Carlos Mendoza said he didn't want any “yes men” around him, and sure enough, all he heard was “no” in the dugout.
In the sixth inning on Tuesday, a hobbled Sean Manaea walked Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.
Manaea threw 74 pitches.
The Mets' lead was two points, and Bryce Harper was emerging as the favorite to advance.
The manager said he spoke with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and bench coach John Gibbons, among others. Both his right and left arm came to the same conclusion.
“Get him,” Mendoza said with a laugh before Wednesday's National League Game 4 game between the Mets and Phillies at Citi Field.
The reason Mendoza was able to keep a smile on his face was because of his strong will to the contrary.
Mendoza left Manaea and struck out Harper on three pitches before Nick Castellanos grounded into a double play.
Manaea roared off the mound, retired in the seventh inning, and was pulled in the eighth, giving the Mets a 7-2 victory.
Even a day after the benefit of time and trust in the starters had taken effect, Mendoza brought a seemingly sick Manaea into the game when Reed Garrett was fully warmed up. I couldn't fully explain why I kept letting it happen.
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“It's hard to explain,” Mendoza said. “I had some information, but I don't know.
“After the game, it took me a while to feel like…” Mendoza said, exhaling.
In his first year as a major league manager, Mendoza's transition to starting pitching proved longer overall than any other player in today's game.
Perhaps that fact reflects his philosophical feelings about starting pitcher riding, but more likely Mendoza is concerned about when his particular group of starting pitchers can continue. , is likely a reflection of feeling like you know when you can't continue.
Players with arms like Manaea, Jose Quintana, and Luis Severino may have stayed in the game too long when they allowed homers to Harper and Castellanos in similar situations in Game 2; There are many people who want to continue pitching.
“I think [Tuesday] It was probably one of the toughest [decisions of] Because I've had those conversations with Hef all year long. We are getting feedback from Gibby and we are getting the same answer,” Mendoza said. “I took a gamble and I'm glad it worked out. That doesn't always happen.”
Perhaps influencing Mendoza's decision-making was the bullpen, which hasn't gotten much rest over the past two weeks.
Manaea pitched until the eighth inning, leaving Phil Mayton and Ryne Stanek as the only relievers, which helped the Mets heading into Game 4.
“There are going to be days where you want to be aggressive,” Mendoza said, “and there are going to be days when you want to give it your all.”
