I read yesterday that the Mets full squad was already in camp on Monday, two days before the mandatory reporting date. I don’t know what that means in the grand scheme of things, but I think it says a lot about the makeup of the team and their commitment. I really like the mix of players that Sandy has put together. It’s a young team with some key veterans that have a lot to prove, and they’re all saying the right things.
It looks like everyday one of the Mets’ veteran players meets with reporters and gives his take on the team and discusses expectations. We heard from David Wright on Sunday, Michael Cuddyer on Monday, and today Curtis Granderson took his turn with reporters.
Granderson said that this is the year, he believes, the Mets can surpass the Yankees and take over New York.
“I think we’re primed and ready for it,” Granderson said. “We got a lot of guys that are in position to do it. Obviously the Captain who’s been there, who’s been the face of the organization and very known not only in New York and baseball but everywhere in the world in general. Then you got a guy coming back that everybody’s excited to see in Matt Harvey. Then you got some new emerging faces such as Juan Lagares, got a Gold Glove which speaks for itself. Lucas Duda with 30 home runs. Michael Cuddyer who has been able to adapt both in the American League and the National League.”
“And you mix into that everything and anything else that has been talked about, there are a lot of positives going on looking at this 2015 season and I’m excited to see what we can do for this season.”
I love Granderson’s attitude, and even when he was slumping last season, he never let it negatively impact the team. He told reporters that it doesn’t matter where Terry Collins bats him this season, because no matter what he will do his best to succeed.
“It really doesn’t matter too much to me,” Granderson said. “I’ve enjoyed the two-spot. That’s always been a cool one for me. I also led off for a majority of my career, which has been cool. I’ve batted near the bottom of the lineup. I’ve batted somewhere in the middle. For me, it’s always just taking a look at the lineup card every day, just to make sure I don’t get in the wrong spot, because over the course of my career it’s always changing. And I don’t see that being any different coming into this season, especially with the guys we have in this lineup. There’s a lot of flexibility.”
Speaking of flexibility, Collins said yesterday that he wants to get John Mayberry Jr. in the lineup as much as possible when the Mets are facing a left-hander. That doesn’t necessarily mean Lucas Duda will slide into a platoon role. Collins tossed out the idea of having Mayberry replace Granderson against some lefty pitching too.
As for all the playoffs talk in camp, Granderson took a sensible approach saying it’s great to see these young kids talk about these lofty goals and expectations, but in the end they’re going to have to produce at a level that will get the team there. He is most excited about the team’s pitching and all the young arms, but understands that the offense must do a better job of producing and he believes they will.
