Callaway belatedly apologizes, heat shifts to GM Van Wagenen
Updated Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Mets manager Mickey Callaway was having a contentious postgame media conference, which tends to happen when a New York team loses for the seventh time in 11 games. After the interviewing ended, Newsday’s Tim Healey said to Callaway: “See ya tomorrow, Mickey.”
Callaway did not like the tone of the reporter’s voice. He perceived hostility that Healey insists was not there.
“Don’t be a smartass,” Callaway said, adding, “mother-f….”
Mets pitcher Jason Vargas, standing nearby, felt emboldened by his manager’s audacity. He took a couple of steps toward Healey before he was restrained by outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitcher Noah Syndergaard. Vargas, who had not pitched in the game, shouted to Healey, “I’ll knock you the f…. out, bro.”
That’s as far as Sunday’s fracas went, no real harm done in the cramped and ancient visitors clubhouse of Wrigley Field. This was the sort of interchange that happens from time to time between baseball teams and reporters who cover them.
Callaway, 114-127 as Mets manager, has been under heavy fire from New York media for at least a month.
Frank Isola offered his close-up view on Pardon the Interruption: “On New York talk radio Mickey Callaway’s moves have been questioned for two years. His managing of the bullpen has been a disaster.”
In fact, the bullpen was at the heart of Callaway’s postgame explosion. He was badgered by Healey and cohorts on why he stayed with a tiring Seth Lugo instead of switching to closer Edwin Diaz in the 8th inning. Callaway stayed with Lugo, and Javier Baez tagged him for a 3-run home run that swung the game to Chicago, 5-3.
Many Mets fans are tweeting about this being the end for Callaway. But insiders say the rookie general manager, Brodie Van Wagenen, will continue to cling to a manager who’s compliant. Callaway never points to the front office for its various blunders, most notably the trading of future assets for the crumbling 36-year-old Robinson Cano.
Wagenen came under new scrutiny with reports this week that he micromanages Callaway. The New York Post claimed that while Van Wagenen was at home watching the Mets play in Arizona on June 1, he meddled with Callahan’s field managing. Jacob deGrom was having discomfort in his hip, so Van Wagenen, the story goes, sent word for Callaway to pull deGrom.
After the game, the 2018 Cy Young Award winner said he could have gone longer than seven innings. He was trying not to say there was no reason for the bullpen to blow the lead. Callaway dutifully absorbed the blame.
Van Wagenen denied the Post’s story, insisting he had no input on deGrom’s lifting. However, other front office execs (most notably: Oakland’s Billy Beane) have made in-game lineup decisions, and this is a trend in this age of analytics.
Still, Van Wagenen, 45, a player agent a year ago, has little experience as a baseball tactician. His method might not work with a more experienced manager than Callaway, who’s 44.
Anthony DiComo, who covers the Mets beat for MLB.com, said: “I honestly think the hot-seat rating for Callaway is lower than you might expect. I think it might be like a 6 on a scale of 10. . . .
“I wouldn’t say Callaway is bullet-proof, but he’s survived three inflection points this season.”
One such inflection point came last week when the Mets fired their pitching coach, Dave Eiland, and the bullpen coach, Chuck Hernandez. Some in the organization interpreted those moves as portending Callaway’s dismissal.
But DiComo said, “I would bet on him lasting the season. I don’t know about next year, although he’s under contract.”
The national media was disappointed in the response of both Van Wagenen and Callaway to the clubhouse eruption. It took two hours for the team to release a boilerplate apology. Jackie MacMullan, speaking on Around the Horn, said, “The Mets should have apologized within an hour of that incident.”
Complicating the issue: The Mets traveling party was rushing to depart Chicago on Sunday evening. There wasn’t much time for a strategy session on blowback.
They had to board a flight crossing half the country to Philadelphia, where they would play Monday night. So Van Wagenen met with media at Citizens Bank Park and expressed “regret on many levels.” Callaway and Vargas were fined. The GM didn’t reveal numbers, but Newsday reported $10,000 each, not much of a pinch for men with 7-figure salaries.
Even after he’d been fined and publicly reprimanded by his boss, Callaway did not appear contrite. Meeting with media on Monday afternoon, he pointed out: “Billy Martin punched a reporter one time.”
Callaway defended his behavior as “part of the game . . . I’m a passionate guy, a tough competitor.”
Sensing that did not go over, he addressed reporters again, just 70 minutes before the start of Monday’s game – an unusual time for media chat. This time, Callaway got it right. He said he apologized to Healey and took accountability. “I’m not proud of what I did to Tim, so for that, I’m definitely sorry.”
It’s in the DNA of ballwriters that you don’t back down but you don’t hold grudges. As much as MacMullen detested the way Callaway acted, “I don’t think it’s a fireable offense.”
Callaway stays on the hot seat, for sure, but perhaps he’s becoming more comfortable there. Perhaps Van Wagenen’s seat is hotter.
