New York Mets and Carlos Mendoza, who are on the verge of elimination with one win and three losses, voiced their opinions that this will not be the last day.
Mendoza said in an interview ahead of Game 5 of the Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field in New York City on Wednesday (Korea time), “We know how we are right now. We are pushed to the brink of collapse. Still, the players are smiling. This is who we are. We have no tomorrow, but this is not the first time that we are in a situation like this. There is nothing new about the team that is facing elimination.”
If the Mets lose the game on the day, the season ends. The fact that the Mets’ season ends means that they will also break up with Pete Alonso, the team’s flagship batter and main first baseman.
“I don’t see it that way, no one here is looking at it that way,” Mendoza said when asked in this regard. 스포츠토토
Instead, he said, “We are thinking that we will win today. I am thinking that today will not be the last time that Pete Alonso plays for the Mets,” expressing confidence that he can win the game.
“We believe that we have a very good chance to continue the season and we will. We can go out and do our job. To be honest, I never thought about it (that it would be Alonso’s last game),” he said.
He recalled his past experience as a New York Yankees coach. “Even then, I never thought, ‘Today’s game could be Aaron Judge’s last game.’ All we have to do is win the game and let the rest go by the wayside. I think it’s the same here. All we have to do is go out and fight and win,” he said, stressing that there will be no difference.
The Mets announced the lineup of Francisco Lindor (striker), Brandon Nimmo (left fielder), Mark Vientos (third baseman), Pete Alonso (first baseman), Jesse Winker (designated hitter), Starling Marte (right fielder), Tyrone Taylor (midfielder), Jeff McNeil (second baseman) and Francisco Alvarez (catcher).
Regarding McNeil’s addition to Jose Iglesias at second base, he said, “I wanted to show a different side to the lineup. I wanted to add more left-handed hitters.”
Regarding lowering Vientos to No. 3, he explained, “The opponent has only one left-hander in the bullpen. I tried not to give up the opportunity for the opponent to easily throw out the left-hander bullpen.”
“Baseball is a game of rowing. We’ve seen him, but he’s seen our hitters, too. That’s why I’ll play with a good sense of play. We have to make adjustments just like him,” he said.
“He pitched well in the last game. He was a good pitcher,” said Vientos, the team’s main third baseman, while praising Flattie, “Our batters had three days off in the first round. I was a little bit disappointed. But I’m really looking forward to today,” adding that he will show a different side of himself this time.
“All the players are preparing for today’s game with a mentality that they will win today’s game. We will fight hard until the last minute,” he said, sharing the team’s mood.
