Will The Mets Fire Mickey Callaway?

New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway is on the hottest of hot seats as the team was swept this weekend by the Miami Marlins, the team with the worst record in MLB. In fact, the Marlins shut out the Mets in back to back games limiting them to a measly three hits. It also didn't help that Robinson Cano twice failed to run out ground balls which resulted in inning ending double plays. That Callaway didn't pull Cano out of the game sends the wrong message.

Callaway is scheduled to meet with Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenan tomorrow as the Mets host a four game series against the Washington Nationals. Should Callaway be fired, he will have been dismissed less than half way through his three year contract. In 2018, the Mets won 11 of their first 12 games and were 17-9 by the end of April. By the end of May, the team had fallen to .500 before the team swooned to a 5-21 record in June falling 14.5 games back of the NL East. The Mets would rebound with an 18-10 September, but they finished with a 77-85 record finishing 13 games back of the Atlanta Braves. The Mets began 2019 winning 9 of their first 13 games, but have gone 11-21 since and have lost five straight games. They finish their road trip 6.5 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Of course, even if the Mets fire Callaway it is no guarantee that things will get better. Chances are the Mets will name Jim Riggleman the interim manager (who was named interim manager for the Cincinnati Reds last season after Bryan Price was dismissed). The entire pitching staff has been struggling particularly reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom whose ERA has more than doubled from a league leading 1.70 to 3.98. One of the few bright spots has been rookie first baseman Pete Alonso who has slugged 14 HRs.

It's entirely possible that the Mets could sweep the Nationals, win 8 of their next 10 games, be right back in the thick of the NL East and everyone will have forgotten this clamoring to run Callaway out of town. But this is New York and results are expected. Fair or not, if you're not up by 10 games in the middle of May it is enough to earn one a pink slip.