Carlos Mendoza talks Luis Robert Jr. at-bats, David Peterson outing, tough weather conditions
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is very encouraged by Luis Robert Jr.'s at-bats to begin the season, not just the walk-off homer he hit on Saturday. He liked that he saw no panic amongst the team in the dugout despite falling behind twice in extra innings. Mendoza was also impressed with David Peterson's 5.1 innings on a cold, blustery day which was especially tough on the pitchers.
Video Transcript
Carlos, you know, obviously a, a huge moment for Robert, but just overall, the at bats that you've seen from him the first two games, how, how encouraging is it the way that he started offensively?
Pretty encouraging.
and even the one, before that at bat, he took some breaking balls there to get a hand in count, put himself in position to get good pitches to hit.
and just he continues to do that, and he's talented.
He's gifted.
the impact, even the last one there, I thought he executed, you know, the pitcher exec- he was like, d- down and away, and he goes and gets it.
And, you know, with the conditions today, with the way the, the wind was blowing, especially from left field, to just be able to, leave the yard like that in that situation, it goes to show you that this, this guy's special.
Overall, obviously it wasn't the 11 run outburst, but especially late, felt like the at bats were still the type that you'd want even when you weren't getting over the hump?
We created traffic.
we got guys in scoring position.
I thought we expanded a little bit today, to be honest with you, but, it's gonna happen.
It's gonna happen.
As long as we continue to create, at, situations, traffic, get down in the 10th, Mark comes in and gets a big, pinch hit single, Louie to tie the game, just kinda keeping the, the line moving.
We just couldn't get the big one there with the big boys coming up.
but we get down, and you feel good about your chances because what's, what you got coming out, even the, the top order, the order didn't get the job done.
So, it's a deep lineup, and it's a good feeling.
Tony.
A lot was made last year about not being able to come back specifically late in games.
To come from behind in the 10th and the 11th tonight, what does that say about, you know, what this group might be capable of doing?
It's a different group.
it was, it was a weird year, when we're talking about coming from behind.
And, you just continue to feel good, about your chances.
Like I said, we got down, and you saw what was coming.
we got down again, and there's no panic.
Continue to control the strike zone when we need to.
Just kinda continue to put together some tough at bats.
it was just good to get that one out of the way then.
Chelsea.
Polanco had a couple balls bounce up on him a little bit.
What are you seeing from him?
And also, Bo looked like he lost a few throws up the line.
Is there an easy adjustment for that, or what do you make of that?
It's just reps.
They gotta continue to work.
the Polanco one was just, especially that, that error, I think they gave him an error, it just, hard ground ball that came up on him.
There's so much there that you could do.
With Bo, we just gotta continue to work with him, on those routine throws.
Abby.
who should've had that ball?
Was it, Lovelady or Bichette when it was rolling down the line?
I can- I couldn't believe that it stayed fair.
I don't think anybody makes that play, you know?
Off the bat, I thought it was a foul ball.
So, nah, nah, none of them had a chance there.
Tim.
Just what did you think of Peterson?
I thought he was very good.
when Peterson is getting ground balls, when he's keeping the ball in the ground, that's when he's at his best, and w- he did that today.
He was pitcher fishing.
I thought he mixed well.
He attacked, got strike one, got swing and misses.
Just, kept hitters off balance.
And then when they created traffic, that's what's P- that's what makes Petey who he is.
When there's runners on base, his ability to slow the game down, his ability to make pitches when he needs to.
bases loaded there with Osuna with two outs.
but like I said, he's, he's got that ability to continue to trust him- himself and continue to execute pitches, and he was able to do that today.
Dave.
Carlos, you mentioned expanding the zone, and just, I mean, how hard was it, was it tough to play out there today?
I think by the late innings, I think the wind chill might have been in the mid-30s or something.
Was it, did it seem like it was much harder to kinda just do what you needed to do?
And we, yeah, 100%.
And we've seen it over the c- couple, last couple of years, especially early on when there's windy like that.
It's gonna be a low scoring run, game.
but again, it's, you gotta deal with it.
You gotta, you gotta find a way to get the job done.
understanding that the conditions might not be in your, in your favor, but you still gotta go out there and do it, and I'm glad that we were able to get the job done today.
