Major League Baseball

Wright says World Series loss should motivate Mets this year

Published Feb. 26, 2016 4:30 p.m. ET

foxsports

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) New York Mets star David Wright says the team's showing against Kansas City should fuel their fire this season.

''The motivation we went through last year with losing the World Series, you don't need any more motivation than that,'' Wright said Friday.

''You now understand how hard it is to get that point, the work that's put in and I think that starts here,'' he said. ''That's what Terry is getting through to us and what we kind of understand now. We were an excellent team last year, a great team last year, but that doesn't mean anything this year.''

Manager Terry Collins presided over the NL champions' first full-squad workout of spring training, and hit on the same theme.

''Everything is on the process,'' Collins said. ''Last year is over. We got to enjoy it for a period of time. Now we have to focus on what it's going to be for the next year and what we've got to do.''

''We certainly realize there's going to be a lot of people after us. We get that. I'm of the mind to embrace it as opposed to ignore it. You're naive if you think for one second it's not going to be in your face every day.''

The Mets went 90-72 last year and won their first division title since 2006. They beat the Dodgers in five games in the NL Division Series and swept the Chicago Cubs in the NL Championship Series before losing to the Royals in five games.

Among the highlights from Friday's workout were Matt Harvey, Bartolo Colon and Jeurys Familia throwing live batting practice.

''I watched Harvey and Familia,'' Collins said. ''I teased them both that they were not very friendly to their teammates. They didn't know how to play with others today - but they're also seven days ahead. Very, very good stuff. Very impressive to see them both.''

Harvey said facing batters for the first time this spring was a step in the right direction as he prepares for the season.

''I'm seeing stuff he didn't have last year,'' Collins said. ''I'm seeing that late life, that last giddy-up. I'm seeing better spin on the slider.''

''Every time I see him throw in the bullpen or what I saw, as we talk about the Tommy John (surgery) hangover, there is something to that. This guy's stuff is a little better this year and it was pretty good last year. I'm very excited to see the way Matt's throwing,'' he said.