When the Mets announced the somewhat unexpected choice of
former Cleveland Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway to become the 21st
manager, most folks were pretty surprised.
After all, Callaway had no major league managerial experience and
pitching didn’t seem to be the problem with the club that needed addressing.
Still, when he attended the initial series of press
conferences he exuded the enthusiasm, confidence and words of creativity that
had been sorely lacking after the somnambulant regime he was replacing.
He talked a good game about changing the
culture, improving communications and instilling a winning attitude. When Mickey got off to a roaring start in
2018, everyone from the fans to the owners to the GM were at risk of doing
themselves an injury by enthusiastically patting themselves on the back for
having bought into Callaway’s rhetoric.
Of course, then came the losing, the injuries and the (ahem)
questionable decision making that helped cement the 2018 losing record.
Now some maintain that the lineup construction
plays little on the outcome of the games and that’s a point which is highly
debatable, but the in-game decision making about where to have fielders
position themselves, how long to leave pitchers in the game, who to have pinch
hit and when, and various other nuanced choices do bear a direct relation on
the probability of winning or losing.
Benching hot hands and playing cold ones for extended periods will also
impact outcomes, but let’s assume for the moment that lineup decisions are not
where the manager earns his paycheck.
As 2018 unfolded and as 2019 has begun, most would agree
that the bullpen usage has been puzzling (to choose a charitable word). Leaving pitchers in way too long while
yanking starters way too soon has been a pattern that’s led to some losses that
might not otherwise have occurred.
When a group of fellow Mets fans began to debate Callaway’s
performance as manager thus far, the general consensus was “Meh!” For the most part I think his lineup
construction was better than what we saw from his predecessor, but that’s really
only setting the bar at limbo champion height.
His in-game decision making continues to be ponderous at times, but I do
applaud the fire we’re seeing this year as he made wind up leading the league
in getting ejected.
I think he knows he’s
on a relatively short leash as he was not BVW’s choice. Having Jim Riggleman brought in to reinforce
the managerial fundamentals (if not to be the interim manager-in-waiting) is
probably partly a motivational tool to inspire Mickey to stay focused on
winning.
At this juncture Mickey’s NY Mets managerial winning
percentage is under .500 at .484 during his less-than-200 games at the helm. His predecessor turned in a 7-year record of
.486, so it’s probably not fair to evaluate Callaway with such a small resume
of work. However, the similar output is
partly why he’s been dubbed Terry II.
Methinks the club should aspire to more than treading water when it
comes to who is going to inspire players and motivate them to win while
ensuring they execute they fundamentals.
Thus far MC has been rightfully hammered for failing to do so.
A lot falls on the organization for 2018.
ReplyDeleteJeff McNeil could have been called up sooner. he is hitting .363, and hit .329 last year, while Jose Reyes hit .189, for example.
The organization tried to scrape by with a crappy bench and a crappy pen - and were lucky to get 77 wins.
Of course, Mickey had his share to contribute last year, too.
This year, he is sitting some guys a little too much, I know Smith is hitting well, but why sit Alonso to give him a blow, against a key division rival, when the following day is a non-travel off day? Did Philly sit Harper to rest him when the Mets started a lefty? Nope - no way Bryce sits.
And starting Todd Frazier over JD Davis for 3 straight games upon his return, to me, is a mistake, as I honestly will be surprised if Frazier exceeds Reye's .189 figure of 2018. JD was hitting well for weeks - and you just sit him 3 straight games? I would be demoralized if I were JD.
Keon Broxton should not start any more, unless someone is hurt. I'd rather see him head to AAA to (if possible) get hot by playing every day, then bring him back.
All to say, the Mets think the pen will resolve itself, but other than Edwin Diaz, it is the same nightmare as last year - or worse. Something needs to be done soon if this pen ship does not right itself.
Mickey's starters are much better, by and large, than the pen - as a pitching expert, he should encourage them to not feel they have to fan everyone and try to keep pitch counts down and get another inning in now and then - and avoid the bullpen.
Surprisingly, due in part to better offense, the pen is 5-2 without Diaz, but with just 1 out of 4 in saves and 65 runs in 81 innings. That won't do - management needs to give Micket adequate pen performance.
I scratch my head a lot at the decisions made in the dugout. Not as much as TC but still...
ReplyDeleteYou can't pin down where the decisions are being made here. I worked in a company like this. One President that came to town every week and told me what to do... another EVP who flew in the following week and moved all the pieces back.
Lots of people quit us because of this which you don't see in this world of big money and air tight contracts.
I give him an INC for now and credit Brodie for giving him a better team to screw around with.
Let me put it this way...
ReplyDeleteMy NY Giants passed on QB Haskings and drafted Jones out of Duke.
I think it is a nuts move but it will take 4-5 years to prove if I am right or wrong.
Does Mickey have 4-5 years?
Ugh, giants threw Snacks away for nothing (5th rounder) and then they burn the 17th pick on another nose tackle. Circular, penny-pinching, and Wilpon-esque!
ReplyDeleteWhere was Kevin Costner when you needed him, Mack?
ReplyDeleteI have a solution for the Mets involving Adeiny H:
ReplyDeleteTodd Frazier, mostly in the minors, has played 200 games in the outfield. So he might be rusty out there, but he's done it a lot. He can do it.
I would demote Broxton, use Frazier in the OF occasionally, and call up Hechevarria as a back up IF, unless he has some weird contract if he makes the big leagues that is too costly.
Problem number one with that plan is that Broxton is out of options. You gave away a lot to get him, so you either keep hoping or cut him loose.
ReplyDeleteEverything changes when Lowrie comes back.
ReplyDeleteI see the starting iF as Alonso, Cano, Lowrie, and Frazier
Rosario and Dom come off the bench
We know who is catching.
McNeil, Nimmo, and Conforto are a fixture in the outfield
We do need a quality 4th OFer. but this is a good friggen team