Mendoza "Can't wait for tomorrow" & Says Mets Have "Tremendous opportunity"

 

The massive video board is ready. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Mets were back at Citi Field on Monday for a workout day ahead of Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday evening at 5:08 p.m.

Fans arriving early can experience the Mets Block Party starting at 1:30 p.m. until first pitch, and for one hour after the game ends. There will be a DJ, appearances by Mets alumni, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Met, and performances by the Queens Crew.

The gates to Citi Field will open at 2:30 p.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive as early as possible. All fans will receive a Mets Rally Towel when entering the ballpark.

Mets playoff legends will be throwing the first pitches before the two NLDS games at Citi Field. On Tuesday, Keith Hernandez will be throwing the first pitch to John Franco, while Daniel Murphy will do the honors on Wednesday. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 4:30 p.m. to ensure they see it.

The Mets taking batting practice and pitchers working out in the outfield. Photo by Jason Schott.

This will be the Amazin's first home game since Sunday, September 22, when they beat the Phillies to cap a weekend in which they won three out of four to stay in the thick of the Wild Card race before they hit the road. 

That night felt like a playoff atmosphere, as the fans have taken to this team like few others in Mets history.

With the NLDS tied 1-1 and the Mets hosting the next two games, the feeling Tuesday night will make that night 16 days prior feel like a tea party.

"Feels like we've been on the road forever," Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza said on Monday afternoon. "But the fact we're here and we have a great opportunity to not only be back but playing meaningful games, playoff games here in October in front of our fan base is exciting. It's awesome. I can't wait for tomorrow."

Putting the finishing touches on the field Monday morning. Photo by Jason Schott.

Mendoza was asked if being on the road through a 16-day, five-city journey - which included having to lock up a playoff spot, then beating the Milwaukee Brewers in the three-game Wild Card Series before playing the first two NLDS games in Philadelphia - brought the team closer, he said, "I think not only the last two weeks, but the month of August, we went twice to the west coast. Yeah, you do so much together, where if you're only playing, at the hotel, you go out and have dinners when you're allowed to. You just come a lot closer. But this is a group whether we're home, whether we're on the road, they stick together. They find a way to just, as a group, continue to have conversations, continue to keep it loose, continue to push when they have to and taking the losses and getting back on the bus as opposed to everyone going different places. And you continue to talk about the game and what are some of the adjustments you have to make the next day in order to get the job done I think has helped. But I'm excited to be back. I'm glad we're back home now."

On seeing that chemistry translate from off the field to playing these games, Mendoza said, "That's what you want, as a manager, as a coaching staff, that's the goal that you've got to get that group to believe in each other and have each others' back. And from Day 1 in Spring Training was that we needed to be a family. And everybody is going to go out and say that. You've also got to go out and do it, work for it every day. And they've done it. Like I said, even when we were going through those tough days, you could see it, that it was something special. And here we are. So just got to continue doing the same thing we've been doing."

Mendoza was asked if they expected when would be back at Citi Field when they left on September 22, and he said, "Yeah, look, obviously we're back, you know, and we know it wasn't going to be easy. We had to go through a lot, not only traveling but playing good teams. We needed to get to the playoff then advance, and win that Wild Card.

"But I always have faith on the guys, on the players. We continued to believe. We took it one day at a time, one series at a time, and that's what we'll continue to do. Here we are, back at Citi Field with a tremendous opportunity to win a series and keep going."

Photo by Jason Schott.

Sean Manaea will be getting the start for the Mets on Tuesday evening against Aaron Nola. 

Manaea, in his first season with the Mets after a career spent in the Bay Area with the A's and Giants, went 12-6 with a  3.47 ERA. He got the start in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, and he allowed two runs on six hits and no walks, with four strikeouts, in five innings.

On asked about the run of quality starts the Mets starters had to close the regular season, and how it has continued into the playoffs, Manaea said, "All just kind of feeding off each other. I think we all have the same goal in mind: Make it to the postseason. And just on a selfish level, too, just want to be great. I think that just feeds off each other. Sevy (Luis Severino) does well, I want to do well, Petey (David Peterson) wants to do well, and it's just kind of like that team mentality where you just want to go there and do it for the boys. I think at the end of the day, we're just feeding off each other and just having a fun time doing it."

The Phillies enter Tuesday night coming off a walk-off 7-6 win in Game 2 Sunday evening, in which they came from 3-0 down in the sixth inning.

Philadelphia Manager Rob Thomson, when asked if that game was a release for his team, said, "Well, first of all, the win is huge. Obviously any win in the playoffs is huge. Getting down 0-1 in your own ballpark, that was a pretty big game. Really big game.

"But I don't really get a sense of anything changed with them today as opposed to yesterday. They come in, they have fun every day, and a workmanlike-type atmosphere. I think everything is pretty much the same."

Phillies Manager Rob Thomson on Monday afternoon. Photo by Jason Schott.

Thomson was asked about the Phillies' bullpen, which has surrendered 10 runs in the first two games of this series, and he said, "I think you have to trust them, you know. They've been performing all year long. It's just a matter of execution. But these guys adjust all the time and they've been so good all year, I think you have to trust them."

On if he can pinpoint a reason why they've struggled, Thomson said, "Not really. I think like hitting, your starting rotation, your bullpen is contagious one way or the other. We just have to snap out of this thing and start executing pitches and hitting our spots. Like I said, they will. I have full confidence in them."