NEW METS ARE EARLY RISERS

Signs of a fresh start under new manager Mickey

PORT ST. LUCIE — In the past, nobody beat Guy Conti to the Mets’ spring training facility. The 75-year-old former bullpen coach who runs spring training drills here pulls into the lot most days before 6 a.m., using the peace and quiet of the empty facility to get ready for the day ahead. Monday morning he pulled into the back parking lot and saw a player already out on the back fields running.

It’s not been an unusual sight at the First Data Field complex this spring, Conti and other veterans of Mets spring trainings have said. Apparently everybody here is trying to make a good first impression.

While the Mets did not make drastic changes to the roster over the winter, they come into spring training feeling like a brand new team. Instead of going out and signing big-name and big-ticket free agents, the Mets front office invested in its future, bringing in first-time manager Mickey Callaway and veteran pitching coach Dave Eiland to help restore what was called a premiere starting staff just two years ago.

Callaway made an interesting introduction to New York last fall.

“We’re going to care more about the players than anyone ever has before,” Callaway said at Citi Field after he was signed to a three-year deal by the Mets. “We’re going to know that they’re human beings and individuals and this is going to be a group that feels that every day that we come to the clubhouse and that’s going to be our main concern. We’re going to show we know this game is difficult and we care about you.”

Callaway quickly tried to clarify that, making a point to say several times that caring about players does not mean they won’t be held responsible for their performances.

Clearly, many of the players throughout the organization heard the message that Callaway wants personal accountability. And the ones that are here already are looking to make a good first impression on the new boss.

Monday morning before 6 a.m. it was a minor league pitching prospect, Marcos Molina running in the back fields when Conti pulled into the parking lot. In the afternoon, it was Noah Syndergaard going out to get in some

extra sprints. Last week it was Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz working out on the complex’s bullpen mounds early.

One clubhouse employee said that there is a noticeable new enthusiasm and excitement. He pointed out that they had more players show up early for camp this year and almost all of them are noticeably already in better shape than last year.

And the first year manager is looking to make a strong impression with his team.

Callaway reached out to the players and began working on building relationships long before they arrived here. “Yeah, me and Mickey have been texting before and then I met him today in person. But the vibe is good, man,” right-handed reliever A.J. Ramos said. “He was just reaching out, just saying ‘hey, how’s it going?’ Nothing instructional, nothing like that. Just how’s it going, man to man.

“I think that’s important, when you’re able to talk to your manager as a man and not just as a manager, you kind of have the same level. No one is trying to say you need to do this or that. We’re all on the same team, trying to get some wins, and I think that’s the vibe right now.”

And Monday the pitchers and catchers got their first chance to see how working with Callaway would be.

Wearing a No. 36 uniform, the 42-year-old former big league pitcher mingled with the players a little and laughed with his coaches during the pre-workout stretches. Wearing dark sunglasses, Callaway watched the bullpen sessions carefully making quiet, quick comments to Eiland or pitchers.

“It’s new, a change. So far he’s been great,” catcher Travis d’Arnaud said of his first spring training with Callaway. “He’s a really laid back guy, but when he needs to address something, you definitely can tell he means it.

“It’s awesome having him here and I am really looking forward to working with him.”

Only time will tell if the Mets invested wisely in their future and whether a change in manager will be enough to translate into actual success on the field.

But Monday, there was a sense of a fresh start for a club and the players that definitely needed one.