No Closer

[nymr83]

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22232353/new-york-mets-use-closer-committee-start-season

Encouraging sign from Callaway, who says they'll use whoever makes sense with the matchups in the the inning.

and more good news, if a guy is pithching well, let him pitch!

Callaway also said that the Mets plan to have Familia throw multiple-inning relief outings in spring training in order to get him ready for extended outings in the regular season

[Edgy MD]

I know. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I've been developing these irrational romantic feelings toward this Callaway fellow.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I've been waiting for 20 years for a Mets manager to say these things.

I'm totally on Team Mickey.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Sounds reasonable to me. Too many managerial decisions are by the proverbial book. It would be refreshing to have a manager that makes decisions based on situations and player performance. Hopefully, Callaway will manage the bullpen according to the principles espoused in the article.

[Zvon]

As you know I support our manager no matter what.
It really would make it easier if he was great at the gig, tho. Good, even.

[Ceetar]

Nymr83 wrote: and more good news, if a guy is pithching well, let him pitch!

not sure where you're get that, as it might be quite the opposite. Callaway understands that just because a guy cruised through the 6th doesn't mean he's the best option for the 7th and is on record saying things like "If there are 2 lefties coming up, we'll probably go to Blevins" and "There's no such thing as a hot hand" also in reference to things like not starting say Dom Smith against a lefty just because he was 3/4 yesterday.

also the being hesitant about third time through the order penalties. Subject to change of course, but even if say Matz is through 6 with 1 hit and 90 pitches, don't be surprised to see Blevins in the 7th to face Harper.

[nymr83]

Going to the matchups in a big spot is fine... Its the idea of multi inning relief outings for good pitchers, not just mop-up that I approve of

[Vic Sage]

i'll believe it when I see it. something about the Mets bench makes managers stupid.

[Lefty Specialist]

Vic Sage wrote: i'll believe it when I see it. something about the Mets bench makes managers stupid.

This. I'll believe in Callaway when I see how he actually manages a game over the course of the season.

[Guest d'Kong76]

My vibe is we're gonna like him. A lot.

[Frayed Knot]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Vic Sage wrote: i'll believe it when I see it. something about the Mets bench makes managers stupid. This. I'll believe in Callaway when I see how he actually manages a game over the course of the season.

And, until then, we're no closer to having no closer.

[nymr83]

Callaway wrote: "For me to designate somebody to pitch the ninth, and I don't know what hitters are coming up, seems kind of silly to me,"

This guy just keeps getting my hopes up.

[Theoldmole]

So far, my kinda manager.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Vic Sage wrote: i'll believe it when I see it. something about the Mets bench makes managers stupid. This. I'll believe in Callaway when I see how he actually manages a game over the course of the season.

Yep. First marking period hasn't even begun.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I acknowledge that things may change drastically, but as of now, knowing what we know so far and seeing what we've seen, and hearing what we've heard, I'm very positive about Mickey Callaway. More so than I was, certainly, about Art Howe or Willie Randolph or Terry Collins. (And Jerry Manuel too, but he's in a different category in that there was no ramp-up period to his time as manager.)

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, it's not like Dominic Smith's newer, flatter tummy has won us any games yet, but I won't be swayed in the meantime from celebrating that solar plexus and rooting for it.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I mean, I'm rooting for Mickey and that Smith pleasure center, too. I'm just... keeping my eyes open.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm sure we're all rooting for him. And while I'm not saying that I'll always support him no matter what, I'm also not bracing myself for eventual disappointment.

[Lefty Specialist]

Callaway's saying all the right things so far. But he'll only go as far as the injuries let him. Seems like he's got a plan to manage that, though, and if he can exorcise the ghost of Ray Ramirez, he might pull it off.

But it's way early. I'm like a dog in those Sarah McLachlan commercials. I've been beaten and tortured by this team and I'm whining in the hope of getting some donations of meaningful baseball this year.