The New York Mets intend to be contenders in 2022, and they have worked hard to put together a roster worthy of earning that moniker. At the office level, they brought general manager Billy Eppler. To lead the dugout, they hired skipper Buck Showalter. And, to make a difference on the field, they signed Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, and Eduardo Escobar, among others.
Times are changing for the Mets, who have done nothing but disappoint since getting to the World Series in 2015.
Showalter, talking on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, said that he expects his players to give their all with the hope of playing to their full potential.
“There are some great people here. I’ve already seen that. And it’s you know, just kind of create the culture that they can be as good as they’re capable of being. And having the only thing challenge them every day is level play that they have to bring and the concentration that’s required and the effort that’s required. There’s an old expression that effort never goes into a slump. You know, whatever’s happening at home or whatever’s happening off the field and they play that song at 7 o’clock, you better be ready.”
He will expect a lot from his players with the Mets, but wants to be there for them
The new Mets’ manager, a highly experienced leader, also understands that he will have to adjust to his players’ needs just as he expects them to play good, hard baseball.
“You know, I want to eliminate the noise. It’s like with the media, you don’t go into it trying to win it. You try to survive it. And you understand everybody’s doing a job and you’re trying to be respect of what everybody is supposed to bring. Everything’s different. What we had to do in Baltimore, what we had to do in Arizona, or the Yankees back in the 90s, was a different scenario.
“So the ability to adjust to the players’ needs, if it’s important to the players, it better be important to you.”
Winning the World Series with the Mets is the ultimate goal: “My wish is to be there when the last out’s made in the World Series and go up in my office and close the door and listen to people celebrate outside.”