Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke after the team’s 5-3 loss to the Astros on Saturday afternoon and touched on a number of topics…
Position players still in the mix for Opening Day
The Mets made a few decisions regarding the Opening Day roster in recent days. They laid out their five-man starting rotation to start the season, which doesn’t include Sean Manaea. Instead, the southpaw will begin the regular season in the bullpen as a piggyback to the starters.
New York also optioned right-hander Austin Warren to Triple-A — along with Kevin Herget and Robert Stock. Warren was in the mix for a bullpen spot.
But how about the position players?
The big story heading into camp was who would start in right field. Prospect Carson Benge seemingly had the inside track and has backed it up with a big spring, but veterans like MJ Melendez and Mike Tauchman were competing for a spot. Melendez was optioned earlier this week, and Tauchman exited Saturday’s game with knee soreness. He’ll undergo an MRI.
Although Mendoza didn’t have an update on Tauchman, the Mets skipper was asked whether Benge’s spot is all-but-assured with this latest development.
“Can’t say,” Mendoza said. “We don’t know. Just gotta wait.”
On a follow-up, Mendoza was asked which of the position players are still in contention for a roster spot, and the third-year manager was honest about the situation.
“From the guys who are at camp, here. You got Jared Young, you got [Vidal] Brujan. There’s a lot of versatility here,” Mendoza answered. “Carson’s pretty much in the mix as well. We’re looking at three, four guys for two spots.”
Young hasn’t produced at the plate this spring, hitting 3-for-30 (.150), but he offers that versatility Mendoza mentioned. He’s played first base as well as left and right field in his six-year career.
Brujan has been better offensively this spring. He’s batting .273 with seven walks, four stolen bases in 14 games. But Brujan offers more versatility than Young, having major league experience at six different positions, including all three outfield spots.
Jorge Polanco’s throwing error
Polanco is one of two new Mets who are learning a new position and the veteran infielder’s inexperience at first base showed on one play during Saturday’s game.
In the eighth inning, Polanco ranged far to his right to get to the ball, but made a poor underhand throw to the bag, resulting in a throwing error.
Mendoza was asked about the play and what Polanco can learn from the moment.
“A very good learning opportunity,” he said. “Not an easy play when he has to go that far. He’s diving for that ball, and not an easy angle for that 3-1 feed. Glad that it kinda happened, so he can learn from it. If he’s going to go underhand, continue to move your field or treat it like an infielder, which he’s done his whole career. You have that short throw, but it’s a moving target from that angle. It’s a tricky play. Because of who he is, he went long ways for that ball. You’re looking at a position where not too many first basemans are able to get to that ball. Learn from it and glad that happened today.”
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