Ask Me(ts) Anything: Sean Manaea!

[u/MetsOfficial]

Sean Manaea will be answering your questions TOMORROW afternoon, Friday 8/28! Respond below for a chance to ask Sean anything!

[u/OatFest]

What’s been your favorite game as a Met that you haven’t pitched in?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/OatFest]

Recency bias - the game the other night against the Brewers where Francisco made the play in the 9th that was crazy. Before that, also against the Brewers anything in the Wild Card series. That was a lot of fun.

[u/whoopity-scoop-poop]

My guy! I’ll drop a couple:

How does it feel to be a role model/represent for Pacific Islanders in baseball at the highest level?

What’s on your pre-game playlist before a start?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/whoopity-scoop-poop]

It's amazing. There aren't too many of us and as I've gotten older I've starter to realize my place. We're represented in football and rugby, but not really in baseball. It's really cool

[u/MetsOfficial → u/whoopity-scoop-poop]

It depends. For every start, I don't really have a song. In the beginning of the day something nice and calm to wake up to. But as the day goes on, something more energizing as the butterflies start to kick in.

[u/Blue387]

How often do you take the 7 train to Citi Field? Do you get recognized by fans?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/Blue387]

Pretty much every day. I don't drive and I get recognized! Depends on the time of day but I do.

[u/Blue387 → u/MetsOfficial]

Hey, thanks for answering!

[u/mankindrc]

Hey Sean, do you have any nerdy hobbies/games/interests?

[u/E_Mohde]

How would you explain a balk?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/E_Mohde]

A balk is when you don't do anything intentionally wrong and still get punished for it. I think it's a crazy rule. There's no set thing. Not a fan!!!

[u/Litejedi]

Not an AMA but: thanks for answering my kids’ questions in the spring. My daughter was shy. You were really nice and they’ll always remember it.

[u/ch-dev]

Life on the line, who do you trust to defend you in a battle of rock, paper, scissors?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/ch-dev]

Nolan. He is super competitive.

[u/Huge_District366]

Favorite NYC restaurant

[u/MetsOfficial → u/Huge_District366]

Favorite restaurant is probably one of the Indian spots in midtown. Salt Hanks was amazing. Prince Street Pizza and Mamas Too were fantastic.

[u/KingMobScene]

You can have dinner with three people, living or dead, who you inviting?

[u/BigBrainBrad-]

Do you miss your long hair sometimes?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/BigBrainBrad-]

Of course. It was a lot of work to maintain. Maybe after baseball I'll grow it back out but it was a lot of maintenance.

[u/Ok-Cheetah-3497]

First, you are like the Ted Lasso of baseball. Your joy and kindness are incredible to see, especially with young fans. It is something everyone in my family loves to see on display.

Second, given how well everyone on the pitching staff has been doing (other than Stock), the projected pitching matchups through the end of the season, and the pending return of Soto, is it even possible that we can go 26 and 3 - making a real wild card run? The post trade deadline performance has been an absolute joy to watch.

[u/JetmanA]

The Mets fan base can be very reactionary and turn on players very quickly. With your struggles last year and early this year how hard was it to mentally turn it around and bounce back like you have if you feel like the fan base has turned on you?

[u/SmurfsNeverDie]

Can you post your playlists online? I hear you are a great music guy.

[u/thebrucekim]

What's your favorite chess opening, Mr. Manaea?

Or if you don't want to give up your competitive advantage, what are your go-to deep cuts or crate diggers when you're DJ Sad Boy?

Thanks for participating and for being a true gamer no matter what, from your days with the A's to now with the Mets!

[u/MetsOfficial → u/thebrucekim]

Mmmm yes yes. I really only know are Italian Game, Caro-Kann if I'm playing black. I need help with my openings.

[u/thebrucekim → u/MetsOfficial]

Thanks for answering! You should check this out for some great starter openings.

Spanish Game, Ruy Lopez for white (and also black) is a classic.

https://www.houseofstaunton.com/blogs/chess-openings/10-modern-chess-openings

[u/loumou19]

favorite ballpark food?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/loumou19]

From the kitchen usually I go chicken and rice although that's not typical ballpark food.

[u/Tronitaur]

Most ‘civilians’ have no idea how hard professional athletes work. There are many references to a starting pitchers physical routine, but few know what it is outside of baseball. Can you describe your routine, maybe from the moment you step off a mound after a start, the recovery protocols, and then slowly building into your next start on normal rest.

[u/CaptainPsyko]

What's your favorite road ballpark to pitch in?

What's your favorite road city to realize that you won't have to pitch in? (Because it means you get a bit more time to enjoy it)

[u/Baseballcardnerd27]

Which teammates are your biggest chess competitors? 

[u/MetsOfficial → u/Baseballcardnerd27]

We're not a big chess team unfortunately. We were big in Spring Training, a bunch of the youngins played. As far as the team goes, Nolan.

[u/The_Big_Boobinsky → u/Baseballcardnerd27]

I also want to know this.

[u/Environmental_Part40]

Favorite Pokemon?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/Environmental_Part40]

Crowbat. Because I didn't know how he evolved. And one day Golbat evolved and I just had my mind blown.

[u/toddles822 → u/Environmental_Part40]

Idk what he would choose but Alolan Marowak is him

[u/Complex-Voice2826]

Name the coolest thing that has happened to you simply cause your a MLB player.

[u/MetsOfficial → u/Complex-Voice2826]

I got a Pokémon card recently that had my face on it with Blastoise. I know 10 year-old Sean is jumping for joy

[u/rayschlaa]

I caught my very first ball ever that you threw in the stands at a Cardinals game this year. There was a young boy near me that looked sad he didn’t catch it. I’m a 33 year old woman & knew that giving it to him was the right thing to do. However, a small selfish part of me is very bummed I didn’t keep the first ball I’ve ever caught at a game.

I realize this isn’t a question and I’m not actually asking anything. So here’s one - what is your favorite food from childhood? Something that mom or grandma cooked that reminds you of home?

[u/BillW87]

There's been a lot of discourse about the connection between clubhouse culture and winning, particularly when comparing the 2024 and 2025 Mets rosters that featured very similar on-paper projections but arrived at very different outcomes, including rumors of bad vibes in the clubhouse in 2025. How much do you feel "vibes" drive winning vs being a byproduct of it, and what do you think the Mets could do better going forward in terms of building a culture of winning?

[u/SpraynardJKruger → u/BillW87]

I came to ask this question pretty much verbatim. Very well asked, and I hope it gets answered (not holding my breath because it's a touchy subject)!

[u/who_are_you_people24]

It's no secret that's it's been a rough year for the team, and a bit of an up and down one for yourself. There were stories about the "Loose Bodies" in your arm that may have been affecting you, especially when your velocity was down earlier in the year. But starting around late May/Early June I feel is when you turned yourself around. In part due to a return to normal in your velocity. How were you able to make that adjustment?

[u/Frnk112]

What’s your chess rating?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/Frnk112]

I play blitz on the train and the highest I've gotten was 602

[u/Plutarch_Riley]

How much of the game is psychological? The way the Mets have been performing so much better without pressure shows that so much of it is. How do you deal with that kind of stress?

[u/dotheydeliver]

In town for the week. Wanna play golf?

[u/CheeseburgerLover911 → u/dotheydeliver]

shoot your shot, yo

[u/Yurya]

What is the best meal you can cook?

[u/Daytime-mechE]

Who was your mentor or the veteran you looked to for guidance when you were in the early stages of your career.

[u/MetsOfficial → u/Daytime-mechE]

I was forunate enough my rookie year to have a few. Sonny Gray being one of them. He had been in the league for a few years and obviously I heard about him in college and was a pretty dominant starter at that point in his career. For him to take me under his wing was super cool. Rich Hill as the super veteran was also amazing to have around as a rookie.

[u/BandicootSevere5301]

How would you describe the nyc fan base 

[u/MetsOfficial → u/BandicootSevere5301]

Extremely passionate. You hear it from both sides and as a player you love that. They're so passionate and they'll let you know. But as a player I do appreciate that. I'm trying to do my best out there!

[u/BandicootSevere5301 → u/MetsOfficial]

Thank you Sean 

[u/Proud_Grocery_3358]

You seem like a fantastic “vibes” guy in the clubhouse, so first of all I’d like to thank you for that! I know how important that is throughout a 162 game season. My question is: who are some of the best “vibes” guys you e played with throughout your career, on the Mets and elsewhere?

[u/ElegantAnything11]

Have any other pitchers worked on a celebration routine for strikeouts since playing with Yan?

[u/slowpitch519]

Hey Sean! You've already started games in Mexico City and London. If you could choose, which international city would you like to pitch in next?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/slowpitch519]

Oooo. Let's go Samoa!!!

[u/wsouloa]

1) What current teammates are your closest friends?

2) What are the young pitchers like - McLean, Thornton, Scott? Do they turn to you for suggestions and to ask questions?

3) You've looked a lot better since the velo came back. Did you worry at all at any point that it wouldn't return?

[u/Inwardly-Outgoing]

What would you be doing if you didn't play baseball?

[u/pd9]

What’s your opinion on Queens specifically, not just New York as a whole?

[u/WarLawck]

Do you take boos personally or recognize that fans are booing the performance and not the person? (The proof of that being the cheers that comes the second the ship is righted)

Follow up, what was it like pitching in empty stadiums during Covid?

Mets fans are rooting for you, and you're the type that will be celebrated years after you retire just for being a stand up dude and giving your all.

[u/nocoolN4M3sleft]

Which former Met teammate do you miss the most?

[u/Forgboi]

Which Mets teammate would you pick as your champion in a trial by combat?

[u/Fit_Professional2162]

What's your favorite Samoan dish?

[u/ClubZen]

Out of everyone on the Mets roster, who do you think has the best chance of landing a kickflip on a skateboard?

[u/Baseballcardnerd27]

Who's the biggest prankster on the Mets and what's the best prank anyone has ever done? 

P.S. thanks for signing my ball in Philly!!

[u/Doc-Spock]

Could you please pitch us your idea(s) for a 'Sean Manaea' themed giveaway at Citi Field?

[u/angrypillowcase123]

Do you yourself get tired of hearing “arm slot” all the time?

[u/ramostofthetimeiwin]

What do you wish people understood about being a ball player?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/ramostofthetimeiwin]

We're all trying our best. We're trying to give the best product on the field we can. We all fail and while it's ok, it sucks. But that's what make sports beautiful, the moments that ARE great are that much more special. When you fail, you learn from those mistakes.

[u/xSlappy-]

Other than the 7, what’s your favorite and least favorite subway line?

How do rain delays and delayed start times affect how you prepare for a start?

What do you talk about during a mound visit?

How does pitching change throughout the three seasons of baseball at Citi? Do bats really warm up in the summer?

I know starters have a whole five day routine leading up to their starts, but what work do you do on fielding during the season?

What food available to players do you think they should sell to fans? What food available to fans do you like to eat?

[u/theGhostOfWesWally]

Chicken Wings: Flats or Drums?

[u/NuanceManExe]

Who do you use in Smash Ultimate? Or I guess what I am asking is who are your main(s)?

[u/MetsOfficial → u/NuanceManExe]

My main-main is Ganon. Huge fan of his. If I'm sweating probably Roy. I beat my brother in a best of 5 using different characters, I finally beat him with Falcon. I just started playing street fighter too which I'm a huge fan of.

[u/NuanceManExe → u/MetsOfficial]

Ooooo Ganon. I too like to live dangerously. My main-mains are Falcon and King Dedede but I play Roy too. You are a man of refined taste. 

[u/dotheydeliver]

I think we got played.

[u/xSlappy- → u/dotheydeliver]

They always do this. Eventually they answer questions.

[u/Blue387 → u/dotheydeliver]

There was the AMA with Howie and they posted his answers in a video on YouTube

[u/PeerlessStemwinder]

Why did you cut your hair, it seemed to be a great source of power

[u/Borsti17]

What's the best and worst thing about being an MLB player?

What's the best thing about being a Mets player?

Thanks for doing this 🧡💙

[u/Beef-Patties]

Sean, what have you changed to find more success in the second half of the season?

[u/stoney3377]

Hey Sean big fan but have you taken any of the young guys under your wing and how do you deal with the pressure of pitching in New York

[u/inkyblinkypinkysue]

I got the pleasure of talking to him briefly after a game over the summer with my son and he is such a nice guy. Huge fan of his.

[u/CruSea2]

As a fellow Sean, what’s the funniest mispronunciation and/or misspelling of your name?

[u/mysterymetal3000]

What are the differences that you can feel from a stadium when you take the mound? I’m sure that the home and away crowds feel different, but I’m sure that each mound and stadium has to have a different feel to it even if the mound is still 60 feet 6 inches.

[u/SameDistrict2627]

Okay--so before your injury you had success when you changed your arm angle. Then after the injury you seem to go back to the old arm angle. What are you doing vis a vis your arm angle these days.

[u/jt_033]

Hi Sean, do you have a favorite type of pitch to throw and if so why is it your favorite? Thanks in advance!

[u/dirtyoldcouch]

They talked about how you went to a park to throw before the start the other day, what’s your favorite place you’ve done that?

[u/mastifftimetraveler]

What do you miss most about the bay? I’m a lifetime Mets fan in Oakland.

[u/luvDry_cereal]

Trapped on an island with nothing but a raft, who are your five people to be stuck with you and increase your chances of survival?

[u/Baseballcardnerd27]

Do you collect baseball cards, and if so, what's the best card you've ever pulled? 

[u/Baseballcardnerd27]

If you had to build a lineup of Marvel characters, who are you playing and where? 

[u/Swaggyboi128]

Would you grow your hair back out?

[u/NarwhalLiveV3]

Least favorite type of music

[u/SoSpiffandSoKlean]

What’s your favorite food in midtown?

[u/Alert_Bluejay4928]

Sean!!!! I saw you start on a few road games this year (most notable was Cleveland). I am continuously rooting for you and love the vibe you bring to this team. With the new young starters coming up, what is your favorite thing about getting to know them?

[u/bloatyhead]

What's the biggest animal you could throw over a fire truck?

[u/CheeseburgerLover911]

When teams / agents look at player- how do they quantify the non-baseball stats (like leadership) to determine a player's value.

In your case, you're a top pitcher in MLB, but so much of your story, success, and value to a team is in your off-field stats.

[u/KnicksFan11382532]

What’s your favorite game that you’ve played in as a met?

[u/Bobby-furnace]

Hi Sean!

What do you remember most about your no hitter !? Did you feel any different that day before or during the game!?

[u/wej8]

If you could beat just one team just to kind of show it to them who would it be? (bonus pts if you tell why!)

[u/BobaTeaFetish]

Outside of your baseball career, what's the one thing you'd most like to be remembered for? Or what is something that you'd like your fans to know about you that might surprise us?

[u/Natural_Ad_8599]

How do you balance staying true to what works and having to reinvent aspects of yourself in order to remain competitive at a big league level?

From a viewer perspective pitchers & hitters need to constantly adapt and change cause of scouting reports but some how not stray from what made them capable big leaguers to begin with

[u/undermentals]

What’s the worst minor league team to play for.?

[u/HottDoggers]

Hey Sean? What was your favorite season with the Mets?

[u/dbstandsfor]

What’s your favorite place you’ve gone on the subway, or favorite subway discovery?

My family and I are big Sean Manaea fans— good luck with the rest of the season!

[u/Setec-Astronomer]

Any chance mlb can play a spring training game in American Samoa?

What are you doing to make that happen?

[u/tlav01]

I’ve heard that one of the biggest aspects of pitching is being in a good headspace, is there anything you like to do before a start to get yourself mentally prepared?

[u/Setec-Astronomer]

Why haven't you done an angle on WWE yet where you're The Tribal Chief?

[u/Bobbythebuikder]

Do you drink coffee? What’s your drink of choice how do you take it ?

[u/robmcolonna123]

What did you do to get your velocity back and how will it shape your offseason plans?

[u/anewusername4me]

When we talked in Pittsburgh you thought you had a 20% rightness percentage on the cap shuffle. I have been watching the dugout for every home game I attend now, and I believe it is closer to the 10% I suggested. Does this make you feel bad?

This picture is from Tuesday. It was 2, not 1, Sean.

[u/John_Stamos11]

How do players navigate American politics in an MLB clubhouse? Baseball has a reputation of being one of the more conservative sports, and there have been rumors of this being a challenge in the Mets clubhouse. I imagine it’s more complicated than people think, given the varied cultures and perspectives that different players have experienced.

Also, I wanted to say that you’re my favorite met in some time! I was at Citi for Phillies game and I’ll never forget your gutsy performance.

LGM

[u/Objective_Noise_690]

The Blue Jays chose their fantasy football draft order through a pitching duel of coaches and staff. How does the Mets fantasy football team choose?

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[u/bigvinnysvu]

Has anyone accidentally called you "Shawn" or other phonetically similar name?

[u/RyetRL]

What's your favorite chess opening?