Mickey Calloway Deathwatch, 2k19

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Collins was better than expected in a lot of ways but his time came and went too.



I'm convinced Joe Girardi is managing as soon as the MFY series

[batmagadanleadoff]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Collins was better than expected in a lot of ways but his time came and went too....

I liked Collins, too. But he was at the end of his rope when the Mets hired him, with nowhere else to go. The one characteristic any potential manager needs to succeed with this franchise is the ability to get right in Jeff Wilpon's face and tell him to go fuck himself whenever needed. But that's the one characteristic that Jeff is screening out for, more than any other. Talk about a Catch-22.

[kcmets]

I should probably know this but why isn't Girardi still managing

the Yankees? I thought he was like a Bronx God or the like.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

General manager Brian Cashman decided the New York Yankees should part ways with Joe Girardi because he felt that the manager's "connectivity" with the clubhouse was not good enough. "That's the primary position," Cashman said. During a more than one-hour conference call with New York-based reporters, Cashman said it would have been easy to "plug and play" and stay with Girardi after a decade that included a World Series title and six playoff appearances. But the overriding reason that Cashman soured on Girardi was the "connectivity and communication" issue with players, which was a concern to the GM as the Yankees move into their next phase of their youth movement led by Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and the rest of the Baby Bombers. Appearing at the same time on WFAN, Girardi was not aware of Cashman's comments, but he was asked about his relationship with the players. "I thought it was really good," he said, adding that he had received some "wonderful texts" from younger players after he was fired. Girardi denied rumors that he did not get along great with closer Aroldis Chapman or Sanchez, and the former catcher said the "sky is the limit" for Sanchez. "For me it was always encouraging him, trying to make him better and telling him how important he is to our team," he said, adding of Sanchez's defensive struggles that "we didn't have an easy staff to catch." Cashman said he did not know if owner Hal Steinbrenner would sign off on his recommendation to let Girardi go until days before the decision was announced. "We don't make changes at that level lightly," Cashman said. Girardi said: "I thought I would be back." He described getting fired by Cashman. "It was quick and to the point," he said. "Brian said they had decided they were going in a different direction." He added: "It happens. It has happened to people who have a lot more wins than me. I think Brian wants something different and he's going to go out there and try to find that. Joe Torre won an awful lot and they went out and found someone and that guy was me, and Joe has won a lot more than I have." The GM also said he doesn't know what would have happened if Girardi had led the Yankees to the World Series this season. They lost in Game 7 of the ALCS. In the weeks leading up the Yankees' final game, Girardi talked about having to speak with his family to decide if he would want to return or not. The decision, though, was ultimately, taken out of his hands. Cashman said Girardi's failure to call for a replay that largely cost the Yankees Game 2 of the ALDS was not a factor in the decision. While Cashman didn't think that Girardi was communicating well enough with the clubhouse, Cashman disagreed with reports that he and Girardi went separate way at times over analytics or that the two had a deteriorating relationship. Cashman called Girardi an "exceptional manager." Girardi echoed that he got along fine with Cashman. "Brian took a chance on me," he said. "There were guys who wanted someone else. He took a chance on me, so I'll be forever grateful." Cashman said he has no timetable for naming Girardi's successor and had no preconceived candidate or list of replacements when he informed Girardi of the firing. "Whoever the lead horse will be, hopefully they will be pretty obvious and they will win by 16 lengths, like Secretariat did," Cashman said. While Cashman would like to put the person in place as soon as possible, he is not in a rush with no other vacancies in Major League Baseball. Cashman is not looking for the anti-Girardi. "It is an easy narrative to run to the opposite of what you already had," Cashman said. "I think if someone was structured and demanding, then you want to go from an old-school, heavy-handed personality to a new school, players manager. That's not a narrative I'm falling into. We are looking for the best person possible that can assist in executing our strategy." (editor's note: I bolded this above graf because Cash is describing the Wilpons to a tee here) The Yankees will conduct interviews and then make each candidate available to the media. Sources have said that the Yankees will seek an "A.J. Hinch-type," but Cashman, at least publicly, talked in broader terms of an ideal candidate checking a lot of boxes, including communication, being analytical and having a good grasp of handling the media. These are all qualities that have been associated with Hinch. Girardi acknowledged that he probably didn't give the media everything they wanted. "The thing about my personality is that I'm very protective of the players," he said. "And you have to be these days with social media." Cashman said he does not have to have a pre-existing relationship with any future manager. Asked specifically if Alex Rodriguez would be a candidate, Cashman declined to answer the question, not wanting to give a thumbs up or down on any individual. "I do believe we are going to find someone we are going to be comfortable with that can lead us into the next phase of where we are with this franchise," Cashman said. As for Girardi, he said he will probably go back to broadcasting for a while, but he "absolutely" wants to manage again. "I want to manage again because I love the competition," he said.

[kcmets]

Wow, that's about as thorough take as one could expect. Thanks!

[Centerfield]

Should be fired. Even when the restraints were lifted he still doesn't know when to use Diaz.

[nymr83]

No Diaz in the 8th today was criminal. What the fuck are you saving him for?

[Chad ochoseis]

I'm not saying he's good and I'm not saying he's bad. But 4 and 5 out saves still aren't the norm. I don't think Dusty or Girardi or Showalter would be thinking too far out of the box either.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well this 4-game win streak bought him some time, anyway. Also, the dumpster dives for Davis and Gomez are making BVW look better. If only he could find someone to take Cano off our hands.....

[Edgy MD]

Well, the IL has done that for him for now.



The thing is, Canó is probably still serviceable as a part-timer/bench player. We just have to get over this pencil-him-into-the-three-hole-every-night bidness.



Adding to the misfortune, though, our better choice for a #3 is McNeil, and he hits the IL at the same time.

[MFS62]

When he has to make a tough decision, at least he gets sage advice.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mets-manager-mickey-callaway-reaches-162140429.htmlhttps://www.yahoo.com/news/mets-manager-mickey-callaway-reaches-162140429.html



Is this some alternate universe?

Later

[Edgy MD]

That's a silly article. I believe a lot of things about Callaway. I don't think any reasoning person believes he's punting the decision on Alonso's participation to Francessa.



I don't think it even is his decision to punt.

[kcmets]

This thread was already on page 5.

[Lefty Specialist]

They get swept in Philly, I don't think Mickey will be on the bus ride home.

[whippoorwill]

Really though is it his fault the bullpen sucks?

[batmagadanleadoff]

So .... is Mickey still here?

[dgwphotography]

Lefty Specialist wrote: They get swept in Philly, I don't think Mickey will be on the bus ride home.

I will be shocked if Mickey doesn't make it through the season. It would take something really egregious for him to be fired. Let's face it, the Wilpons don't want to pay for a second manager.

[Frayed Knot]

=dgwphotography post_id=14193 time=1561515379 user_id=78] Let's face it, the Wilpons don't want to pay for a second manager.

[dgwphotography]

Over multiple seasons?

[Edgy MD]

It happens all the time. Interim managers are a bargain anyhow.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Mickey's not making Jack anyhow. One of the reasons they got him was for the budget no doubt. Came cheaper than World Series, writers love him Terry fo sho

[Frayed Knot]

Over multiple seasons?

Howe was disappeared with half his contract remaining (2 years of 4). Mickey, if canned today, would be about the same although only 1.5 of 3 which may or may not fit one's definition of "multiple".

Going back to the '90s, none of Green, Torborg, Harrelson, Valentine were kept on to finish their deals, nor was 'Middle of the Night' Willie. I don't remember at this point what percentage of their

deals remained when those mid-year changes were made, nor do I recall whether Jerry Manual was let go with terms still remaining or was simply not re-hired.

All of which leaves the list of 'recent' NYM managers who finished out their terms of employment as ... Terry Collins, and does someone really want to make the case that, coming off consecutive

post-season seasons of 90 & 87 wins, that a mid-season change in 2017 was going to salvage what became a 92-loss season but simply wasn't made in order to save a couple hundred K by an ownership

group that had no problem doing just that more often than not?



My larger point here being that we sometimes get so caught up in Wilpon-bashing that we find ourselves willing to ignore reality and repeat 'facts' which actually aren't facts at all because it fits a certain

narrative and makes us feel better by saying it. We went through this late last summer when Alonso discussions started to surface and several of us just knew that he wouldn't be brought up until, well

probably just in the last few weeks, "because that's what the Mets always do". The only problem with that argument is that, starting I think with Reyes now 16 years ago and moving forward from there, we

couldn't find a single one of their prospects where that was actually the case.



Also, like JCL says, most managers, especially first-timers like Mickey, are among the smaller expenses a club has these days and therefore one of the last places you'd want to look for evidence of them

'cheaping out'. Cot's Contracts lists Mickey's 2018 salary as 850K. Assuming a deal which called for modest raises over this year and next, getting rid of him today would be less than the price of three

minimum wage players.

It just doesn't add up. They may or may not get rid of MC now or in the near future, but I'd be surprised if his salary is even A factor in the decision and certainly not THE factor, particularly not after they

went out this winter and hired a seasoned former manager and installed him as the bench coach, a potential transition which would be more seamless than most if a mid-stream change were to be made.

[bmfc1]

I don't think that they do it this week so they don't create a distraction on an otherwise wonderful Mets weekend. Maybe the Wednesday or Thursday after the All-Star game.

[Lefty Specialist]

=bmfc1 post_id=14210 time=1561549338 user_id=73]
I don't think that they do it this week so they don't create a distraction on an otherwise wonderful Mets weekend. Maybe the Wednesday or Thursday after the All-Star game.

[MFS62]

There is only one question Mickey should have been asked after today's game:

(Channeling Hannibal Lecter):

"Bowels in or bowels out?"



Later

[G-Fafif]

Make Gil Jr. manager for the weekend. Art and Cleon can be his bench coaches. Then let Riggleman or whoever caretake until the break. Call Girardi or someone legit for after the break.



Today wasn't Mickey's fault. He sent his closer out there and his closer imploded. But asking Mets fans to keep looking at this unsuited, unskilled manager and dare to propose they buy tickets is a bruise to the brand.

[seawolf17]

=G-Fafif post_id=14462 time=1561677123 user_id=55]
Make Gil Jr. manager for the weekend. Art and Cleon can be his bench coaches. Then let Riggleman or whoever caretake until the break. Call Girardi or someone legit for after the break.



Today wasn't Mickey's fault. He sent his closer out there and his closer imploded. But asking Mets fans to keep looking at this unsuited, unskilled manager and dare to propose they buy tickets is a bruise to the brand.

[Centerfield]

It'll be run kinda like the IGT. If the team wins you get to keep managing. What a hoot it will be!



At least until JT out manages Mickey and it becomes obvious how bad he was.

[Edgy MD]

Isn't Gil Jr. an ex-con or something? Got in a beef with his buddy the mob prince or somebody?



OE: Looked it up. it was Gil's grandson. Got his friend (from the Marino family) killed in a DWI accident. Somehow escaped any jail time.

[seawolf17]

It'll be run kinda like the IGT. If the team wins you get to keep managing. What a hoot it will be!

"And the final score here at Citi Field is Marlins 14, Mets 3, thus ending Weird Al's three-game winning streak as Mets manager. Join us tomorrow as lefthander Steven Matz faces the Marlins, and Alfonso Ribeiro moves into the manager's seat! I sure do hope he does that Carlton dance on his way to make a pitching change."