For new Mets manager Mickey Callaway, communication between him and his players is paramount.
It’s a skill he picked up from longtime baseball skipper Buck Showalter, who he played under during his stint with the Texas Rangers as well as Terry Francona, who he worked alongside with the Cleveland Indians the last several seasons, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
“He cared about his players,” Callaway said. “He communicated with his players. He made sure he was around. He didn’t just sit in his office. I learned a ton of stuff from Buck.”
The game of baseball is ever-changing, however, so Callaway will have to navigate the waters and talk to his players in a manner that is reflective of the game’s current climate.
“When I was first playing, the pitching coach said something, so I’m going to do it,” he said. “Now you have to realize that, as a coach, if you say something to a player they are going to look it up right away. They have instant access to information. You better know what you’re talking about, and you had better put a lot of forethought into that.”
Jay Bruce, who the Mets brought back this offseason on a three-year, $39 million deal, said Callaway’s communication with players is one of his greatest assets.
“He will be very transparent as it refers to his plan with guys,” Bruce said. “He’s someone who doesn’t ask a lot or doesn’t have a lot of rules per se, but holds himself to a high standard and will expect everyone to meet those standards as well.”
For Callaway, he will have some heavy lifting to do to get the Mets back into contention. Hopefully his transparency with players, especially pitchers, will benefit the team in a positive manner and help change the culture.
“I am just going to be honest with everybody every day and go about my business,” Callaway said. “I love the game of baseball and thinking about it and thinking about leadership.”
