5 Ways Carlos Mendoza Is Succeeding with the New York Mets
Sportsgrid Staff
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The Right Guy For The Job
It's not hard to be a big Showalter fan, and he did an incredible job keeping the clubhouse together through a lot last season. However, when he chastised Pete Alonso for dropping a public F-bomb in a moment of excitement last May, it highlighted a generational gap.
In contrast, Carlos Mendoza is closer to having played the game (in the minors) and is closer to the players' ages. You can sometimes catch him on camera jumping up and down when the Mets excel. He has also shown more emotion when things don’t go well, such as against the Phillies last Monday night when he looked ready to climb the railing over a pivotal botched check-swing call.
Ultimately, Showalter was the right man for the job in 2022. Things fell apart in 2023, but now Mendoza seems like the right man for the moment in 2024. While he may not have been David Stearns’ top choice, he might just turn out to be the right choice.
This post by Jason Tabrys appeared first on Just Baseball.
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Who is Carlos Mendoza?
When the Mets parted ways with Buck Showalter and missed out on their top choice, Craig Counsell, they had to settle for another first-time manager after the disappointing tenures of Mickey Callaway and Luis Rojas. It's understandable that fans were nervous.
Sure, Carlos Mendoza came highly recommended, but nothing could guarantee he would meet the high expectations, handle the media pressure, and manage a veteran clubhouse. He would have to prove himself, and at the quarter-point of this season, he's made significant progress in doing just that.
While the Mets have been frustratingly inconsistent, Mendoza has remained steady and smart.
Here are five reasons why Mets fans should feel optimistic about Carlos Mendoza leading the team in 2024 and beyond.
This post by Jason Tabrys appeared first on Just Baseball.
Veteran Respect
A prime example of Mendoza's decision-making was when he allowed José Quintana to stay in against the Cardinals in late April, despite the matchups looking risky. Another highlight was the storybook Brandon Nimmo walk-off against the Braves on Mother’s Day, which wouldn’t have occurred if Mendoza hadn’t trusted Nimmo’s assurance that he could play despite concerns about his intercostal strain.
However, this doesn’t mean Mendoza is a pushover. For instance, Pete Alonso likely resisted when Mendoza kept him out of the starting lineup a week ago against the Cardinals. How has Alonso responded since that chance to clear his head? He's been on a tear for the Mets.
Letting Players Establish Themselves
Reed Garrett and Sean Reid-Foley might be considered Quad-A relievers, but they’re playing crucial roles in the Mets’ impressive bullpen—particularly Garrett, who has emerged as an unexpected late-game stopper.
Christian Scott also deserves recognition. Despite being a rookie, Mendoza has allowed him to pitch freely, without restrictive pitch counts or avoiding tough opponents and situations. While Scott may need to be managed more conservatively eventually, for now, he’s being given the opportunity to prove he belongs in the majors.
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Flexibility Pays Off
Mendoza has shown a willingness to use relievers based on matchups and situations rather than fixed roles. Jorge Lopez and Reed Garrett, for instance, have pitched anywhere between the sixth and tenth innings. The skipper even used Edwin Díaz as a bullpen fireman in the 8th inning against the Dodgers in L.A. Additionally, the Mets have adopted a six-man rotation under his guidance.
While placing OBP machine DJ Stewart in the leadoff spot recently drew some pushback from fans, it proved successful.
Mendoza hasn’t yet found an ideal solution for the bottom three spots in the order, but the impending return of Francisco Alvarez should help. It will also be interesting to see how flexible Mendoza will be when evaluating whether it makes sense to move Brandon Nimmo down in the order.
No Drama Mentality
When outfielder Harrison Bader expressed frustration by saying, "I don’t know who makes the lineup," about not being in the lineup as often as he anticipated after signing with the Mets in the offseason, it posed a test for rookie manager Carlos Mendoza. Rather than taking the bait and creating a sensational headline, Mendoza responded appropriately, diffusing the situation calmly.
Similarly, a rookie manager under the intense scrutiny of the New York media could easily mishandle early struggles by superstars like Pete Alonso or Francisco Lindor, or the extended build-up process for Kodai Senga, who paused his rehab to work on his mechanics. Issues such as the Mets' defensive lapses and struggles in controlling the running game are also areas where a less disciplined manager might resort to public criticism to appease fans.
However, Mendoza remains focused on the big picture and the benefits of maintaining clubhouse harmony.
The Right Guy For The Job
It's not hard to be a big Showalter fan, and he did an incredible job keeping the clubhouse together through a lot last season. However, when he chastised Pete Alonso for dropping a public F-bomb in a moment of excitement last May, it highlighted a generational gap.
In contrast, Carlos Mendoza is closer to having played the game (in the minors) and is closer to the players' ages. You can sometimes catch him on camera jumping up and down when the Mets excel. He has also shown more emotion when things don’t go well, such as against the Phillies last Monday night when he looked ready to climb the railing over a pivotal botched check-swing call.
Ultimately, Showalter was the right man for the job in 2022. Things fell apart in 2023, but now Mendoza seems like the right man for the moment in 2024. While he may not have been David Stearns’ top choice, he might just turn out to be the right choice.
This post by Jason Tabrys appeared first on Just Baseball.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Who is Carlos Mendoza?
When the Mets parted ways with Buck Showalter and missed out on their top choice, Craig Counsell, they had to settle for another first-time manager after the disappointing tenures of Mickey Callaway and Luis Rojas. It's understandable that fans were nervous.
Sure, Carlos Mendoza came highly recommended, but nothing could guarantee he would meet the high expectations, handle the media pressure, and manage a veteran clubhouse. He would have to prove himself, and at the quarter-point of this season, he's made significant progress in doing just that.
While the Mets have been frustratingly inconsistent, Mendoza has remained steady and smart.
Here are five reasons why Mets fans should feel optimistic about Carlos Mendoza leading the team in 2024 and beyond.
This post by Jason Tabrys appeared first on Just Baseball.
