Yesterday Chris wrote an article that read in between the lines of some of Mickey Callaway’s soundbites, and it brought up the story of Brodie Van Wagenen making an in-game decision. The move in question happened back on June 1st when Jacob deGrom was pitching in Arizona. After giving up two doubles and a run (although the run came on an infield single and an error) Van Wagenen by some means ordered Callaway to remove the ace from the game. With the team up 4-1 and deGrom only at 89 pitches the move was certainly questionably, but if it was anyone else but deGrom the move would not have been as criticized. Jeurys Familia then proceeded to give up three runs while still being credited for a hold since the Mets had a good lead. This lead eventually was given away and then the home Diamondbacks walked off in extras.
Additionally, the team’s decision to use closer Edwin Diaz in a strictly closer role has driven fans mad, but this also seems to stem from the GM’s office. This extension of the front office into the manager’s office is cited as one of the reasons for Callaway’s outburst on Sunday, although it was still inexcusable.
It is hard to see why the Mets are using Diaz in this way. Everyone can see that analytics favor using your best pitchers in the toughest situations. While Diaz has been a step down from previous years, he is still pitching an incredible 0.60 FIP in high-leverage situations. That number jumps to above 4.00 in medium and low-leverage situations. Callaway used Familia in a non-traditional closer role in 2018, making it clearly evident that he is not the one responsible for Diaz’s lack of use recently. It strange to see a pitcher so overused and then suddenly used not at all.
Also, it is hard to discern who is writing the lineup cards. Is Callaway really this stubborn in Robinson Cano (.631 OPS) or is this an example of regret minimization by the GM?
The friction between Van Wagenen and Callaway is understandable. Usually it makes sense for the owner to let a GM chose its manager but teams like the Mets (and sadly the Jets too) seem to disregard that logic. While some creative difference can be healthy, it certainly does not appear the dynamic between the two leaders is working. We all can see that this will only end one way, it’s just a shame the Mets decided to waste a season figuring this out.
We should not blame GM Van Wagenen for the actions of agent Van Wagenen that left us paying an absorbent amount to Todd Frazier and Jason Vargas, who have only really recently started to contribute. However, we should blame him for the Cano trade. Jay Bruce walking off last night made this regret all too real.
But who we blame we must praise, and the Mets’ GM deserves praise for how he executed his first draft. By selecting a multitude of college seniors like Jake Magnum and Nathan Jones the Mets were able to save money and sign Matthew Allen in the third round.
Returning to the point, the Van Wagenen-Callaway relationship will obviously be closely monitored from here on out, and it will go down as one of the major causes for the Mets decline this season.
BVW has hamstrung the Mets payroll for 2020 and the foreseeable future. Callaway keeps batting Cano third every day as a middle finger reminder of what the GM has given Callaway to work with. Bullpen mismanagement is on Mickey but the lack of depth at SP is on the GM. The Mets are a mess. Infielders playing the outfield. No true CF again for the umpteenth time. Pitchers who still don’t know how to pitch. Sorry state of affairs with no end in sight.. Let’s go Mets and the trade deadline. No hope. No future. No front office. No manager. What’s there not to like???
Did Brody sign Vargas? I thought that was pre-Brody. I have zero regrets about dumping Jay Bruce. He was more of a stiff than Cano by a long shot. Cheaper though. It was a bad trade full stop but I have zero remorse that Jay Bruce is not a Met.