Mets manager Carlos Mendoza met the media yesterday, a customary session for managers as spring training begins, and if his words had been accompanied by music, it would have been a mashup of two songs: "Getting to Know You," and "Kumbaya."
When asked during the roughly 20-minute session, about his goals for the spring, and, looking forward, for the season, Mendoza repeatedly stated that his main spring objective was getting to know his players and his coaching staff (the latter point is somewhat disconcerting, since assumedly he has had three months to familiarize himself with his staff). And his message to players: always remember to go out and have fun.
Mendoza did stress, again at several points, that he will emphasize playing fundamental baseball and being prepared. "We have to do every thing we can, every day, to be prepared to win a baseball game," he said. "Sticking to our process and respecting each other...Details, fundamentals, preparation -- and having fun doing it."
Which is not to say that winning in not a priority; Mendoza noted that he understands the pressure to win in this market. "I know what I signed up for, I've been in New York for the past six years. I know the expectations."
But, continuing the tone set a day earlier by director of baseball operations David Stearns, Mendoza made no promises and no sweeping pronouncements about how the team would fare in the standings -- other than to express support to the roster as currently constituted. "We've got talent in the room, and they're hungry," he said. "We feel really good about our depth."
"We're building the foundation starting today, and that's going to be the message...We're not winning a championship on day one, but we're going to be prepared. We've got to make sure we build those relastionships and that we start connecting."
In sum -- no headlines, no bulletin board material and nothting that can be used against him later in the season if things go south.
A solid, if unimpressive, start.
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