Tensions erupted in the Mets’ clubhouse Sunday evening in Chicago, as left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas had to be restrained from coming after a member of the team beat, while manager Mickey Callaway cursed out the reporter for being “an antagonist.”
According to other members of the beat including Mike Puma of the New York Post and Deesha Thosar of the Daily News, Callaway told the public relations staff to get Tim Healey of Newsday out of the clubhouse and when Healey didn’t oblige, Vargas stared him down, said some words and was restrained by teammates Carlos Gomez and Noah Syndergaard.
Justin Toscano of the Record/North Jersey said that the altercation started when Healey said: “See you tomorrow, Mickey,” to which Callaway responded: “Don’t be a smart***.”
Callaway thought Healey was antagonizing him and the team, and Vargas thought Healey gestured toward him which sparked the former to say: “I’ll knock you the f*ck out, bro!”
The meltdown in the clubhouse came on the heels of the team’s gut-punch loss to the Cubs on Sunday. The Mets were up 3-2 in the eighth inning, but a gassed Seth Lugo surrendered a three-run home run to Javier Baez which gave Chicago a 5-3 lead they would not relinquish.
After the game, Callaway was reportedly agitated by questions on why the team didn’t use its closer, Edwin Diaz, to record the final five outs.
Callaway said the overarching plan is to not use Diaz for more than four outs, but later lashed out at a reporter who criticized him for not using him.
“Why, because you think we should?” Callaway said at one point.
According to Matt Ehalt of Yahoo, the comments by Healey were not made maliciously. Though Callaway, still irked from the loss, construed them that way.
Callaway reportedly told Healey to “get the f*ck out of here. We don’t need that bull****”
Any way you slice it, the altercation is a nasty one and one that is likely to have repercussions.
For now, the team has issued a statement regarding the matter:
“The Mets sincerely regret the incident that took place with one of our beat writers following today’s game in the clubhouse. We do not condone this type of behavior from any employee.
“The organization has reached out and apologized to this reporter and will have further discussions internally with all involved parties.”
General manager Brodie Van Wagenen is also set to address the media tomorrow prior to the team’s series with the Philadelphia Phillies.
