3 things that stood out from Carlos Mendoza's opening address at Mets spring training

Carlos Mendoza’s dream reality set in when he slipped on the Mets uniform for the first time this week.

After a three-month buildup preparing to lead the Mets as their new manager, Mendoza is where he wants to be, and he’s comfortable taking it one day at a time to learn the ins and outs of the organization and his players.

“We’ve got to do everything that we can every day to prepare to win a baseball game, sticking to our process and respecting each other,” said Mendoza, who spent the last four seasons as Yankees bench coach. “Obviously, that product on the field, the fan base expects a lot of us. From my end, like you say, coming from the Yankees, (it’s) details, preparation, fundamentals, and again, having fun doing it.”

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With pitchers and catchers set to participate in their first official workouts on Wednesday, Mendoza is ready to build connections with his players and set the course toward an improved season following 2023’s lackluster 75-87 campaign.

As Mendoza takes the reins for the Mets, here are three things that stood out about the manager’s opening address in Port St. Lucie:

Jumping into the deep end

Mendoza knows that the process of acclimating to his new position is going to take time. With 64 players on the spring training roster, he plans to lean on his coaching staff, led by holdovers Jeremy Hefner, Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez, to begin to familiarize himself.

“As much as I need to get to know them, they gotta get to know who Carlos Mendoza is and my personality, how am I going to be handling certain situations and how I want the guys to prepare,” Mendoza said. “I think it’s one of those that I need to learn as much as possible and they need to learn who I am.”

New York Mets new manager Carlos Mendoza puts on a Mets jersey during a press conference in New York, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. At rear left is Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.

Mendoza is ready to embrace the competition that this season’s roster presents, including at third base between Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Joey Wendle, the back end of the bullpen and the final bench spots.

“I feel like the last couple of spots out of the bullpen, we’ve got a lot of depth,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got some good options, and hopefully they’re healthy, they’re throwing the ball well and they’re making those conversations and those decisions really, really hard, especially towards the end of camp.

“It’s the same way with some of the younger players. We talked about third base, but we feel good with what we got going in.”

Six-man rotation?

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter (11) removes pitcher Tylor Megill (38) from the game during the eighth inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in New York.

With the additions of Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser to the starting rotation, it appears that the Mets have their five spots locked in.

But last season, Kodai Senga only pitched twice on normal rest and Jose Quintana was sidelined for most of the season following bone graft surgery. Tylor Megill and Joey Lucchesi would be waiting in the wings if the Mets need additional support in the starting pitching ranks.

“They’re gonna play a big role for us,” Mendoza said. “They’re gonna pitch meaningful games. They’re gonna pitch meaningful innings. And I feel like, the way we’re going to approach this is, everybody’s getting ready for Opening Day, right?

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“Hopefully, we’re gonna go back healthy. Hopefully we’re having those conversations and that everybody’s healthy and they’re throwing the ball well and making it tough on us.”

The presence of three off days in the month of April could provide more regular turns in the rotation, but Mendoza understands that the same five pitchers are not going to pitch over 162 days, and he’s happy with the team’s depth at the position.

Brandon Nimmo in center or left?

New York Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo, left, cannot catch a fly ball by Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber as second baseman Jeff McNeil, center, and shortstop Francisco Lindor collide during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 23, 2023, in Philadelphia.

The signing of Harrison Bader to a one-year deal in January clouded the Mets’ outfield depth chart.

Bader is one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball while patrolling center field, but that is also the domain of homegrown talent Brandon Nimmo. Last season down the stretch, Buck Showalter moved Nimmo into left field for some games following a quad injury.

For Mendoza, the crowded center field picture is a good problem heading into the season, and he figures it will work itself out based on off days, health and matchups during the season.

“He’s willing to do whatever it takes,” Mendoza said of Nimmo. “The biggest thing is our communication here and making sure that he’s preparing, and we’re putting him in a position where he’s going to be the best version of Brandon Nimmo, whether that’s in left field or in center field, but making sure that that communication is clear.”

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 3 things that stood out from Carlos Mendoza’s opening address at Mets spring training