Carlos Mendoza’s hunch to start Jeff McNeil pays dividends for Mets
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Carlos Mendoza’s hunch to start Jeff McNeil pays dividends for Mets

It wasn’t so much Jose Iglesias chasing pitches as missing a couple in the strike zone that convinced his manager to look in a different direction Friday. Carlos Mendoza inserted Jeff McNeil into the starting lineup at second base for Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, placing Iglesias…

Francisco Alvarez’s ugly night won’t come with any Mets changes
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Francisco Alvarez’s ugly night won’t come with any Mets changes

Carlos Mendoza shut down the speculation immediately.  “Alvie is playing tomorrow,” the Mets manager said after the 8-0, Game 3 loss to the Dodgers at Citi Field on Wednesday.  But the speculation concerning the playing time of Francisco Alvarez exists for a reason: The young catcher, who generally does plenty…

Mets still control own destiny if they can halt untimely funk in time
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Mets still control own destiny if they can halt untimely funk in time

MILWAUKEE — The Mets are losing crucial games here, but at least they are picking up useful info. The most obvious knowledge they’ve gathered so far is this: If they are lucky enough to qualify for the playoffs — and yes, despite not winning once on this trip, they remain…

David Peterson’s latest Mets outing leaves Carlos Mendoza raving
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David Peterson’s latest Mets outing leaves Carlos Mendoza raving

The Mets don’t know when — or if — Kodai Senga is coming back to the rotation.  And Jose Quintana has been far from his best of late.  But they’ve gotten a complete-game shutout from Luis Severino over the weekend and a strong outing by Sean Manaea, which gave them…

Mets’ Tyrone Taylor makes Carlos Mendoza look like ‘genius’
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Mets’ Tyrone Taylor makes Carlos Mendoza look like ‘genius’

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Tyrone Taylor, an ostensible fourth outfielder, thought his surprising ascension up the Mets lineup, all the way to No. 2, was “cool.”  It does not sound as if it will last, but it was cool while it lasted.  Taylor, a player whose on-field performance seems much…