This Week in Mets Quotes: Lindor thanks fans, Mendoza defends taking Peterson out

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: I have my ups and downs. My downs have been a little longer [lately].

“It’s been good, but there’s definitely a lot of room for improvement. I have my ups and downs. My downs have been a little longer [lately]. I’ve just got to be consistent, and I’ve got to help this team win.” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]

So the plan is for David Wright to announce Lindor is Captain during Wright’s Number Retirement weekend, right?

“I appreciate you guys. Much love. I can’t wait to go represent all you guys, represent the Mets organization, represent my family. This is on you guys. You guys voted for me. You guys made me an All-Star.” -Francisco Lindor [MLB]

Happy Jeff?

“I don’t hit that many home runs in that situation, so to do it, I enjoyed that one.” -Jeff McNeil [New York Post]

Happy Jeff.

“When that ball hit my glove, I said, ‘Oh, shit, it’s in my glove,’ I know it was a big play. I knew [Aaron] Judge was up fourth that inning and we didn’t want him coming to the plate. That’s why I was so excited about that one.” -Jeff McNeil [New York Post]

You know the Mets’ starters are hurt when we get this many quotes from relievers, like from Reed Garrett…

“This is a huge series. This is what everybody in New York looks forward to, so to get the last six [outs] was big for me.” -Reed Garrett [New York Post]

… Huascar Brazobán…

“It’s big, because we’re winners and when the hitters make that effort to tie the game and then take the lead, in our minds it’s, ‘Alright, let’s keep it here. Let’s go out there and do our job.’” -Huascar Brazobán [New York Post]

…and, why not, Justin Hagenman…

“That’s not the start you are looking to get off to but to keep the team in the game and give them a chance to win is all I am looking for.” -Justin Hagenman [New York Post]

…and another one…

“It’s just knowing that no matter how it starts I have the stuff to compete. It’s not how you want to start but kind of settle in and still have the stuff to go through the lineup again.” -Justin Hagenman [New York Post]

…and another one.

“When I signed I was just hoping to get a shot, to get an opportunity to help the team up here and I have. It’s been nice just to be an option for the guys up here, you never know when it might be.” -Justin Hagenman [New York Post]

Against the O’s, not so much.

“It’s what you expect out of games like this. Subway Series, packed house, fan base intense going after each other. I’m glad we got the job done today.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]

Eloquently put by Brandon Nimmo.

“Both of these teams are, right now, kind of like heavyweights at the end of a 15-round match just trying to throw some haymakers. And both teams are pretty beat up right now. So it’s a big deal when you’re able to get that lead there in the beginning.” -Brandon Nimmo [New York Times]

Less eloquently put by Brandon Nimmo.

“The number of quality at-bats has gone up. When we out-quality-at-bat the other team, we usually win.” -Brandon Nimmo [New York Times]

Eloquently put by Brandon Nimmo.

“I’ve been playing a long time, and I haven’t hit two grand slams in a week. It’s a really fun feeling, especially in this atmosphere. It feels like playoff baseball. The Subway Series is always so much energy. To do that in the first inning was really, really cool.” -Brandon Nimmo [MLB]

Less eloquently put by Brandon Nimmo.

“To have two grand slams in a week, it’s pretty crazy.” -Brandon Nimmo [MLB]

After Winker immediately re-injured himself, I’m very cautiously happy to see the return of our best starters this weekend.

“There’s no reason we can’t do great things. We already are. Just having me and Kodai it’s just going to be great as well.” -Sean Manaea [New York Times]

I mean surely Mendoza took Peterson out because he wasn’t feeling great physically and didn’t figure he’d been given a chance to get a double play…

“[Peterson] got through the seventh and with the lefty leading off, I knew it was going to be batter-to-batter.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]

…ah, well, nevertheless.

“I felt like I was in a good spot pitch-wise and I felt great physically. I figured he would give me a chance [after the leadoff single] or come to talk to me and see if I need a double play. But he made it clear that he was going to be aggressive and so I wasn’t surprised when he came out and made the signal.” -David Peterson [New York Post]

Yeah, Jim, it was the fault of the ‘inexperienced’ doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery that caused you to deal Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano. Zack Scott is rolling in his grave for not coming up with blaming a premier medical institution for why he had to trade PCA.

“A lot of it centered on the medical. [Kazmir] was high risk. It didn’t help that we had an inexperienced ortho group that had just started overseeing our entire medical staff in 2003, after their hospital had signed a multiyear sponsorship deal with the organization. The ultimate irony is Kazmir never got injured while Zambrano was cleared and got injured after three starts. It was a double whammy.” -Jim Duquette [ESPN]

Mets Tweets of the Week