Mikey Callaway's hot seat is boiling over. The Mets manager may soon be the former manager if New York does not show any punch, effort and a will to win on Sunday in Miami.
Why? Because on Saturday afternoon the Mets were not only held to just one hit offensively, they were one-hit by a pitcher, Pablo Lopez, whom they tattooed for 10 runs a week ago, as the Marlins beat the Mets 2-0 in South Beach. New York fell to a season-worse four games under .500 at 20-24.
Food for thought, Saturday's game represented only the second time this season the god-awful Marlins won a series.
If the Marlins win Sunday, it will be the first time the Marlins swept a series from an opponent since September 18-20 of 2017. That opponent? You guessed it: the New York Mets.
Saturday's one-hit loss follows a disheartening 8-6 loss to Miami on Friday, where Jacob deGrom surrendered nine hits and six earned runs over five innings -- easily his worst outing of the season. In a stretch where the Mets were to play 13 games inside the division against the woeful Marlins and equally listless Nationals, the Mets are 3-4.
There is no excusing what is happening here with the Mets. The team lacks drive and hustle. Just look at Robinson Cano who was criticized for his lack of hustle on Friday, and didn't even take responsibility for it.
If Mets fans want to look for a source for the lack of urgency, the don't have to look far. Callaway, as good as a man as he is, just can't get this team to play focused, consistent, motivated baseball. When asked about his job security, the Mets manager played it down saying, "I don't think anything is a must win until Game 7 of the World Series."
Don't worry Mickey, you won't even see Game 162 of the regular season in a Mets uniform if this continues.
Callway continued: "We have talent in there, we haven’t played like it, but I believe those things for a reason. Everyone comes to the park everyday for something greater than what is happening and we have to make it happen."
In a year-plus Callaway is 97-109 as Mets manager. After starting the 2018 season at 11-1, he oversaw a historic collapse, highlighted by a 5-21 June. The Mets would finish the season with 77 wins, but decided to bring Callaway back, hoping for better results.
It hasn't come. Whether it be his mismanagement of the bullpen, or the lack of offensive production. Nothing is working for the Mets right now and a change might be in the offing.
This is not to say that Callaway is the sole reason for the Mets struggles. He is not. General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen should shoulder plenty of blame, himself. He is the one who traded prospects to get Cano, who is hitting .250 through 44 games. He is the one who brought in Wilson Ramos, who looks like an overweight and aging backstop with little pop in his bat. He is the one who brought back Jeruys Familia.
But, baseball is a business. And in this business, before the GM gets blamed, the manager usually does. And in this case, Callaway is not Van Wagenen's guy. He'll want to hire his own manager. On top of that, the Mets just brought in Van Wagenen last winter, so right away he is not going anywhere.
Why? Because on Saturday afternoon the Mets were not only held to just one hit offensively, they were one-hit by a pitcher, Pablo Lopez, whom they tattooed for 10 runs a week ago, as the Marlins beat the Mets 2-0 in South Beach. New York fell to a season-worse four games under .500 at 20-24.
Food for thought, Saturday's game represented only the second time this season the god-awful Marlins won a series.If the Marlins win Sunday, it will be the first time the Marlins swept a series from an opponent since September 18-20 of 2017. That opponent? You guessed it: the New York Mets.
Saturday's one-hit loss follows a disheartening 8-6 loss to Miami on Friday, where Jacob deGrom surrendered nine hits and six earned runs over five innings -- easily his worst outing of the season. In a stretch where the Mets were to play 13 games inside the division against the woeful Marlins and equally listless Nationals, the Mets are 3-4.
There is no excusing what is happening here with the Mets. The team lacks drive and hustle. Just look at Robinson Cano who was criticized for his lack of hustle on Friday, and didn't even take responsibility for it.
If Mets fans want to look for a source for the lack of urgency, the don't have to look far. Callaway, as good as a man as he is, just can't get this team to play focused, consistent, motivated baseball. When asked about his job security, the Mets manager played it down saying, "I don't think anything is a must win until Game 7 of the World Series."
Don't worry Mickey, you won't even see Game 162 of the regular season in a Mets uniform if this continues.
Callway continued: "We have talent in there, we haven’t played like it, but I believe those things for a reason. Everyone comes to the park everyday for something greater than what is happening and we have to make it happen."
In a year-plus Callaway is 97-109 as Mets manager. After starting the 2018 season at 11-1, he oversaw a historic collapse, highlighted by a 5-21 June. The Mets would finish the season with 77 wins, but decided to bring Callaway back, hoping for better results.
It hasn't come. Whether it be his mismanagement of the bullpen, or the lack of offensive production. Nothing is working for the Mets right now and a change might be in the offing.
This is not to say that Callaway is the sole reason for the Mets struggles. He is not. General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen should shoulder plenty of blame, himself. He is the one who traded prospects to get Cano, who is hitting .250 through 44 games. He is the one who brought in Wilson Ramos, who looks like an overweight and aging backstop with little pop in his bat. He is the one who brought back Jeruys Familia.But, baseball is a business. And in this business, before the GM gets blamed, the manager usually does. And in this case, Callaway is not Van Wagenen's guy. He'll want to hire his own manager. On top of that, the Mets just brought in Van Wagenen last winter, so right away he is not going anywhere.
Fans can also blame the Wilpon's as much as they want, but the fact is the owner can't fire himself.
So at the end of the day, if someone is going to get blamed, it will be Callaway.
Even if the Mets win on Sunday to buy their manager some time, it is more evident than ever that change is indeed coming very soon.
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