PORT ST. LUCIE — Carlos Mendoza was encouraged by the manner that his first dress rehearsal as Mets manager progressed Saturday.
Working alongside his coaching staff in a game situation for the first time, the rookie manager felt the lines of communication were clear.
“We got down early in the game, but we were still locked in with the sign system,” Mendoza said after the Mets’ 10-5 loss to the Cardinals at Clover Park in the Grapefruit League opener.
Mendoza’s lieutenants include bench coach John Gibbons, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and hitting coach Eric Chavez.
Mendoza isn’t a novice at guiding an MLB team through a game: As Yankees bench coach he took the helm 24 times over four seasons after manager Aaron Boone was ejected.
It was the call that cost the New York Mets a chance at tying the game against the Chicago Cubs.
Jeff McNeil launched a pop fly to left field with Pete Alonso on third. It was caught, and the first baseman tagged up, attempting to score and tie the game. But he was tagged out.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called for a review, which confirmed that Miguel Amaya didn’t block the plate illegally, even though Mendoza thought that was the case. Hot mics captured what Mendoza and umpire Chad Fairchild had to say to each other, and it got NSFW: “That’s bull [expletive]!”
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