Mickey Calloway Deathwatch, 2k19

[Centerfield]

Fair point about Lagares bunting. IMO, I've never considered him a good bunter. But he does have 15 for his career so there is that.



But that being said, he didn't look at all comfortable on his first few bunt attempts, and no position player should ever be bunting with 2 strikes in that situation. That's as dumb a move as I can remember. I'm surprised it's not being criticized more than it is today.



And the bullpen usage is just idiotic. It's not just four games. It was his MO last season and he's demonstrating he's learned nothing from his mistakes.



It's early, and these decisions have only resulted in 1 loss, but he's gotta get his shit together fast or I'll be calling for his head sooner rather than later.



I don't buy the "let's do crazy shit" in the early season argument. For every reason given as to why Alonso should be here the first two weeks, you should play the highest odds in every game.

[Ceetar]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Let's not begin from the point of view that any of us are somehow in possession of more information or knowledge than the manager (or that any of us know with certainty for example how capable a bunter Juan Lagares actually is). I was using hyperbole above but there's an argument that in the case of Lagares' stupid bunt attempt that there may come a time later in the year where they will really need one and knowing how it played out on April 1 might be useful after all. Or not. Valentine used to do idiotic things in April and May too but managed differently in August and September, and I thought he was a good manager

good points. This is especially true of bullpen usage. You have so many guys. The Mets used 25 last year. You gotta get a feel for what they can do, where they can do it. what conditions, particularly non-stat ones, that they thrive under. I don't think anything he did was 'crazy shit' either.



I'm anti-bunt all around. I might've considered it with Nimmo where the rough math suggests it's probably beneficial. I wouldn't have bunted with Lagares at all, especially in a game he homered in. Especially as he's a faster guy. I always figure you need another hit anyway, I'd rather try to get those hits early and try to score the run with the out than try to advance the runners with the out and try to score with a hit.

[Willets Point]

Do you have to wear a cowboy hat for a deathwatch?

[Frayed Knot]

And word is that Lagares (as I suspected) was bunting on his own.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I'm really souring on Mickey, not because of tactics but because we've officially blown a good start for the second straight season, and are playing sloppily so consistently.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, I'm down about that too.



Also, the team established an offensive approach that was working, and he seems dead set on abandoning it.

[ashie62]

This deserves a bump

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: Yeah, I'm down about that too. Also, the team established an offensive approach that was working, and he seems dead set on abandoning it.

What drives me crazy is that the guy hitting .350 sees a strange infield alignment, then places a bunt that makes them pay for it. For good measure, he bunts it foul first, telegraphing his intent to bunt against the shift, then does it again making them look even more foolish.



And then the rest of the lineup (who are not hitting .350) looks at that and says "Oh that was cool". And goes back to whacking away into the shift.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Jeff calls a 90-minute come-to-Jesus meeting with Mickey.



https://nypost.com/2019/05/10/mets-crisis-meeting-wilpon-summons-callaway-van-wagenen-for-powwow/https://nypost.com/2019/05/10/mets-crisis-meeting-wilpon-summons-callaway-van-wagenen-for-powwow/

While the meeting was not contentious, it was atypical. Van Wagenen has made regular contact with the manager and ownership a key tenet in his administration. That Wilpon thought it was important enough to call this meeting indicates both heightened urgency for the team to begin playing better and that Callaway is not on the sturdiest ground.

What's interesting here I guess is the notion that if the players aren't Mickey fans this could be the end of Mickey

[Edgy MD]

In my head, there was a "What are we gonna do about Chili?" item on the agenda as well.



If I was Mattingly, I'd rather be the Mets' batting coach than the Marlins' manager, and I'd ask the Mets if I could stay behind and join them when the Marlins left town.

[Edgy MD]

So, if the team busts Mickey, the interim job is most likely going to Jim Riggleman. I don't think I want to wait around all season watching the Jim Riggleman Show, and I hope they would move forthwith to appoint a replacement in a week or so.



Edgardo Alfonso? Clint Hurdle? Mike Scoscia? Who's next?



David Wright would be an interesting idea, but the timing probably isn't ideal.

[Guest 41Forever]

Ken Rosenthal speculates Mets would go outside, and threw out Showalter, Dusty Baker and the red ass Girardi as likely replacements.

[MFS62]

I'm not sure how my almost-life-long Mets fandom could survive one disgusting closeup of Dusty Baker (in a Mets uniform) spitting sunflower seeds. And that image is like a camera magnet. It always fixes on him at his drooling worst.



Later

[kcmets]

I have no interest in Show, Dust or Gira taking the helm...

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Knowing the Mets they'll get Girardi.



I'm not sure he'd be the worst idea they could have.

[TransMonk]

I've definitely lost faith in Calloway, though.

[LWFS]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Knowing the Mets they'll get Girardi. I'm not sure he'd be the worst idea they could have.

If they're going to go red-ass-- and it sure does feel like that, doesn't it?-- then I'd much rather they opt for situational-red-asses like Girardi over light-a-votive-for-Billy-Martin-before-bedtime red-asses like Showalter.

[kcmets]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: I'm not sure he'd be the worst idea they could have.

I don't know, but the whole bringing in a Yankee castoff doesn't sit well with me.

I'm never wrong sometimes.



I think Mickey will be fired on Monday.

[Edgy MD]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Knowing the Mets they'll get Girardi. I'm not sure he'd be the worst idea they could have. If they're going to go red-ass-- and it sure does feel like that, doesn't it?-- then I'd much rather they opt for situational-red-asses like Girardi over light-a-votive-for-Billy-Martin-before-bedtime red-asses like Showalter.

Let's not forget massive-chip-on-the-shoulder, free-swinging-advocating, gay-bashing, Castro-loving red-asses like Ozzie Guillen.



Or motivation-via-fucking-shit-up-and-punching-some-poor-sap red-asses like Backman.



My pick? Jeff Van Gundy, bitches.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mike Puma speculates that Luis Rojas might be considered.

If Callaway is dismissed — the Mets haven't fired a manager in-season since Willie Randolph in 2008 — bench coach Jim Riggleman is the top internal candidate to replace him. But quality control coach Luis Rojas is viewed as a rising star in the organization and could also be considered for the job.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Bobby Vee would be awesome

[Edgy MD]

If Chili's chair opens up, I'm putting my support behind Binghamton hitting coach Tony Jamarillo.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Knowing the Mets, they'll get some replacement who has little, if any managerial experience and almost no leverage because what matters more than anything else is for Jeff Wilpon to be able to manipulate, control and browbeat at will the new sucker like a puppet on a string. Besides, what kind of manager with other options who's in demand would want to work for this utter trainwreck of a front office that every single baseball insider knows is utterly incompetent at everything? Who the fuck would want to manage in New York City with all of the pressures and heightened scrutiny that comes with managing in the country's biggest market on a payroll that's ever so slightly larger than league average when you finally realize that the scumbag ownership group is including David Wright's salary and probably, Johan Santana's salary, too in the final count.

Edited May 18, 2019 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

I totally would.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: I totally would.

And you check all their boxes. You have no experience, no other options, no leverage and nobody else would want you. The perfect vehicle to receive all of Jeff's tantrums and nutty egomaniacal ideas.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Edgy MD wrote: I totally would. And you check all their boxes. You have no experience, no other options, no leverage and nobody else would want you. The perfect vehicle to receive all of Jeff's tantrums and nutty egomaniacal ideas.

Quality cranepooling here

[batmagadanleadoff]

Poor fucking Mickey. Forced to play a thoroughly washed up Jose Reyes every day because eff Wilpon "likes" Jose.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Poor fucking Sandy Alderson. Has to endure this utterly horseshit Huckabee Sanders-like fucking lie from the Mets that there were no limits on team payroll and all Sandy had to do to get more money for payroll was to ask for more money and it would've been there as easy as like when your kid asks you for a few dollars for pizza.

[Edgy MD]

Edgy MD wrote: I totally would. And you check all their boxes. You have no experience, no other options, no leverage and nobody else would want you. The perfect vehicle to receive all of Jeff's tantrums and nutty egomaniacal ideas.

My mom says I'm special.

[batmagadanleadoff]

You are.