INTO THE UNKNOWN
Time will tell if Callaway has what it takes to be an Amazin' manager
IHAVE always thought the 98-win 1999 Yankees were more talented than the 1998 114-victory version, but knew what the burden was of winning so many games and so essentially didn’t.
The ’99 team was deeper, more seasoned, better.
That was the year Joe Torre was diagnosed with prostate cancer and missed the first six weeks of the season. Don Zimmer, the bench coach, took over. For three years he sat next to Torre in the dugout. They had gone through three playoff runs together and two titles, Zimmer offering counsel to Torre.
He had managed more than 1,700 games for four teams.
He slipped over a few inches in the dugout and nearly tanked the best team I have ever seen. Equipped to be a horse-whispering lieutenant, Zimmer was elevated to general and brought his highstrung persona, tendency to play favorites and fallibility to let George Steinbrenner antagonize him to the big job and it all filtered into the clubhouse, bringing discomfort to the most professional group you can imagine. Torre returned and all was good and the Yankees raced to another division title and championship.
The Zimmer episode has always reminded me that you have no idea who can actually take the step to manage. Zimmer had a résumé. He had been sitting next to Torre. He knew the personnel. And six weeks almost took down a dynasty.
So I am always cautious about saying anyone is ready to move up to the big chair. The skills needed to manage have never been more diverse or voluminous. How do you think Billy Martin would have handled his players tweeting? How would Miller Huggins have folded in analytics?
The guy who combines the vast talents necessary including — but not limited to — being forthright/accessible with media, working well with an array of front-office departments, strategizing within the game and forming humane bonds with his players is Cleveland’s Terry Francona, who got this job in 2013. His pitching coach the whole time has been Mickey Callaway. He has been as close on the bench to Francona as Zimmer once was with Torre. How much rubs off ? Callaway is going to be officially named the Mets manager Monday, signing a threeyear deal to replace Terry Collins.
He comes with a background and skill set that should — and it is always should — match up well with these Mets. And good for Sandy Alderson and his front office for being open in the process to being wowed. Alderson did not know Callaway when interviews began, but I heard the GM left the meetings with candidates believing the choice was obvious.
I have dealt with Callaway often, particularly in the past two postseasons and have always found him bright, affable, insightful. His admirers are many in the game. They praise his communication skills and work ethic.
His time with the Indians has immersed him in an organization that excellently melds analytics with its players. And his time with Francona should inform Callaway how vital it is to remember that it is humans who produce the numbers, and they do a better job of accumulating strong stats when the manager forms honest, legitimate connections with them.
The Mets’ near future — like their recent past — revolves around their skilled but fragile, and at times problematic, rotation. Callaway, a former pitcher, helped develop excellent units with the Indians as their pitching coach. Trevor Bauer, for example, has grown steadily under Callaway’s tutelage and had by far his beast season in 2017. And let’s just say this: Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard are no more polarizing in their environment than the iconoclastic Bauer has been in his.
But Callaway has never managed. Sometimes that works out. Dave Roberts has taken the Dodgers to the NLCS and now the World Series in two years on the job. And sometimes it doesn’t, like with Robin Ventura and the White Sox.
Callaway is just 42, the same age as Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz. Will he be able to keep Yoenis Cespedes focused and playing hard, Harvey dedicated to the team and the starters generally healthier than in the past? Will he work well with Alderson when the heat is on, find a convivial relationship to chit-chat with Fred Wilpon as the owner so likes and not create regular enemies in the media?
He comes to the job seemingly with the toolbox and youthful energy to be a strong manager. But I once saw Don Zimmer shift a few inches in the dugout, go from lieutenant to general and nearly sink a dynasty.