New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza on Torrens' game deciding double play, todays game and the London Series
09.06.24
London Stadium, London, UK
09.06.24
London Stadium, London, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Carlos, you were able to divide in this series of London, but I would like to know, in this first experience as a manager this year, how was it to live this series of London?
00:20Yes, it was an important game today, especially after losing the first game in a show like the Major League Baseball here in such a beautiful city as London.
00:30Today, coming from behind, the team responded and we can go home with that victory. I'm proud of how the guys competed. It was a great game of football and a great show.
00:50It was exciting. Obviously, we came out on the good side of things, but credit to the guys that continued battling back, got down early in the game and then good at-bats there in the sixth, I think.
01:04Then in the ninth inning, against a pretty good closer on Alvarado, Taylor leading off the inning, walks out a walk, then McNeil gets it going with a single up the middle.
01:13Another good at-bat against a lefty today and setting up the table. Overall, good at-bats and then piecing it together.
01:22Rigueira gets one out there, gets in trouble, and then Drew Smith comes in and continues to make pitches.
01:28Then that last play of the game for Torrent, what a great play. The instincts not to only go get the baseball, but having the ability to come back, touch the play and then execute the throw.
01:37Unbelievable play. I'm glad we got the win there.
01:41What is the level of difficulty on that Torrent's play, just given how unusual it is?
01:46I don't think I've seen it before, where the catcher goes out there, gets the ball, comes back, touches the play and still turns two.
01:54Having the instincts, but at the same time, slowing it down. Don't try to be too quick.
02:00Making sure that you secure the ball, step on the play, and then having the ability to create a lane because the runner's going in the inside part of the baseline and execute that throw.
02:10Pretty impressive play.
02:12Did you have any problem with the way Stubbs slid?
02:15No. That's the last play of the game. He's trying to break up a double play. He's playing baseball, game's on the line.
02:20I'm just glad that Torrent's executed a really good play.
02:28Carlos, congratulations on the win. In English football, that ninth inning, we'd call it squeaky bum time.
02:36The team came through. After the difficulty of yesterday and what has so far been a really tough season, what would you say about the mental fortitude of your players just to get through that?
02:48Great comeback from the guys. Got behind early in the game, 3-0, walkers cruising.
02:55Then we were able to put together some good at-bats against a good lefty on Soto.
02:59Obviously, J.D., Nemo got him. Tough game yesterday. Coming off a tough month in May, but the guys continue to show up, continue to battle, continue to push each other, continue to prepare.
03:11Knowing that we still got long ways to go, but making sure that we take one game at a time, our preparation, and the compete.
03:20Today, we saw it. Got down, got back, got down in the ninth, and we still were able to put together some good at-bats. I'm glad we closed it out today.
03:33You spoke earlier about wanting to get a bigger sample size of Torrent's looking at him. What have you made of him overall in this time, and how tough a decision is this going to be?
03:42It's a tough decision. I said it before the game. I'll continue to say it, because they're both making it hard on us.
03:48Even though Neto hasn't played the past couple of days here, with Torrent playing the way he's playing, it's going to be a very difficult decision for us.
03:56Obviously, it's good that you got two guys performing, because Neto, like I said before the game, he's done his job.
04:06Now, Torrent, with the way he's playing this past road trip, and the way today, not only he's a bat, but that play to end the game, he says a lot about him as a player.
04:16Those are some of the difficult conversations that we're going to have in the next few days. We've got to make it.
04:24Carlos, I assume part of it is because of off days before and afterwards, but this had a little bit of a playoff feel in the mid-inning pitching changes, very aggressive pinch running.
04:36Did you feel that, and was it even more than just days off, like, we need to win this game kind of a feel?
04:42Yeah, where we are, every game is important. There's a sense of urgency here, and when you have guys available, I'm going to be aggressive.
04:51I'm going to manage match-ups and piece it together, and yeah, you're right.
04:57Maybe in a different situation, maybe Quintana gets a little bit of wiggle room, but he was one of those where we're out on the schedule, off days, and bulping, fully ready to go.
05:11I'm glad we came through today, but yeah, there's always a sense of urgency.
05:15I'll take one last one with Tim.
05:18What did you think of Quintana, and now that it's mid-June, his ERA is over five, how long can the team afford that amount of performance?
05:29Yeah, the last two items have been a struggle for him, but every starting pitcher is going to go through a stretch where it's not easy, just like position players do.
05:40They made him work from the beginning, from the first inning, I'm glad he got that change-up, got a ground ball, we were able to turn double plays.
05:47But yeah, he's been in this league for a long time, he's been around, and I'm pretty confident he'll bounce back.
05:57Thanks Carlos, and thank you for everything this weekend, see you in your new team.