Lots of interesting, funny, idiotic, and insightful things were said by the Mets—and about them—recently. Here are some of our favorites.
Your 2025 New York Mets: Be There or Be Square.
“I’ll see you guys at home. Be there or be square!” -Pete Alonso [X]
You spent all offseason hoping for this day. Unsure, if he would be in a Met uniform on Opening Day at Citi Field. Not letting years of #lolmets dissuade you from hoping. But today’s the day and he’s in the starting line up.
“Consistency is the name of the game. If I can do what I did tonight throughout the year, I’ll be in pretty good shape.” -Tylor Megill [New York Times]
Soto is a Met and #lolmets is dead…
“I hit it to third base and kind of started jogging out of the box, coasting. Then I heard the crowd giving a reaction like he dropped it, but at that point it was too late. I should have been sprinting from the [start], right when he hit it. It’s unacceptable. It won’t happen again.” -Mark Vientos [New York Post]
…oh well, let’s just talk about the first game…
“Piss-poor hitting.” -Keith Hernandez [X]
…you know, let’s just skip the first game…
“He’s Juan Soto. He’s going to come through more times than not.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
…to get to Juan Soto’s first dinger as a New York Met!
“That’s why he got $765 million.” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]
“I mean, incredible — 1-2, 95 mile-an-hour cutter up and in, and he parks it? There’s a reason why he is who he is. He’s a beast.” -Reed Garrett [MLB]
“It’s always great to have the first one.” -Juan Soto [MLB]
Asked afterward if he felt any pressure to produce early in his Mets tenure, given his outsized reputation and the size of the contract, Soto answered instantly: “No.” -Juan Soto [MLB]
“Not easy to do. You’re talking about a pitch that’s out of the strike zone, up and in … and he’s able to turn on it and hit it on a line like that. Yeah, amazing.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
“That was exactly where I wanted to throw it. That guy’s a really good player, and he put a better swing on it.” -Hunter Brown [MLB]
Silver Lining, he’s not going to go 0-for-20.
“It’s excitement when Mendy told me. I put in a lot of work this offseason and it paid off. I can go out there and go 0-for-20 to start the season or I could go 20-for-20. In baseball, you never know. You just stay the course and stay even and go out there and play hard.” -Brett Baty [New York Post]
Feels so great to have a Front Office where you can be excited about what they can do with the signing of Griffin Canning as opposed to the Wilpon-era Mets moves of signing say Chris Young the Pitcher or say Chris Young the Batter.
“I think [Canning’s] interactions with our pitching coaches, understanding what we’re trying to help him with, while also staying true to how he believes he’s the best pitcher. So I think there has been a lot of back and forth and interaction, and it’s been great to see.” -David Stearns [New York Post]
“I had four different pitching coaches, different managers with different philosophies. Some years were more tech heavy. Some were more traditional. To a certain degree [a change of scenery will be positive] You see all the time, going being in a new place helps a guy a lot. … I was lucky to pitch for the team I grew up rooting for, but I’ve been in California my whole life, and being here [in New York], it might not even be a new message for me. It might just resonate differently. Now. it’s up to me.” -Griffin Canning [New York Post]
King of Spring Training and Mets NLWC Legend makes his season debut.
“My heart was definitely racing. It feels good to get the jitters and the first one out of the way. I’m happy with how it went. It’s been tough the past couple years. I was really anxious to get the first one out of the way and hopefully keep rolling.” -Max Kranick [SNY]
“We’ve been talking about trying to get [Kranick] in a soft spot, then here he is with the bases loaded facing one of the best hitters in the league. He attacked and executed pitches.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Times]
Lindor answering reporters through his teeth whether this year be any different?
“That’s a fantastic question. I’m sure everyone is asking that, I’m sure everyone is trying to figure it out, and I’m right there with everyone. I don’t know. I guess I’ve got to put the ball in play and not hit it to the opposing players. Just continue to put my head down and grind and hope it’s not a monthlong thing.” -Francisco Lindor [New York Times]
Our lovable big oaf is back and talking about home runs like I imagine Chris Farley would.
“It [feels good]. It’s a long time without hitting one, and to finally do it in a big league game, feels pretty cool.” -Pete Alonso [MLB]
‘/Ted Berg Voice/ Small Sample Size’ BUT Alonso ABs have looked good.
“Cal, he threw — he tried to throw his best offspeed stuff and I did a good job of laying off those pitches — those breaking pitches — and worked my way into getting a fastball. And got it over the plate.” -Pete Alonso [MLB]
“That Pete [at-bat] was a really good one, he earned that pitch on that grand slam. Laid off a slider first pitch, trying to make him chase, then they painted fastballs at the knees, trying to get a ground ball there. Then, finally, the last pitch, he was able to do some damage, and he got the big one.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
“I’m just looking to get a good pitch to hit over the middle of the plate. Thankfully, for me, I was fighting off some really tough pitches there. He came at me with his best stuff, and he located some good ones — especially early in the count — but I was able to just stay under control and let the ball show up where I wanted it to.” -Pete Alonso [MLB]
“I was just trying to not get strike three called on me. Once you’re in that kind of battle like that with the pitcher, it’s like, ‘OK, take a swing, survive that pitch and then get back ready.’ -Pete Alonso [MLB]
The importance of the budding Desi-Senga relationship is not something I considered when he was hired in the offseason.
“[Senga’s] been very receptive to it. David Stearns talks about it, the entire organization is about it and it’s something I’m about: evidence-based. That’s what I am trying to provide. It’s, ‘Hey, this is some evidence as to why I suggest this,’ or why it’s worked in the past for others.” -Desi Druschel [New York Times]
“Desi is very data-oriented, which I appreciate. When I’m not feeling great, I tend to throw a lot more. And he’s there to stop me.” -Kodai Senga [New York Times]
“I hope that at some point in the season I am going to be able to joke with him and say, ‘Hey, I don’t need you anymore — I got this. But the reason why I am here is because of him. He’s a lot of help.” -Kodai Senga [New York Times]
While Senga’s Manager is feeling not just excited but very excited about Senga’s start…
“Very exciting. The fact that he’s taking the ball today, April 1, after what he went through last year when we only saw him for one game and then a little bit towards the end in the playoffs. Worked really hard in the offseason, throughout Spring Training, and here he is ready to compete and help us continue to get us victory.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]
…Senga was his usual critical self.
“It was not bad. Not great, but not bad. First time throwing to Torrens in a big league game, so I think there are some adjustments that are going to continue to be made, and I think he did a great job using it, and that’s why I was able to perform decently.” -Kodai Senga [MLB]
“I think I was just a little relieved to be back out there in a big league game after the year that I had last year, and that kind of led to bad results. But after that, I was able to sort out through my head what I need to do, and to how to approach the hitters.” -Kodai Senga [MLB]
Vibes on the team are still one that pulls for each other through tough spots.
“I thought we played a clean game, it’s like two pitches. Two ground balls. I take a lot of pride in it, and it doesn’t feel good. I talked to Senga, he said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ I’ve picked him up many times, but it still kind of hurts, you know? I wish I would’ve done better for Senga. Senga had a great game.” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]
Let’s pause the (hopefully for Pete) inevitable Pete Alonso Opt-Out Talk and enjoy that in an offseason where we signed a true generational talent, a guy who pretty sincerely loves the team will be here for another year for us to cheer not just for him but with him.
“That moment [Friday], it’s going to be so awesome. … Any guy lives for those little moments like that, so it’s going to be really special. [I’m] stoked to be back. This is a great group. Playing at Citi Field is super, super special. It’s such a sick place to play, I love it. -Pete Alonso [MLB]