I participate in a couple of ongoing text exchanges with Mets
fans. On the one not related to this
site, there was an interesting question posed recently that really caught me
somewhat off guard. Here’s the hypothetical…going
into July it seemed as if Mickey Callaway might not even make it until the end
of the season. Speculation was already
rampant about Joe Girardi, Buck Showalter and others who might be available as
mid-season replacements.
Now with the advent of the winning streak fueled by a lot of
offense from Michael Conforto and Amed Rosario while Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso
have cooled off a bit, what is his future?
Then came the bombshell question.
If the Mets somehow pulled off a miraculous run into the post-season,
would Mickey be a serious candidate for Manager of the Year?
Personally, I think the unheralded Mike
Shildt of the Cardinals who sports a combined record as interim skipper in 2018 and full
time manager in 2019 of 68-44, keeping the Cards in 1st place
should get the nod. However, it’s not as crazy a question as it would have been a
month ago. In fact, who’d have even asked that question with a straight face?
Clearly, when Mickey assumed the helm he seemed in over his head
and his early managerial mistakes with lineups, double switches and other aspects
of the game we take for granted made it seem like the out-of-the-box thinking
by the Wilpons in hiring him was more likely because missing the box meant he
came at a bargain price. He was inked to
a three-year deal worth approximately $850K per season which would put him in
the lowest quintile of managers in the majors, though interestingly ahead of
the Braves’ Brian Snitker, the Red Sox’ Alex Cora and the Phillies’ Gabe
Kapler. Still, compared to the $6
million per year Joe Maddon, Bruce Bochy and Mike Scioscia get, that’s chump
change.
What was truly puzzling to most Mets fans was the lackluster
effort from his staff. He was brought
here as a pitching guru, yet many of his hurlers were struggling mightily. The first shoe dropped when BVW suggested to
Dave Eiland he might want to consider employment elsewhere. Most were interpreting that to mean Mickey
Callaway’s ice had gotten even thinner.
He was the next one at risk of breaking through and drowning.
When they then announced the new blood being brought in to
help the staff was 82 year old Phil Regan who was a contemporary of Sandy
Koufax, the media and fans had an LOLmets field day.
Well, it may appear that BVW is having the last laugh as the
pitching line since Regan’s arrival has been pretty terrific. The club ERA including bullpen meltdowns is
still a very respectable 3.89 ERA with 317 strikeouts in 303 IP. They are 18-15 over that stretch and boast a
better than 3:1 strikeout to walk ratio.
Wow, throw strikes, get better results…what a concept!
So now let’s get back to the question at hand. If the Mets continue their winning ways, how much
credit does Mickey deserve, how much does Phil Regan deserve and, shockingly,
how much does Brodie Van Wagenen deserve?
It’s amazing what a winning streak does for people’s attitudes. More importantly, since he was not hired by
BVW, does he survive to fulfill the third year of his contract?
8 comments:
If the Mets make it to, and win, the World Series, it will because of the pitching.
And the pitching was put together this year by BVW, not Mickey.
Still, you can't fire a WS manager.
Right?
Right?
Ask Yogi
Despite the recent hot streak, his overall body of work is underwhelming, IMO.
I prefer an alternative, but it makes sense to wait until the offseason.
I believe in quid pro quo. If a mgr is given an excessive share of blame for failure, he should get a similar share of credit for succes.
I still feel that a mgr is responsible for +/- 4-5 games a year but credit is just as due as criticism.
But to temper this discussion a bit, if the Mets get into the post-season but fall short of the pennant, do those who have advocated his firing still feel that it's the right thing to do
If a better candidate is available who could have taken the team further, then yes. Yogi Berra was fired after going 99-63 but losing the World Series in 7 games to the Cardinals in 1964. No one's job is safe if the owners feel a better alternative exists.
Mickey is a cheer leader that does what his bosses tell him. Everyone knows it. The players like him because he tells them they are great and the owners and GM love him because he says"yes". In the end what will sink or swim Mickey is the bullpen and the out of position roster. If he can minimize the Bashlor and defensive meltdowns, he will survive until the powers that be need a scap goat and bring in the next discounted first time manager. Sorry, just how I see it.
You have to give Mickey some credit for the fine ERA of the starting rotation since the All-Star break which led to the winning streak, if the Mets some how win it all he can be considered for manager of the year.
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