It seems that winning only five of their last 14 games or going 1-5-1 in their last seven series did not sit well with New York Mets ownership. So even though the season is not even one-quarter complete, Mets COO Jeff Wilpon summoned general manager Brodie Van Wagenen and manager Mickey Callaway for an unannounced meeting before Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
The meeting lasted about 90-minutes and little is known about what exactly was said, but the Post reports that Wilpon told Callaway to use whatever resources necessary to stem the tide of the Mets current slide so as not to have a repeat of last season’s early season swoon. Last season’s team opened the campaign 11-1 before falling under .500 for good on June 1 after after a stretch where they went 4-19 between May 22 and June 15.
This year, the Mets started strongly as well winning nine of it’s first 13 games but they enter Friday’s game against the Marlins with a 17-20 mark. And although the Mets faced a tough early season schedule with 22 out of its first 37 games on the road (which is the most road games any National League team has played to-date), Wilpon didn’t want the season to slip away and ordered the Friday meeting.
While the meeting was said not to be contentious, it was still unusual. Van Wagenen has frequent contact with both ownership and the manager discussing all phases of the team. The fact that a meeting was called at all indicates a heightened urgency for the team to play better. There was no ultimatum given to Callaway as to how many wins the Mets must get in the immediate stretch of games against the Marlins, the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Nationals, all of whom are struggling themselves.
Wilpon also made it clear that the organization prefers not to change managers in the middle of a season. The last time that was done was in 2008 when Jerry Manuel replaced Willie Randolph in a poorly executed maneuver. But with an increased payroll for 2019 and increased expectations, Wilpon wanted his staff to know how he felt. Van Wagenen has often called the Mets the team to beat in the National League East, and so far the Mets have not produced enough to back up their brash general manager’s proclamations.
Callaway was hired on a three year contract by Sandy Alderson, Van Wagenen’s predecessor. This year they surrounded him with more depth and also an experienced bench coach in Jim Riggleman. The fact the Riggleman, a coach with managerial experience, is in the dugout suggests that Callaway’s interim successor is already present if a change is to be made.
As said, changing managers is not something the Mets want to do at the moment, but these next games appear to be critical. Wilpon did not want any more of the season to slip away, so he chose now to remark that his team’s play is unacceptable and that remedies must be found. Of further interest, the Wilpon’s have had a reputation of not being the most hands-on owners in the sport. This early season meeting is certainly out of character and underlines the need for the Mets to improve fast as there is heightened urgency at the very top of the organization.
