It was a busy day for Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen, who addressed reporters on the latest strange health twist from outfielder (and former client) Yoenis Cespedes and also issued a vote of confidence in manager Mickey Callaway. Matt Ehalt of Yahoo Sports was among those to cover the presser.
With the Mets still reeling ten days after COO Jeff Wilpon called a sit-down with Van Wagenen and Callaway, the temperature on Callaway’s seat in the dugout is warming. Van Wagenen met with players and the coaching staff today to make clear that Callaway remains in charge, then met with the media to make the same point.
As is often the case when head coaches and managers receive a vote of confidence, the message was somewhat mixed. Van Wagenen said that Callaway “has our full support to lead this team for the foreseeable future,” yet raised some doubt as to the meaning of the term “foreseeable” by stopping well shy of giving any assurances that Callaway would be entrusted with the reins for the remainder of the season.
Van Wagenen says that the club’s focus has been the unity between the players and coaching staff. Callaway scores well in that department in the eyes of the rookie GM, who says that his club’s manager “has the pulse of the clubhouse.”
Whether that will remain the standard by which Callaway is judged moving forward isn’t clear. All that does seem clear is that the second-year skipper won’t be canned in the next few weeks. That’d make for a rather embarrassing change of direction after today’s statements. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess whether and when a change might take place.
kiss of death.
Absolutely. He’s gone.
Do GM’s ever come out and say something like, “We have confidence in his ability to manage and probably won’t be here much longer, but good luck”?
Maybe get him better players?
Alonso, McNeil, DeGrom, Syndegaard, Diaz, Familia, Cano, Wheeler, Nimmo not good enough?
Apparently not.
Half of those, NO.
Familia, Cano, Wheeler, Nimmo — Not good
-Alonso is a rookie of the year candidate.
-McNeil has overproduced.
-Nimmo has been a disappointment and can’t make contact.
-Cano is no longer a 3/4 hitter. He is somewhat of a lazy player. But I would try batting him leadoff putting less pressure on the younger guys and make him step up his game for everyone’s sake.
-Degrom and syndergaard have both been pathetic. They’ve talked a big game in the offseason for a couple guys who were quiet and did their job. Now with big contract extensions comes big mouths and puke performances so far. It’s early but these two need to turn it around for this club to start clicking.
-Diaz has been mismanaged as well. For some reason callaway a former pitcher and long time pitching coach should know you’re asking for trouble bringing in your closer in non save situations. Diaz and the club have lost a few games because of those decisions.
Bottom line here is that I don’t see callaway as the right fit. The lineup last season was pathetic and wasted a lot of strong outings from what should be a very good, experienced rotation. The bullpen was awful last season and has only improved a little so far. Now the club adds some decent bats both experienced and unexperienced yet the rotation stinks. Things need to come together by July 1. If not callaway should be let go. He probably was saved for the time being with conforto’s Bad luck injury. He was just starting to really hit the ball hard. Hopefully he returns soon so callaway and the rest of the club get one more chance. (Month or so) to prove this can still work. Although I have my doubts.
Great comment.
WOW. A whole lot of words that made no sense. Congrats.
Never knew that bringing in your closer in a non save situation is asking for trouble. So basically you can’t use your closer at home in an extra inning game.
I never thought using your closer for more than one inning…with the slim lead of course…is a very good idea. Why? It’s because these pitchers these days sure cannot deal with the extra work without soon landing on the DL with some arm or elbow problem. The days of guys like Dennis eckersely, Mariano Rivera, goose Gossage, Rollie fingers, Troy Percival, Trevor hoffman and Hell way back to Hoyt Wilhelm, etc are well over. But even those guys weren’t usually asked to get 5-6 outs each night. But they could if asked. And they didn’t have to go through tommy john surgery quickly as a result! These guys today just can’t do it. And I really don’t like it using your closer when your tied on the road. Maybe at home in the top of the 9th. Callaway and Diaz have been burned 2/2 chances this season so my guess is to say NO to that idea.
Well said Brad.
Fire Chili. That seems to fix offenses.
I hate I say ‘i told you so’ when it comes to Chili but… Actually, I quite enjoy it…
When did Dolan buy the Mets?
“You’re a nice guy, can we still be friends?”
Every Man fears the F-word.
“Foreseeable future” = end of the week if you’re lucky
Well, they won tonight but I agree if it’s a losing homestand it’s over.
Get Joe Girardi while you still can!!
Right!?
Joe has too much class.
I have never understood the phrase “foreseeable future.” None of the future is foreseeable. It hasn’t happened yet.
Yoenis Cespedes will not be helping the Mets climb out of their hole in the foreseeable future. Apparently he just fell into one.
Said it on another thread deal Syndergaard to the Pads. The Pads need a veteran starter and the Pads system is loaded.
Both teams could benefit from a blockbuster, as a proverbial shot in the arm!
Yea because a team in contention for a playoff spot is gonna trade a starter with his value a quarter into the season. This ain’t PlayStation or Xbox bro.
Since when is 4 games under .500 “in contention for a playoff spot”?
How much value does a starter with a 4.50 ERA and a history of injuries have? The guy has never finished a major league season without going on the DL.
Why would the Padres want him if he’s such a bust? “Since when is 4 games under .500 in contention for a playoff spot?” When you’ve only played a grand total of 46 six games, are only 4 games out of the second WC. These are things every sensible fan realizes. Padres fans stop with the ridiculous trade proposals, because it’s sad. Just wait till your teams day comes..maybe 2021 omfg
Dear Mr. Calloway, This means that Management is looking for your replacement.
“Foreseeable Future” = “There’s nobody in-house to replace him with and we need to be coy about conducting interviews”
As a Marlins fan, and I can speak for Marlins, Braves, Phillies, and Nats fans when I say, it is great being in the NL East. No matter how bad any of our teams are at any given moment, we can still count on the Mets to be more dysfunctional and a bigger laughing stock within the division.
Please…
You guys haven’t been worth crap since 2003.
When they won the World Series. When’s the last time the Mets hoisted the championship flag…Rhetorical of course.
Based on the chatter and guarantees that Mets fans and the NY media offer the Mets have almost as many championships as the Yankees. Didn’t you see their dynasty led by deGrom, Harvey, Syndergaard, Matz, and Wheeler? Greatest pitching staff ever!
Charlie, we haven’t won crap, but the Mets continue to be the laughing stock of the division when they aren’t being the comic relief.
The Mets expect Calloway to turn this team into a competitive contender? Really? This team is performing exactly how the should. They dont have any superstars. If they were to win anything the 88 Dodgers would then have company as the worst WS team.
5-21-19 here we go again