New York Mets: Mickey Callaway can be a difference maker

The Mickey Callaway Era

Known as a “pitching guru”, the Mets brought in Callaway this offseason to replace Terry Collins after a disappointing campaign in 2017. Callaway comes from a Cleveland Indians pitching staff that was one of the best in the league, and boasts reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. In addition to Callaway, the Mets will have a new pitching coach in Dave Eiland.

After a great run with the Mets as manager, Terry Collins was not re-signed this offseason to manage the team. However, Collins will serve in a front office role as a special assistant to general manager Sandy Alderson. Collins was one of the most successful managers in the team’s history, but it was simply time for the organization to move on. His presence with the team is sure to help both the players, coaches, and front office with this transition.

For Callaway, the first order of business is to establish a new culture around the clubhouse. The main goal of this coaching change was to give the team a fresh start and boost of excitement heading into this season. Callaway can use the first few weeks of spring training to motivate the clubhouse and establish a culture that he thinks will lead to success.

The most important focus for Callaway will be to tap into the potential of the pitching staff.  Callaway has already discussed changes surrounding spring training and overall team culture.  A change of culture along with a pitching-focused staff could be what this team needs to prove their immense talent. Callaway has made comments surrounding the bullpen, saying he will not name a closer to start the season. It won’t be long before Callaway will need to start addressing the status of his young, talented starting rotation.

Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom have both proven themselves as worthy No. 1 starters. Despite his recent injury-shortened season, Syndergaard is ranked 7th amongst starting pitchers in MLB’s “Top Ten Right Now”. deGrom, perhaps the more accomplished of the two, has been a consistent workhorse pitcher for the Mets since his ROY campaign in 2014. Without having to worry too much about Syndergaard and deGrom, it will be interesting to see how Callaway can manage two pitchers in particular: Matt Harvey and Steven Matz.