Carlos Mendoza Talks Mets Expectations, Top Prospects | Ep. 91 | The Show Podcast

On a new episode of “The Show” podcast, Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman open up talking about Zack Wheeler signing a contract extension with the Phillies. They also discuss Scott Boras’ clients that are still free agents and when they might sign with teams. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza then joins the guys to discuss Mets camp so far, expectations for the team, Kodai Senga’s injury timeline, Luis Severino and the rotation. Mendoza also talks about the top pitching prospects, Pete Alonso, their top hitting prospects, the third base situation, who will bat behind Alonso and working with Steve Cohen and David Stearns.

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John uh a favorite of ours joins the show this week uh he was a favorite of ours in the Bronx he’s now going to be a favorite of ours in Queens that’s the Mets manager Carlos Mendoza yeah absolutely great get by you Joel on his

Off day so kudos to Carlos for coming on he’s a terrific terrific guy and uh obviously he’s done a very nice job so far in spring training and uh we will soon find out what kind of a manager that he will be yeah and we’ll ask him

About uh being a firsttime manager I’m sure I will ask him about Alonzo and his uh walk GE about all the young players that the organization’s so excited about you and I will talk about Zack Wheeler’s new extension the lingering free agencies of Montgomery and snail we’ll

Play hit and error at the end if you stick with us on the show with Joel Sherman and John Heyman John uh I think you’re back home right now are you back home I’m home yes you’re home I’m I’m in a beautiful uh Tradition Florida so like I I those of people who are watching us on YouTube if I look like the villain Twoface from like the Batman series you’ll know the

Lighting isn’t great in this room but John and I obviously we’re Gamers John we’re going to do a podcast here uh before we came just not long before we began this uh show uh it broke uh the Phillies are in agreement with Zack Wheeler years $126 million extension

That will begin next year John you know the first thing I thought about with it I wrote a little bit about it for our plus column uh which will come out tomorrow is if I would have told you in 2017 after Zack Wheeler had missed the

156 season and had a five- something ER in 17 that the guy who was going to have the most substantial career out of Harvey card mats and deg Gro is Zack Wheeler and yet he’s turned into the rar in the sport there’s three things an ace

Can be you could pitch like an ace when you’re on the mound you could do it as a Workhorse Workhorse and then you could do it in the postseason and he’s like with Cole the rare guy who can do all three things what an amazing metamorphosis from the guy we knew with

The Mets who kind of got the durability late he pitched a lot in 17 and 18 but he’s just taking just another step in durability and clearly in pitching Excellence regular and postseason yeah really amazing no one could have foreseen this uh he’s arguably the best pitcher in the National League I’ll say

Cole’s the best in the American League and best in baseball but case could be made for Zack Wheeler to be the best there’s only a handful of pitchers who are eight inning pitchers in baseball anymore I would put Cole in there Logan web I would put uh Nola the teammate of

Wheeler in there and Wheeler I I was stunned when wheeler got five years for 118 million he was actually offered more than that by the white socks like 120 to 125 million but you know at that point you know that’s been an amazing bargain it was a great signing and here not a

Bargain but understandable that he got the biggest salary ever in an extension 42 million a year 126 million no opt outs uh you know I think you know obviously he’s been with the team he loves the team Bryce Harper set that standard of no opt outs he

Might be a little regretful of that on a 13-year deal but on three-year deal makes sense and look the Phillies are going to be a team to be reckoned with in the foreseeable future their rotation is arguably the best in the division yeah and look we’re going to end up

Talking about uh the remaining free agents and what people will do we do know in Philadelphia that there’s an owner who’s all set to try to win and take care of his own right they what Nola and Wheeler have done together as workhorses regular and postseason he

Rewarded both of them uh I think probably when the offseason began people would have said 170 something million for Nola is too much seven years you know that wheeler would have the third largest per anom pitching contract in history is a lot but John Middleton and Dave debrowski have shown they are going

To try to win and when they have guys who are good players they’re G to take care of them yeah as I mentioned I think Middleton is arguably the best owner in baseball right now I mean he is the guy who is clearly wanting to win you know

We we’ve lost unfortunately some of those type owners in recent Years A A certainly Sidler uh unfortunately with his untimely death uh several months ago uh the Padres had been all in now they are not all in uh the gats Ted larner had been all in now they are rebuilding

Uh Detroit I think they’re rebuilding pretty well but they’re rebuilding now Mike illich had been all in his son not quite to that extent might be more of a hockey guy uh right now we got a lot of team teams right now that are really not spending I think onethird of the teams

Payrolls going down onethird is about stagnant up up 10 million or less and really uh you know if you’re out there trying to win you’re really standing out in in the sense right now joh milon obviously is doing that yeah you know John that that’s a good transition to

Look I don’t want it to be Groundhogs Day we’re talking going to end up talking Snell Montgomery again uh you know since we last talk Matt Chapman signed with with the Giants and what stands out to me John is you know Scott Boris is the agent for those two star

Pitchers as he was for Chapman and Bellinger and one of the things is if you look at Scott’s history is he does get his guys signed in free agency to those teams that pick your word act boldly act irrationally you know when the when the Rangers are ready to win

You know he gets Simeon and Seager there when the Phillies are ready to win he gets Harper there you want to go back to Tom Hicks with the Rangers for A-Rod and I think you uh framed it well that is not the market the one organization that

Was willing to spend a lot this offseason the Dodgers were willing to do it for two specific players but not the field we don’t have really that bold irrational actor out there and I think Scott when he’s dealing with these kind of players is used to being able to look

And say hey you’re trying to win I got these players and that’s why we’re seeing this problem right now right I mean Texas you can understand it to an a degree obviously they’ lost Montgomery they lost Garver their DH and really there are guys out there right now including Montgomery who could replace

Himself you’ve got JD Martinez I I think there’s a little bit of a less incentive once you’ve won the World Series as Texas did win uh and you know there are several other teams I look at the Angels they lost their best hitter and best pitcher in Otani and you know they’ve

Just been kind of thinking about whether they’re going to do something and the the Red Sox have kind of kind of dip their toe in and finish second or third with a lot of different things and really haven’t done anything a team that’s finished last three out of the

Last four years it’s hard to believe that these are the Red Sox I mean maybe they’re concentrating on the Penguins and golf and all of their other entities I’m not sure what’s going on up there in Boston but uh you know times certainly have changed and you’re right the

Dodgers of the 2.1 billion spent so far they’ve spent half of that money you know basically half of that money has been spent by one team and most of that was on obviously Otani and then the bulk of the rest of that was on Yamamoto so it’s been an unusual off season and

Right now the remaining three agents who are really good player I mean Snell is really good mean you hear whispers about different things about him but let’s face it he was the best pitcher in baseball from May on and a one two ER from May 25th on it’s a little bit

Shocking that uh he is not very popular compared to what we thought he would be I’m sure you know he’s getting interest I’m sure but it’s not what you’d expect for the NL two and now two time NL two time sa young winner one time in the NL

One time in the AL yeah so uh John I just do Wonder with like Snell and monum rate uh we could Agree to Agree uh you know you and I covered Monty quite a lot I would say he was a very good teammate he was a gamer love to take the ball uh

You know did the Yankees give him the ball enough stick with him enough I’m not sure certainly is shown when you do do that what will happen but at some point here even if you and I say Agree to Agree hey they deserve X the industry

Is now speaking uh we’re up to March 4th as we’re doing this show and at some point if you have to sell your house you could think it’s worth a million but if everyone’s offering 750 if you really have to sell the house since I assume that Montgomery and Snell won’t become

Like Uber drivers anytime soon they’re gonna play major league baseball this year at some some point do they just have to say I got to sell the house what’s the best offer and get into Camp because at this point I know that I’ve talked to Scott I know you’ve talked to

Scott they’re at his places in Florida they’re at his places in LA but they can’t throw to the intensity that they probably want to and need to to get ready for the season they can’t risk getting hurt right and then you wouldn’t pass a physical then you’re really

Messed up in this situation so at some point like we saw it Chapman took a three-year contract I’m sure that’s not what he wanted Bellinger took a three-year contract both got multiple opt outs doesn’t at some point you have to sell the house well I do both guys do seem very

Patient I will say that Kyle Lo uh guy also very patient didn’t sign till March 25th with the Milwaukee Brewers I think that was a $33 million deals different times obviously probably not the pitcher that Snell is but a very good pitcher a little bit older at that time and did

Wait till March 25th and he was ready in the first rotation I believe he pitched game four so if you’re a certain guy who works out a certain way uh you could be ready a lot sooner than teams think but uh you know obviously we’re now in March

So it’s a bit unusual to see pictures JD Martinez will be fine you know uh he can sign whenever and hit whenever and he’ll be all right and um you know his situation he turned down I believe was 15 million or even more with the the

Giants just did not want to be in that Park basically uh and is waiting for a team with a more conducive Park and maybe a better team I’m not sure if that was part of the equation but um you know I’ve been do I’ve been talking about

This for weeks and uh I’ve been sick suggesting it could be a while but you know it’s been a while at this point yeah uh John I maybe there a way to to wrap this up I just I keep wondering with Montgomery and Snell in particular

If we had a bet on which guy you would look back on five years from now and be happy you sign do you think you’d be more happy that you had signed Jordan Montgomery or Blake Snell to a to a fivey I will say it this way if you want

To win the World Series this year next year or year after I’ll go with Snell but if you’re looking for seven years in Montgomery and I think that’s why Montgomery look first you know we we’re going full circle unless we started with wheeler I think he was looking at that

Nola deal and he looked at it and he’s been better than NOA two out of the last three years but you know I mean I get it with nola nola is an eight inning pitcher has a c in Philadelphia he’s certainly more well known and has more

Accomplished in MLB than Montgomery so I can see that other side of the coin for him so I get why he saw saw Ana 172 and he’s thinking you know what I I’ve actually been better than Nola without saying it out loud the last two the last

Three so I get it I think he’s still sticking out for a a long deal we’ll see if he get seven years but I could still see somebody signing to Long deal Snell you know obviously he’s 30 years old at this point and um I think he has told

The Yankees he was willing to do a short-term deal obviously that’s really not working for the Yankees at this moment but I’m assuming he’s willing to do it for somebody else and that may be the result and you know I know there’s a lot of criticism about these deals but

Let’s face it a lot of these guys who had you know some kind of let’s say hickey whatever you want to call it’s some kind of flaw like Adrien Beltre when he was in Seattle didn’t put up big numbers took a one-year deal with Boston and it worked out fabulously for him

These are better deals than a one-year deal whether it’s in Boston or anywhere else if you get a three-year deal with two opt outs you get three more chances to prove yourself and certainly in Bellinger’s case he’s going to be a free agent uh three times in his 20s which we

Haven’t seen before so I I get it uh so far but it’s going to be interesting to see what they come up with on Snell because I I’m surprised at uh how many teams have really shied away from Blake Snell uh I don’t get these comments that

You hear out there that he’s not such a hard work I mean the guy in a one2 ER from May on he’s obviously working hard enough isn’t he how much harder does he need to work yeah John I’m maybe the industry is speaking and we should listen we know Bill parcel’s had that

Saying when a player shows you who he is believe it it’s like maybe unless you think that we’re dealing with the Big C collusion maybe we need to say that the industry has real questions about him and one of the things I just thought as

As a way to wrap this up uh I’ll just say say it all loud is is it possible like you and I will agree the Yankees make a ton of money I think you mentioned they take in about $ 800 million do a year but they’re not

They’re they’re going to have a limit on their payroll do they have to worry that if they sign Snell and you already have Cole and judge and Stanton that it would be tough to sign SoDo long term I mean you know it depends how you

Look at it I mean obviously if they do this they’re going to be paying that big tax and then they’ll be paying an even bigger tax if they sign we s that how Stein Brena wants to to like he’s he’s up over 300 I just feel like I I just

Wonder if that’s a big part of this discussion because we’re seeing early on that SoDo well like all the questions about Snell in New York there was Zero about SoDo in New York and he’s showing that right away in spring training how much he kind of like loves the spotlight

Yeah I I get it I mean it’s a big debate with the Yankees and you know at this point it doesn’t look like they’re going for it but the debate is you get Snell and you have the best one-w combination in baseball Cole and Snell starting it

Out you may even be the World Series favorite Now teams are probably looking at that postseason now as kind of a crapshoot as we’re getting you know teams in there in the World Series what Arizona 84 Texas was a wild card you know maybe the going for it isn’t quite

The going for it that it used to be and maybe that is a factor in the market as well but that’s the debate you want the the World Series favorite versus on the other hand you’d be paying uh you know a tax that you really don’t want to pay

And I get it I mean you know even rich people don’t like paying tax right now their tax going to be 11 million they signed Snell would be 40 million plus so I still think they’d be making a profit though it’s not like the Mets last year

Where they lost $200 million plus right the Yankees would still be making money uh if they did that but it is difficult and I I understand it and I’m not going to get on them too much they did say they were all in though or what was the

Hellbent right hellbent winning you know 300 million a $300 million payroll on Juan sto is is at least hell B yeah hell Ben to me to me means you’re all in to me again that’s the manager talking he’s got good with words uh you know uh he he’s he’s hellbent on winning

With what he’s got but if the team is hellbent maybe you go out and sign s you mentioned the manager Aaron Boon his bench coach the past four years was Carlos Mendoza you like that transition John was was Carlos Mendoza he’s now the manager of the Mets and today he’ll join

The show with Joel Sherman and John Heyman John and I are so appreciative that Carlos Mendoza on the rare day off in spring training uh you’re going to win the you’re going to make all of us look bad husband father you drove across the state to be with your family from Port St Lucy you’re joining us from

Tampa Carlos Mendoza first year uh manager of the Mets John and I have obviously known you a long time uh 2009 you joined the Yankees you were the bench coach the past four years and as I mentioned first year as Mets manager and I I’m going to ask a little bit of an

Offbeat question uh off of I think I think it was yesterday’s game right there was an interference call uh early in the game I think involving Starling Marte you came out you you were the bench coach for Aaron Boone we know what it looks like when Aaron Boone uh gets

Angry and is about to to argue I’m gonna have you a two and a half injections this year on FanDuel uh what what what is it going to look like when you argue uh will it look anything like the guy you were the bench coach for H H how’s

That going to play out first of all thanks for having me on the show Joel and John uh big fan of the show um I don’t know that’s a good question you know uh one thing I did a lot I came out of the DOA to try to get

Boony from arguing uh but he was pretty good when you know as we saw it over the years he he comes up with some you know with things that only boony can do it you know um not trying to bat his record I’m not trying to uh you know my job is

To stay in the game just like his job is you know uh but we’ll see we’ll see how it plays out yeah actually I think Boone might have helped you get the job he was ejected so often that you proved yourself that you could manage um so you

Know yeah you know it’s funny you say that John because uh last year he went through a stretch where he got thrown out probably I don’t know three times a week and somebody came up to me and said hey you’re the 31 manager in the big

League I was getting a lot of reps you were you were so I’ll just go instead of off the board like Joel went how’s Camp going what do you think um is this a playoff caliber team David Sterns thought so when you started Camp obviously you’ve had a big loss since

Then yeah uh Camp’s going well you know uh I’ve been pretty pleased with how everything is is going and is running uh look uh being able to go to work with so many great people so many great baseball Minds a lot of experience starting with the coaching staff and how

Much they PR prepare each and every day and then you know the group of players that I I I get as well not only the established players but the the youngsters you know uh it’s been great the first three weeks uh you know uh I’m very pleased with how things are going

And uh you know uh I do feel like we are a playoff team you know David said it uh I’ve been saying it all along I know um you know projections and all that might say something different but we do believe that we we have a really good

Team Carlos if I could deal with like one more big picture issue with you being a manager here uh you know you worked uh you’ve been in baseball a long time you’re a minor league player with the Yankees since ‘ 09 you around the team with gerardi with Boon so very good

Major League managers what’s something you could only learn managing that say you’ve learned over this period of time that you couldn’t know standing next to the guy managing yeah well you know um that’s a good one because you know you don’t know until you go through it you

Know and there’s going to be a lot of different things that I’m going to be uh experience for the first time you know especially when you’re making that final call when you’re making the shot you know the the last call but like I said uh being able to surround myself with

Great baseball Minds um you know having giby right next to me half as a pitching coach who’s you know done it for a long time and then you know guys like Glenn Sherlock and uh sarby uh those guys are going to help me a lot um you know I

Just got to go through it you know uh I don’t think you you you know yeah you’re prepared and you feel like you’re ready but I’m pretty sure there’s going to be times where a lot of things are going to be new for me but like I said I’m gonna

Rely a lot on on my coaches and uh you know um uh I do feel obviously uh I know I’m ready but uh we’ll you know we’ll uh it’s hard for me to pinpoint uh one specific area um but um I feel pretty good and um you know ready to go I think

Your upbeat attitude is right for this team at this moment obviously had a very disappointing season last year uh it’s great to be upbeat but injecting a little reality in the situation Sango that’s a big loss uh the team is suggesting it’s going to be a month at

At the minimum to me that sounds light considering it a capsule the shoulder uh how big a loss is this and can he really be back in May yeah uh look not a secret it is a big loss but we do feel like we’re going to get him in U you know in

Time for him to to pitch a lot of game for us and and and and to give us a lot of innings um I don’t think uh Kai is too concerned about it and that’s a good sign even when he first reported uh that he wasn’t bouncing back the way he would

He wanted to but uh we do feel comfortable and uh we are expecting to see SGA taking the ball uh a lot this year and and contribute and being a huge part of our rotation Carlos one of the ways you compensate for not having SGA and then

Being even better when and if SGA comes back in full is if Luis srino is a healthy quality starting pitcher you have a front row had a front row seat when he was as good a pitcher as there was pretty much baseball in 1718 he hasn’t been that guy over the last four

Or five years Health mainly and then last year was just all went off the rails he’s made one start it looked pretty good uh from the Press Box why should Met fans be encouraged that you’re getting Lou srino back well look uh when we seen these guys like you said

Uh being the real deal um uh when he’s healthy and he’s been through a lot the past couple of years he’s dealt with so much injury series and last year uh was tough you know he got he got he he got hit on the face pretty much and got

Knocked down but he such a competitor uh he went through an offseason uh where you know he kept throwing uh he did a lot of things differently in preparation to uh for spring training and for the regular season um what we’re seeing early on is really encouraging uh the

Way he’s bouncing back after each uh Mount session where there is a bullpen a live VP we saw him the other day for the first time uh in a game um and he’s he’s doing a lot of work behind the scenes where there’s extra condition in taking

Care of it itself not that he didn’t in the past but now with more experience in the fact that he’s been through a lot with injuries uh I think he’s got a better understanding of his body and and and and you know just the flexibility being honest with with us with with the

Pitching uh pitching coach Coes with the trainers and making sure that if he needs an extra day if he needs an extra couple of days from throwing and things like that uh we are encouraging to speak up you know uh especially this early in Camp he’s gonna be you know we counting

On him uh we’re goingon to need him obviously and especially now that Kai is down but uh I want sebie to be you know the guy that he we know he’s capable of of of being you know the guy that’s going to take the baseball he’s going to

Compete he’s going to give you quality Innings and um I’m very uh I’m very excited where se’s at right now when the offseason started you had two Shire starting pitchers SAA and kintana obviously you’ve lost one of them and I liked a lot of what David and

The team did bringing guys in but right now uh the rotation looks like still the big question despite all of the Acquisitions uh one to five right now in order what’s your rotation we’re still working through it though you know uh uh we still you know early in the early weeks stages of

Spring training the biggest thing is we got to keep these guys healthy uh as far as you know one through five we do feel comfortable you know with some with with all of those guys you know whether it’s kintana whether it’s seino or Adrian Hower um obviously we got competition

For that you know fifth uh spot but Migel came into camp in really really good shape uh way ahead of schedule he was already throwing live VPS and two ups and uh you know um budo uh is another guy that’s in in competition luie uh we saw

What he did at the end of last year so uh we do feel we’ve been talking about our death uh all offseason and yeah we’ve been tested here in the in the early weeks of camp but uh you know one through five I feel pretty good with

These guys taking the ball and giving us uh quality Innings car why don’t I take the hand off from there because you when when you guys have talked about your depth the early season depth is got guys like Migel and budo and liui and you hope at some point David Peterson who’s

Had uh you know about 60 Major League starts comes back from his hip thing the other group is a group of prospects who are coming I wonder if you could speak to them specifically the guy who kind of gets mentioned the most when I ask is Christian Scott his name keeps coming up

Over and over as potentially the best of the group what what do you think you have in him vassel Hamill Etc uh it’s an exciting group you know uh I was able to watch them pitch uh you know couple of days for the first time in the big league at the big league

Level but watching them on live VP and with the way they went about their business uh off the field and the conversations they were having with some of our establishing uh players whether was relievers guys like ad Brooks Ry or kintana the conversations that they were having the interactions uh it it was

Pretty impressive with The Way They carried them cell you know we see the stuff you know we see the uh when you watching on the mound you know uh the repertoire and and and the way they go about their business and the way they compete but off the feeli like in in

That locker room the interactions the relationships the way they were you know some of the questions that they were asking whether it was preparation uh uh reports uh things like that I I was really really impressive with uh impressed with with this uh this group

Uh that is going to be knocking out the door here um they’re going to go down obviously and continue their development but I I am really really excited with this uh this group of arms that we got in the monor Leakes can I can I can I just thr

Scott in particular just because he’s come up so much uh in My Week with you guys uh what what what are you seeing with him yeah well we saw the other day heavy fast ball uh the way he uses his pitches the way he attacks his stri

Onone the way he competes uh and he’s smart he’s a smart kid uh and he wants to continue to get better he’s not Afra to ask questions and that’s important he knows who he is he understand who he is on the mound and some of the things that

He needs to uh to work on but at the same time he understand his strength and uh you know that’s uh for being uh young pitcher uh you know close to the to the to to the big leags and when you see some of the things that he’s doing is is

Pretty impressive so uh just like vessel haml those guys um you know a lot of lot of lot of people are mentioning Scott but uh we do feel really good about the other guys as well you know the big question for the Mets Beyond of course

The team whether it is actually going to be a playoff team is Pete Alonzo and so you know we’ll see he’s got a year to go this is his final year at platform the year before he is a free agent so that’s certainly a storyline for the season um

How do you think Pete’s going to handle this and is there anything particular you’re going to have to monitor or stay in touch with Pete to make sure that uh you know we’re all on the same page and not worrying about the uh the contract look he’s going to handle it fine this

Is a guy that came up as a met uh and he’s been uh on the spotlight uh every year of his career and he’s performed this is a guy that knows that he gets it you know he he he knows what it takes to play in New

York York he’s performed he’s being one of the best players in the league I’m excited to have him on our team you know I my my job is to make sure Pete is in a really good position to go out there and have success and being himself uh being

Around him for the past couple of weeks I’ve been really really impressed with the way this guy prepares how much he cares about not only the preparation but winning you know when we get on some of those meetings and some of those conversations is all about winning for p

And you know when you got guys like that leading the way along with guys like Lindor Nemo uh from the position player side of things uh is important it’s important because not only they are very vocal but with the way they they go about their business and how they

Prepare uh is been really really impressive so Pete will be fine I’m expecting big things out of Pete and uh you know he’s he’s a big part of our team obviously not a secret caros you certainly know what the great homegrown Slugger in his walk year can do you are

Again great seat for Aaron judge hitting 62 homers in his walk year I’m sure you’re hoping for the same with Alonzo uh you you watched last year were freak injuries for judge and Rizzo you you you take those away the Yankees from that terrible 82 and 80 year maybe they

Actually make the playoffs if judge and Rizzo just freak injuries don’t get get there I wonder if we’d be saying something somewhat similar if Marte and Diaz had played healthy last year uh because they’re so important as the a catalyst to the offense and the end game

Kind of setting up your Bullpen they’re such important guys coming back from a miser and a Bad Year tell us where they are and what they mean they mean a lot and uh right now they are feeling really really good uh Diaz uh you know taking

The ball going through his uh final uh steps of his uh rehab process schedule a throw on a minor league game uh tomorrow uh doing pfp drills but like you know that was a big loss for this team last year you know uh like you said you know

It’s a different way of managing the game when you know you got that guy in the ninth inning ready to go when you get when you have the lead you know it’s a different way how you going to approach and how you going to manage

Your Bullpen uh and for all of us uh is important to have a guy like that in the ninth and he’s healthy he’s feeling great and so is Marte you know this is a guy that we’ve seen it in the past this is in so many ways a guy that can impact

A game whether it’s by running the bases by offensively defensively we saw the other day they went he made a throw from right field all the way to Third Base he was pretty impressive and you know we we had the opportunity to go to Winn ball

And watch him play and uh we were very pleased with how he was moving this guy is healthy and uh you know sent in here in the early early stages of spring training with the the way he’s preparing the way he’s running around and the fact that he’s playing games this early uh

Tells you that he’s feeling pretty good because in the past he is a guy that you know didn’t play till probably like the second week of March but now understanding where he’s at uh uh it was it was good for him to start getting those game reps uh it’s

Important for for our team to have those two uh and look uh at this time of the year a lot of team are saying we need to stay healthy you know and it’s not a secret for us we we have to stay healthy in order for us to be the the team that

We know we’re capable of being so we’re counting on those two and I’m excited to have them you know I was very impressed by jet Williams in my initial interview a very poised confident young man I mean I would have liked to talk to luisan

Auna my my fault I I don’t speak Spanish but I’ve heard good things about him Gilbert what are your initial impressions of the the top position prospects in Camp uh exciting group you know uh we we know about the tools and and some of the things I can do on the

Field but you know you mentioned jet you know this is a 20- year old kid and he was you know the way he carried himself in that locker room is like I belong here you know that was basically you know some of the things that you saw out

Of him you know uh he I think this this was a really good experience for him to watch the established players go about their business and how they prepare and and and the conversations in general the way they they you know as simple as when you’re taking a ground ball with you

Know the intensity the attention to details and things like that that for a 20 year old it was impressive you know obviously we know how well he controlled the strike zone uh the bad ball skills the speed but the feel for the game jet is an exciting in player Drew same way

You know this is a guy that you know he going to run through walls he play he plays as hard as anybody there’s a lot of tools there there’s impact there’s knowledge of the strike zone somebody that can play in the Outfield really good arm uh and auna you know this is

Another kid that uh the tools are there um he was uh you know having him right next to Lindor uh in that locking room was was uh impactful for him and with of the conversations that they were having in Spanish obviously uh so yeah it was

It was good uh we are really really excited about those three and um they are a big part of our our future here John mentioned some young players who are part of your future Carlos uh two two younger players who are kind of part of your present make up your third base

Situation in batty and Vientos uh and my overall question is I really like what David Sterns attempted to do this season which was defense in depth right more depth better defense help the pitching staff Etc can you be a good defensive team if you’re not good at third base

Defensively and can you be good at third base defensively with that duo yeah I I I you know we feel really good about having them playing Third Base um I don’t think we are not a good defensive team if they’re playing I think we are a really good defensive team uh by having

Bayy or Vientos there I mean what I’m seeing so far and again this is more like Back Field work you know occasional uh reps uh doing games but talking to them watching them go about their their you know doing drills and things like that I do feel good about them you know

I think it’s giving them the opportunity you know making them uh feel like they’re big league players you know and and they’re G to get an opportunity we’ve been saying uh all offseason we’re going to have no dentos we need batty Alvarez on his second year people forget

About Alvarez you know this is another another young kid that is came up last year but um defense was a priority for uh for David for myself for for all of us and uh we do feel good about you know what can uh what batty and Vientos can

Do at third base you know Pete hit 40 home runs plus again last year he does it every year he stays healthy he’s a great slugger but one issue for the team has been they really haven’t had an established number five hitter batting behind Pete uh one is would you like to

See JD Martinez walk through that door and if not you have someone in mind who is that five hitter I mean you’ve got candidates and you know maybe Alvarez could be that guy I don’t know uh really it’s your decision though that just my yeah those are some of the conversations

That we’re having as you know with the coaching staff and in some of you know how we’re going to play around with a lineup and you know that that always comes up like who’s going to hit behind Peak so we we’re still it’s still early

You know we we got to get to uh we got to get through the next weeks and start playing around with you know some batting orders and stuff like that there’s got to be conversations you know that I need to have with some of the players uh and and and to make sure

That we’re putting them in in the right position you know I do feel good with you know what Alvarez can do whether is an Alvarez where sentos and McNeil uh even Lindor so we’ll see how you know everything plays out here uh through camp but um you know like I said PE

Going to be a big part of our team uh you said it this a guy that hits 40 plus pretty much every year drives in 100 uh plus every year uh and um you know I’m look I’m looking forward to watch Pete play uh this 2024 you said you’re having

Conversations about who’s going to protect Pete is is JD Martinez who’s still out there part of those conversations or are you just well those are those are some of the conversations that probably Dave is having with uh with his with his people you know uh look every team is always looking uh for

Ways to improve their team team and I’m pretty sure David’s looking at it the same same way whether it’s JD Martini or whe you know whatever the case might be that’s up to David you know my job obviously is to manage the 26 guys that

Are going to be on the roster and I do feel good about what we have in Camp that was such a veteran answer Carlos I like how you did that it was like you’ve been doing this for 20 years you really learned well from gerardi

Boon uh let let me to follow and to wrap up you are a first year man but you’ve been in the game a long time what is your comfort level if you feel there is need whether it’s a starting pitcher an extra bat right now to be able to go to

David or Steve con and say hey guys we want to make the playoffs I think we’re lacking as a first year manager can you do that and in that way can you tell us how the relationship is going so far with a new GM and a new owner yeah and

And I think that those conversations are already happening you know a month or so ago you you know like having the ability to go to the president of baseball operation anytime you want and and voice your opinion you know is important and to be able to partner with David and and

Steve and Alex you know uh is is it’s been great uh the relationship you know uh people’s skills you know Davis is is always you know interacting not only with myself but with the coaches and the front office staff uh and I think that’s important you know that for me to have

That ability to go up to him or for him to come up to me and say what are you seeing how are you feeling what are some of the things that you feel like we need to improve on uh there’s you know each and every day we having those

Conversations and uh even when Steve is around or a phone call uh those conversations are already happening and uh you know I’m really looking forward to partner with them and and continue to build this relationships and at the end of the day you know uh we got to win

Games right and uh U you know I’m excited about the opportunity on the subject of relationships uh Carlos I’m not sure that the fans truly appreciate what an off day in spring training means what the grind is from mid-February until you then have 162 games left so

You’re you’re you drove across the state yesterday to be with your family your wife and your children John and I truly appreciate you finding a few minutes to talk to us today thank you for doing that and all the best no thanks for having me guys it’s always a pleasure

John and I of course thank Carlos Mendoza for joining us on the show John hit or error this week I’m GNA give it to the San Francisco Giants who signed Matt Chapman um you know he’s a terrific third baseman uh won a bunch of gold gloves even last year when he didn’t

Have his best season overall back with his old manager from the A’s days and Bob Melvin so uh great signing for the Giants and that they’ve had a good offseason very good um obviously they’ve added Solair uh lee the Korean outfielder Murphy Hicks so they’ve done

A lot they still have room to see whether they could do more they’ve said that they’re I guess they came out and said that they don’t expect to sign one of the big pitchers but hey they said they didn’t expect to sign one of the big free agents and then a week later

Turned around and and signed Chapman you never know if things fall into place so I’m going to give the Giants my hit uh John I’m gonna be a little bit redundant or a lot redundant here we began the show with uh Zack Wheeler I’m gonna give the hit to John Middleton uh

Here uh look Philadelphia is thought of as a tough town to play in but boy have things changed there over the last few years remember uh you know like Trey Turner getting a standing ovation last year while struggling and kind of breaking out of it uh you know the fact

That Trey Turner is there and Harper and Wheeler and Nola uh you know John Middleton is doing what I think a fan base hopes that every owner does which is loves to own the team doesn’t worry about the bottom line every second and goes for it as much as possible and

Takes care of his own right what was done this off SE season with Nola and Wheeler two guys who have thrown over a thousand Innings over the last six years you know wheeler has been there only four but combin it with the Mets so like these are guys who regular in postseason

Have given their hearts and body to the organization and I’m sure the Phillies are doing charity I’m sure they think that those guys still have something left but taking care of your own like that towards the top of the market I think it says something very good about

John Middleton and the Phillies and probably all things being equal will be a destination place because of that when a free agent is deciding where they want to play yeah I mean they tried hard for Yamamoto at where is they were actually willing to offer the most and weren’t

Able to do it it’s probably a little bit harder when you talk about a star in Japan being lured to Philadelphia but within our country I think all the stars are get word is out that it’s wonderful to play for John Middleton and the Phillies uh obviously Rob Thompson a

Terrific players manager as well and it’s just a great organization right now and they do a terrific job it’s going to be interesting to see whether they you know actually add a year or two years to Bryce Harper who didn’t do the opt out and he’s got eight years to go and I

Mean he is their biggest star and uh I mean you know up to Middleton but you know in that in that case uh we’ve never seen that before when somebody adds on to eight years if he does that uh he is really one one out there unique alone so

Uh we’ll see if he does it but uh right that would be crazy that would be nuts no nola nola was a nola was a free agent wheeler was gonna enter his walk GE you know uh as long as somebody else on the team is willing to cut their pay if for

With eight years left if it things go wrong I would do that if not I I think there’s a level of irrationality that even John Middleton probably won’t go to well he’s a great owner Al either way he’s a great owner so yes I agree uh and

You you mentioned Rob Thompson friend of the show uh like we’re uh so we really like Rob who who had the same job for a long time as Carlos Mendoza right he was the bench coach who joined us this week uh was a terrific guest uh we always is

Uh have to thank our producers uh Dan Shalom I hope I got right I’m gonna be saying it week to week now uh and of course Jake Brown uh on the YouTube page the New York Post YouTube page you could uh see the show on Apple Spotify

Wherever you listen to podcast you could hear the show Please Subscribe great review John we’re about Midway through uh spring training uh you know we’re both on our travels uh I think we’re flip-flopping again are you going out to Arizona now yep next week next week I’m

Gonna uh uh go back to Tampa home and then kind of both Coast of Florida again we’ll be talking all about it if you stick with us on the show with Joel Sherman and John Heyman