Mendoza: "It's An Honor & A Privilege" to Wear Mets Uniform

After a month of searching, the New York Mets have found their manager in Carlos Mendoza. The former New York Yankees bench coach will take over as the 25th manager in team history.

On Tuesday, the Mets officially named Mendoza their new manager in their introductory press conference.

Here is what Mendoza and David Stearns discussed.

Mendoza Thanked His Family And Donned The Mets Uniform

Mendoza began by thanking his family and wishing his mother a happy birthday. He discussed the challenges his family has faced and the sacrifices they made to get him to where he is, including the sacrifices his wife had to make. His parents flew from Venezuela to see his press conference!

Mendoza said it’s an honor and privilege to wear a Mets uniform. “I understand and I am ready for this challenge. This is a great opportunity. This is a great opportunity not only for Carlos Mendoza but for the New York Mets. ”

Mendoza Interviewing The Mets And Expectations

An interesting thing that Mendoza brought up was the interview process with the Mets.

Mendoza said, “When they started talking about culture, people, relationships, preparation, I felt a connection right away because that’s who I am.” He felt that getting a feel for the Mets and what they are about beyond baseball was important.

“At the end of the day,” he said, “it’s about building relationships and winning championships.”

David Stearns’ Process

David Stearns, president of baseball operations, discussed the stages in hiring Mendoza—especially with someone he didn’t know. He said he went around the league to ask about Mendoza, and he highlighted how he’ll get to know Mendoza better throughout the season.

Stearns said he got to know and learn as much as possible about the candidates, and the more he got to know Mendoza, he thought Mendoza would be a good fit for the club.

The Roster

Mendoza said he feels really good about the roster and how talented it is. Throughout the presser, he mentioned a couple of times about the Mets winning 101 games two years ago and that the talent is there to win from that.

After the presser, Mendoza talked to SNY‘s Steve Gelbs about already talking to players on the roster, such as Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Díaz.

Challenges When Managing

Mendoza was asked about any concerns and challenges he could face, and he described how excited he was and talked about the passion the fans bring. He mentioned his experience with the Yankees about how this city can be when you win.

“I’ve experienced playoff games here in October on the other side of town, and I can’t wait to have that experience in Citi Field.”

Coaching & Style

Mendoza said that they are in the process of hiring coaches. He wants them to communicate with the players and be tough on the players. He confirmed pitching coach Jeremy Hefner will be back.

Mendoza models his style after Rob Thompson and Dusty Baker, he said. He worked with Thompson with the Yankees and learned under Baker. He also brought up Willie Randolph, the former Mets manager and someone Mendoza considers a friend, and how much Randolph influenced him.

“He had a big impact on my coaching career.”

Leadership And 2024

Regarding the team’s expectations, he expects the team to compete in 2024. “We like our team,” he said. “There are some talented players coming back.”