He says he's looking forward to the challenge.
Maybe Carlos Mendoza wasn't the first choice for the Mets or Mets fans, but the 43-year old showed tremendous passion and energy in his first press conference as the 24th full time manager of the Metropolitans.
“I understand the city of New York. I have been here for six years, and I know how passionate this fan base is, and the expectations they have here. I understand and I am ready for this challenge. This is a great opportunity for not only me, but the New York Mets.”
It will be a challenge. The Mets might have deep pockets now that rival the team Mendoza left after six years as bench coach, but the Mets are always drama filled.
From Pete Alonso's pending free agency to the lack of quality starting pitching, and questions about what direction the team will go in 2024, Mendoza is going to have to do something that Terry Collins was very successful at in his early years of managing the Mets: be a good teacher and leader first, then find ways to win later.
There is no telling what "competitve" means in the minds eye of Steve Cohen and President of Baseball Ops David Stearns. It could mean playoffs? It could mean finding a way to stay just above .500 and in the mix? It could many different things.
Hence the challenge before Mendoza and his staff. Let's see how it plays out before we judge. Mendoza seems like he is very capable of leading a room of men. Now can he make it happen in the long run is the question.
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