we had some times where we had some tough conversations and had to figure out how we’re going to get the ship going in the right direction, both individually and as a team,” Bader said. “Seeing that version of him kind of come alive was awesome for me, and fast-forward and before you know it, he’s the manager of an organization that has a chance to do some really positive things.”
Mendoza said he spoke for about 20 minutes to the players and staff and was encouraged by the feedback he received.
“Some of the guys coming up to me and saying, ‘Man, that was real,’ ” Mendoza said. “They really appreciate that. It’s important for them to know where we stand with the expectations.”