New York Mets: Mickey Callaway after 49 games

Looking at New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway through 49 games.

The New York Mets are working their way through the season with a rookie manager. Mickey Callaway is in his first year at the helm of any team, coming to New York after serving as the pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians. He took over for Terry Collins as the manager on the biggest stage there is.

Mets fans aren’t thrilled with the job he has done so far. Some have seen the decisions he has made so far and have pushed the narrative that he is not long for this league as a manager. Let’s look at this first part of the season and make some sense out of this. Time to look at how this first portion of the 2018 season has gone for the Mets new manager.

It has been an up and down season to say the least. The Mets started off on a tear, taking the league by storm. Nobody had any problems with Callaway when the Mets were running away with the division. Now they have come back to Earth and are looking up at first place. They are hovering around the .500 mark as of late and have some trouble hitting. When they hit, they can’t pitch. Eyes are on the manager and some fans don’t like what they see.

How has he done? He has been very protective of his star pitchers, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. Unless their pitch count is ultra-efficient, he has been loathed to use them after two times through the lineup. Callaway has also used the bullpen a lot. Honestly he has a very quick hook. He can use two and three guys to get through one inning, leaving the Mets shorthanded, especially in an extended game.

More from Empire Writes Back

Callaway has made questionable in-game decisions with position players as well. But we have to keep a few things in mind. The first is that he is a rookie manager. He is going to make mistakes. Not managing before, at any level, makes a difference when finally in the head man’s spot.

What is a new manager going to do? He is going to make a lot of moves. He is going to try and make a stamp on each and every game. The new manager is more prone to following the “book” and pulling pitchers based on the side of the plate the batter hits on.

Mickey Callaway is doing simply that. He is making moves, believing that he can put his mark on every game. Letting the players play and letting the game flow will come with experience. A 50 game sample is not enough to ascertain whether he will be a good manager or not.

Next: Nimmo ready to break out

There is another reason why Callaway would be guilty of making a lot of moves. The roster simply isn’t that good. The manager is making a lot of moves because he is trying to get the most he can out of a mediocre roster at best. Playing situational baseball with his moves is the best way to counteract the mediocre talent level.

Give him more time. If this problem continues after the talent level grows it becomes more of a story. For now, give Mickey Callaway a chance.. He might just surprise everyone.

Home/New York Mets