The seat on which New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway sits has suddenly become very warm. Just as it seemed that his team had begun to pull things together, even reaching the .500 mark again with a victory against the Nationals on Tuesday night. Callaway had needed that little stretch of winning games, considering that he had been involved in a meeting with Jeff Wilpon and Brodie Van Wagenen on May 10. According to Callaway, it was a meeting on how the team could “be better,” and his team responded with an 11-2 win. Flash forward to one week later, and Callaway has found himself in the same exact spot he was a week ago.
Finding themselves in the exact same spot is a great description of the New York Mets under Callaway’s tenure. After he struggled in his first season with the team, it seemed like this year he would be able to run with the new toys that Van Wagenen had gifted him. While there are still holes on this roster, it is certainly more to work with than what Callaway had last season. So far, the team has flat out failed expectations. The Mets most certainly have the talent, and they are only three games under .500, but something needs to happen for the team to build some momentum. The Mets have not had an extended good stretch of games under Callaway since September of last season, so it is becoming harder and harder by the loss to believe that another great stretch is going to come soon.
Perhaps this is exactly why the Mets hired Jim Riggleman during the offseason. After all, it was Van Wagenen who orchestrated the hiring of Riggleman as bench coach during the offseason. If Callaway were to be fired, you’d have to imagine that Riggleman would be the one to step up for the job. After all, he has done it with the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, and Washington Nationals. Midseason firings have worked in the past, with some teams catching momentum, and as crazy as it sounds, even winning the World Series after firing their manager midseason. That is of course a rare scenario, and not something to be expected if the Mets were to let go of Callaway.
The main issue with Callaway’s style of management is that nothing remains consistent with his teams. In the beginning of the season, it seemed as if he was pushing all of the right buttons with the lineup, and that his squad had all of the answers in the batter’s box. Somewhere along the line, the batting approach changed, and the team batting average went from .255 in April to the lowly .225 that it sits at now in May.
It has been a short time for Callaway in the blue and orange. Coming from Cleveland to New York with no experience as the definitive leader of a team, Callaway faced a lot of pressure coming in. So far, this is pressure that he has been unable to handle. In the end, this and his inconsistencies might cost him his job.
Broadie built the team around a 36 year old cheater who is in his post steroid year. A forger all star who has not only been promoted by the Mets’ advertising, but is emulated by some of the young kids, including Rosario.
Lost in stats is team psychology.
Beat writers are reluctant to call out certain behavior as it can impact their relation w the team.
Winning is contagious. So is the lack of hustle. For Cano, it is routine.
It’s hard to blame a manager from disciplining a player who makes 30 x his salary, is emulated by team, promoted by PR add, and would bring the ire of his boss (the architect of surrendering prospect & taking on albatross salary) upon his own head.
https://nypost.com/2019/05/18/robinson-canos-loafing-strikes-again-and-mets-are-the-victims/
“Cano currently holds a 93 OPS+ and ranks as the second-worst defensive second baseman in MLB in defensive runs saved. The Mets are in the first of five seasons in which they’re on the hook for $120 million total.”
While Mickey Callaway is certainly not a very creative or inspirational manager,
And doesn’t seem too have a magic touch with the pitchers, he is not to blame for this teams mediocrity.
The GM cobbled together a team that only artificially looked good.
Changing managers isn’t going to change much, especially if its to jim riggleman.
Nothing against him, but the Mets need to be bolder.
Riggleman will be a better manager than Callaway. Callaway is terrible about bullpen management where Riggleman is an old pro at handling bullpens. The largest problem the Mets have is not Callaway’s fault but is Van Wagenen’s as he did not sign starting pitching when he well knew Vargas was shaky and Matz always has injury issues. The Mets are now down two starters when Van Wagenen should have prepared for this inevitable outcome. Instead he was forced to trade for Wilmer Font when he should have signed Gio Gonzalez, and offered Gio a starting rotation gig which Waggy failed to do. Gio is pitching really well for the Brewers to the chagrin of the Mets establishment. Keon Broxton was a huge waste of minor league prospects since idiot Van Wagenen traded 3 good minor leaguers for an outfielder who could neither hit or catch the ball. The 2019 Mets issues are Waggy’s fault along with the Wilpon’s refusal to give money to sign MLB good pitching free agents.
Callaway is not the right fit for the Mets. He doesn’t know the National League game. Surprisingly, he has a difficulty managing a starting rotation and he is weak at Bullpen management even though he has a background as a pitching coach . He does not have the fortitude to move Cano from the 3 spot. Someone has to tell Cano that he is the Mets Dave Justice of Moneyball Fame. This team should not be Frazier’s orCano’s team. Conforto and deGrom are the real leaders. Alonzo, McNeil and Diaz should be acknowledged and rewarded for their contributions. Davis and Smith are good bench players that should get the first opportunity the play when it arises. In defense for Callaway, he does Shuffle in these Yonkers players appropriately. I have no confidence that Callaway can right this ship
I meant younger players not Yonkers players!
Haha.
I was trying to figure out what that meant.
Yonkers? The raceway, cross county shopping center, getting lost?
Isn’t Riggleman sitting next to Callaway??? why he is the heir apparent is beyond me. He’ll be another lamb to slaughter..the problem is twofold, vanwaggie and wilpons.
They’ll be no joy in Metsville until the wilpons sell
Let Van Wags pick his own manager. Callaway got off to two good starts. Then they fell apart.
Everyone so easily aims the anger at Callaway. Ok, no one will mistake him for Hodges, but all the complaints sound the same year after year regardless of who is skipper. Can’t construct a line up, can’t manage the pen, can’t bench superstars etc. as this happens repeatedly, shouldn’t everyone be thinking there’s more to this than the guy in the dug out?
Who here thinks that BVW is a wallflower just watching the games from his booth and hoping Callaway punches the right buttons? I thought so. Everyone here knows BVW is actively managing the daily lineups, pen usage etc. Remember BVW sent down everyone’s fascination, Dom Smith, hired Cano to bat 3rd and play 2nd, and said the rotation was fine. Was that on Callaway? I don’t think so. Sure Callaway isnt a genius, but he’s not the cause of this team performing poorly. Did he ruin Jake? No. It’s it his fault Cano can’t hit? No.
Anyone hear Howie t off on Cano??
No. Please tell-tell. And don’t leave anything out.
He went off on Cano, excuse making, bad influence on younger players, naming Amed Rosario as example.
Said he should be running hard even w 2 outs. W his steroid suspension he should be more aware
With his claim of always running hard, “we can show him the video” if he needs it.
Said he was not apologetic
Mickey should have sent a strong signal by sitting him
Howie was angry.
Interesting later Cano said it was the scoreboard’s fault; not his but assigned blame to another:
Rosario.
Said Rosario saud ‘look how we got 2 runs with 2 outs…’
Diaz for Kelenic is one thing but
5 years 100 million for 36 year old post steroid prima donna (knowing the Wilsons w $) by the agent who got the player this contract?
Maybe the dumbest I’ve seen in years.
Broadie ego
Mets are wasting away in Metgaritaville…it’s getting late early, damnit !
Phils will be getting better, Harper is not going to slump all year.. Mets already 4.5 back and being beat up by Marlins…! Really ?? Why is this so hard ?
Dump Calloway, Frazier, Vargas, send Nimmo back to AAA to get his head back on straight, add Girardi, Keuchel, bring up Anthony Kay, let McNeil play third every day, so that he stays there permanently once Cespedes gets back, let JD Davis play LF, replace him in the late innings if needed for defense.
These moves alone would wake up the team.
Otherwise “Come and Get us” will be a hilarious line for the ages.