A bleak season atop the Mets’ dugout continued Friday for second-year manager Mickey Callaway. His club opened the second half of the season with yet another forgettable performance in an 8-4 loss to the Marlins – the lone National League team with a worse record than New York’s. The Mets are an abysmal 40-51 after their latest defeat, but general manager Brodie Van Wagenen informed Tim Healey of Newsday and other reporters beforehand that he “absolutely” expects Callaway to stay on through the season.
“Mickey has done a difficult job very well,” said Van Wagenen, who added he’s “very satisfied” that Callaway “shows up to work every day with a passion to win and a desire to work and get better.” He also lauded Callaway for the way he has kept the clubhouse together during what “has not been an easy year for us.”
This is the second time this season that Van Wagenen has issued Callaway a public vote of confidence. The executive did the same back on May 20 in response to reports suggesting Callaway was on the hot seat. There have been some obvious changes to the Mets’ circumstances since then, though. For starters, while the Mets’ record was a subpar 21-25 when Van Wagenen came out in support of Callaway two months ago, they were still a manageable three games back of the National League East lead. But the Mets have continued their downward spiral dating back to then, having gone 19-26. They’re now an insurmountable 14 1/2 games back of the division-leading Braves and a potentially out-of-reach seven behind a wild-card spot.
Off the field, we’re only a week removed from Van Wagenen unleashing a tirade at the expense of the Mets’ coaching staff. Disgusted with another loss, Van Wagenen reportedly “lashed out” at the coaches, threw a chair and ordered Callaway to go conduct his “[expletive] press conference.”
It wouldn’t have been unreasonable a week ago to believe Callaway would lose his job this season. Now, if we’re to believe Van Wagenen, that’s not going to happen. Whether the Mets keep or fire Callaway, they have a multitude of other problems Van Wagenen will somehow need to fix in order for the team to escape the league’s cellar.
In yet another solid display of insanity….
Vote of confidence= Kiss of death
Exactly.
He gave him two though, does that cancel each other out?
Did you see the end of THE GODFATHER? Mickey is Fredo.
This team should have blown the team up and rebuild in the offaeason. They didn’t and they made that horrible Cano deal and took on more money. They thought that they could compete with the Braves and Nats and Phillies who were leaps and bounds better than the Mets and they wanted to compete with the Yankees for the headlines in New York and here they are.
They need to blow this team up and do it now while they have Wheeler and Syndergarrd and Matz have value though not the value the Mets think. Trade all those guys and anyone who has value and let everyone know deGrom is available but only for a historic amount of prospects. And stock up the farm system like the Astros and Cubs and Braves did with tanking. And it will take 4 or maybe 5 years but if ypu do it right and get all yhe dead money off the books (minus Bobby Bonilla) then the Mets can be a force.
May have failed at competing with the Braves, Phillies, and Nats but at least they are successfully competing with the Yankees for the headlines…just not the kind of headlines they were thinking of.
But seriously, I completely agree. They were never a closer away from catching up to, never mind passing, the rest of the East. By refusing to make the obvious correct choice then, rebuilding, they’ve set themselves back. Wouldn’t doubt they continue to stand their ground on tearing it down though. Wheeler will likely be gone, but not much else.
I don’t think they were that bad coming in. Unfortunately, every move they made in the offseason was a terrible albatross. Eating Cano’s Albatross for a closer was a gift to Seattle. Just eating his contract was a deal for Seattle. But they also received nasty prospects. There were plenty of arms available for the same price as Familia’s as well. The only possible fix is to put a great established Manager in place. I like Dusty Baker.
You can get the best manager but if the talent isn’t there then there’s not much he can do.
This franchise should know this as much as anyone they started their existence with Casey Stingle as manager and went out to lose 120 games.
Yep, anyone watching the game today realizes the manager’s role has been marginalized by the front office.
In reality it shows managers don’t make nearly as much of a difference as many thought they did.
Idk, remember when Williams lost the nats clubhouse and a team that won 90 games a year totally flopped? Not to mention how big an impact they can have in the postseason.
This team should have blown the team up and rebuild in the offaeason.
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That wasn’t a team that needed to be blown up.
When teams need tanking, it is teams like BA two years ago, where they had one star, a little BP, and no farm. Same with SF this year. Their first four SPs ranked up there with anyone in BB. Those are the teams that you spend money on to go over the top.
Mickey and Brodie are like that couple who still thinks they love each other, but everyone else obviously sees they aren’t for each other
Mickey takes a lot of the heat off BVW.
BVW is the guy who took a bad team and made them much worse.
Those of us Tribe fans out there sure miss him in Cleveland. Just sayin’.
Gotta love the constant bashing of Callaway, when in reality, the team sucks and have sucked for quite a while, including 2015, where they overachieved.
Overachieved in 2015? Are you a moron? 28 other teams must have hit rock bottom that year. When you are one of the two in the World Series, you have done something right. And NO TEAM after any World Series win should talk dynasty, for look at the KC Royals since. Listen, it all comes together or it doesn’t in any given season. But it needs a talented core of players, and then add some nice fill un pieces. The Mets have a core, but signing old guys to multi-year ( like 2, for Lowrie, Frazier, Vargas and UGH, Familia) is wrong. These type of players should be on one year deals or the “traded for” pieces for another club whose season is coming together but missing a piece or two, nit the type of club who is thinking they are adding to their Core.
They overachieved in 2015.
They were one game off their Pyth W-L and the following year had a similar record. So no, they did not overachieve.
If it wasn’t for Alonso and McNeil nd deGrom there would be no reason to go to a Mets game
oh, poor mets, only have the reigning cy young, the current batting leader, and the likely rookie of the year.
Agreed. Everyone here seems to be pooping on them, but those three are the core they can build upon. Though his performance hasn’t been on their level this season, I’d throw Conforto in there, too.
They were counting on pitching being their rock, but it hasn’t worked out. You could argue that pitching in general across the MLB has taken a hit by whatever was done to the baseballs. It’s especially rough for pitchers that rely upon sliders and the Mets have 5 of them. I heard the explanation that in the past you could press your fingers into the ball and it would have a little give so you could adjust your grip. If you try that now, the only things that would have give are your fingers and skin would come off.
The one spot where I give BVW credit in that Canó trade is his not acquiescing to Seattle’s demand for McNeil. Seattle would’ve eaten more of Canó’s contract if the Mets included him. Instead, they included Gerson Bautista.
Are you nuts lajs?
They were already stealing him
Blind and mr rookie didn’t give his first born so you are giving him credit. How about giving Jerry Dipoto credit for robbing roomie salesman blind?
Forget about your ridiculous slider analogy—the metsnhave a few good young players, an aging unfulfilled pitching staff and is saddled with BAD contracts with owners who won’t sit at the big boy bar and pony up extra money
If I owned the Mets both would be long gone.
I’d say position wise. There gonna have to shift and move some players around the diamond. To maximize there use. Baring the contracts they’re stuck in.
Wheeler has to be traded. Last year of the deal. Have to get at least a bullpen arm out of it. And maybe an infielder. Minors. A fastball strike thrower and a defender.
Lowie. Can’t count on him. Maybe utility next season. Cano, shift to first. Play some second. Third, eh maybe. Can Alonso play left. Maybe right. Defensive switch late in games with a solid fourth fifth outfielder. Nimmo. Is his defense good enough.
Cespedes is an albaross. Hopefully get value out of him next season. Enough in a contract year to trade and get some more minor pieces. Another starter minors. Maybe outfielder. Some bullpen help.
Familia is a joke. Going to have to fix him. Or ride it out. The degrom deal looks ugly. But, Scherzer is older and still throws fire. Probably better to ride that one out too. Unless a full tear down. Which might not need. It’s a risk but I’d say rather go for it. Than start a five year plan. Can do both. And maybe trade degrom down the line. Two years left sort of thing. If he’s still good.
Noah S. Gotta keep him. Low value Now. And a few more years left to get something for him. Your chasing ATL’s offense. And Nats pitching… Phillies are so so.
But need a New Manager and I’d say front office people to aid in the scouting evaluation of what players to trade for. When trying to dump a few here and there. Vargas maybe too. And see what you have in the minors.
This team needs work. But those ballparks are band boxes. ATL. Philly. And New York. Offense will come. The Nats are winning with pitching and defense. With good young hitters. It takes time to build a system like that thru trades. Free agent signings. Minors draft. And veteran depth all clicking at the same time…
I’d say new captain at the helm. And new baseball emeritus to steer the program. . .
Do they rebuild? Shed contracts? They trade Thor, DeGrom, Frazier, Diaz, even Alonso, they could totally rebuild and do so in semi quick succession. The fans might riot tho…
Keep Alonso and McNeil. Everyone else should be available. BVW probably shouldn’t be making more trades though.
Bloom or some other young genius should come in in the offseason and be given free reign.
It’s unfathomable that the Wilpon’s can continue to make so many awful decisions. I’d love to know why they have been so bad at overseeing their franchise.
It’s like a head on collision of a soap opera and a nuclear explosion for the Mets man.
I see a twin killing at the end of this season. Just not the kind that is usually associated with baseball
Well, Brodie is crazy, soooooo…
He kind of has to give a vote of confidence because at this point, who would take the job with the headlines they have gotten?
I thought Mickey Callaway was the only Captain Queeg on the good ship Mets , I was wrong BVW comments makes him the top dog.
Brody talked the Mets into getting Cano and not rebuilding that’s why he got the job. This was their biggest mistake! They will need to rebuild this winter otherwise the Marlins will pass them by next year. They are turning the corner right now. The Nats are set, the Braves are set, and the Phils are ahead of the Mets. Alonzo and McNeil are two pieces but they should make everyone available over the winter. Until they realize that they need to move deGrom and Thor soon before their value goes down and they are holding an empty cookie jar. The bad performance of the players is why they are where they are at this point.
Marlins might pass them this year, yet.
VOC = KOD (kiss of death). Joe Girardi, as soon as they can agree on contract $$ and language.
Read between the lines… as long as he does everything I say he will remain manager lol
Brody got the job because he was the only interview they said they do not have to blow this up. “Vote of confidence“ normally means “kiss your job goodbye“ bet you anything withintwo hours after their last game of the season Brody is going to fire him.
What exactly has Calloway done? Please explain why Cano is still hitting ahead of anyone in this lineup? The Mets’ pitchers have been more productive, for Pete’s sake. The head games he has played with Rosario is sad, especially considering he is outhitting almost every single other NL shortstop. He sends Matz to the bullpen but it’s announced he’s “untouchable”? How has Vargas’ actions induced the ‘kept the clubhouse together’ statement? If it wasn’t for McNeil, Alonso and deGrom and Rosario, this team would have the worst record in baseball. How is that good managing?
Did Brody make any good moves in the off season?
Yes for the rest of the division.
LOL
Somebody should be asking the Wilpons about Brodies job security.
Mets have made a lot of bad decisions over the years the worst was hiring the agent as their GM.
Mets need DJ Jerry Carroll to be GM because he is insane! He also knows a thing or two about fire sales.
Why does any ownership still think hiring gm’s, managers and coaches with zero experience is going to provide a winning combination? What moves has BVW made since the season began? What happened to all that off season experience the Mets added to the AAA team? Why have Syndergaard, Wheeler, Gsellman, Lugo, Familia and Diaz dropped off so dramatically this year? A better question is, “Why hasn’t the coaching staff fixed it yet?” Why is Conforto a .240 hitter now? Why is Lagares still on the 40 man roster? What’s wrong with Nimmo? Why do the Mets have 4 infielders playing the outfield? With sons of the best talent in baseball taking the mound to start games, why do we have to go to the bullpen 5 times a game? Right there is your answer. No mystery, bullpen pitchers pitch too often and starters have no desire to to finish their own games. They have been conditioned to think and rewarded for “quality starts” in which giving up three earned runs over 6 innings is “quality”. Well, that’s a 4.50 era and at least four more pitchers needed to finish every single game. Baseball is an arrogant, ignorant and technically flawed game today that allows pitchers to be rewarded for needing 100 pitches to go five innings with 15 no decisions and hitters striking out 185 times while hitting .240 every year. Bad hitting makes mediocre pitchers successful and poor pitching philosophy means more mediocre pitchers tossing 75 innings serving up homeruns in record numbers. Do all these homeruns and pitching changes equal more wins? No, it means more mediocre .500 teams think they can compete because they keep beating each other. Astros, Dodgers, Braves and Yankees…and every other team is just robbing the fans.
He’s toast
And this is why the Mets aren’t getting better.