Callaway admits to mistakes, vows to not repeat them
Perhaps Mickey Callaway learned his lesson when he sent Jacob deGrom to the mound to pitch the sixth inning of the Mets’ 5-1 loss against the Rockies on Friday night at Citi Field.
DeGrom ended the fifth inning on 100 pitches after the Rockies worked up his pitch count over a handful of combative at-bats. The Mets ace was due up to bat in the bottom of the frame and, surprisingly, he walked to the ondeck circle to bat for himself. DeGrom ultimately ended his start tossing 112 pitches.
Callaway was under scrutiny for pulling Noah Syndergaard out of his start too early during Tuesday’s loss against the Giants. Syndergaard tossed just 6.2 innings on 103 pitches and left the game with a runner on first base, not even in scoring position. The starter was visibly upset with being pulled too early, but he became increasingly frustrated when Seth Lugo gave up two consecutive hits and allowed the runner to score.
“After the game, as a team, Mickey put us all together and was kinda remorseful of that decision,” Syndergaard said on Tuesday. “But everything’s a learning experience. We have a ton of ball games left.
“We’re all humans. We’re all eligible to make mistakes. The most important part is to learn from it and move on. If anything, a man that is knowledgeable about the mistakes he makes is something that sparks more respect in our eyes. So I commend him for that.”
Since Callaway openly admitted “that’s one (decision) I’d like to have back” and he should’ve let Syndergaard face one more hitter, the Mets skipper has let starters go deeper into games. Jason Vargas pitched a completegame shutout over 117 pitches on Wednesday, Zach Wheeler hurled seven innings of a three-run ball game on Thursday and deGrom in particular pitched another inning on Friday.
When asked by the Daily News if Callaway has changed his approach to pushing starters out for an extra inning to avoid another bullpen meltdown, the manager said his decision-making is still situational.
“I don’t think that same situation has come up,” Callaway said. “I’m still going to have the same process. I think what I will probably do is understand that process needs to be improved sometimes. I don’t really know at this point.
“It’s something that you have to react (to) in real time. There’s a lot going on and I have to make that decision then. So to sit up here and say that I’ve changed my thinking would be tough. But I’ve had that experience now and what it feels like (is) postdecision making. So that’s always going to be impactful to anybody I believe. It’s not as cut and dry as it would seem, for me.”
If, at the very least, the next time a similar situation presents itself Callaway remembers the bitter taste he had when he pulled Syndergaard too early, it would be a step in the right direction for the second-year skipper.
To be sure, he’s past his freshman year learning curve and should have a better idea of when to pull the trigger on starters. But if Callaway can pivot and learn from his mistakes mid-season, it leaves the door open for future missteps to mend.