Enthusiastic Callaway eager to revitalize Mets
Oct 24, 2017 - 12:48 AM Mickey Callaway so impressed the New York Mets in just one interview that team executives knew they had their new manager and ended their search right there.The former Cleveland Indians pitching coach was introduced as the Mets' new manager Monday in a news conference at Citi Field.
Callaway reached agreement with the Mets on a three-year contract with an option, becoming the team's 21st manager. New York slumped to a 70-92 record in 2017, leading to Terry Collins' resignation.
"We had planned on having a second round of interviews but ended our first round and decided there was really only one man for the job," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said. "There seemed to be a real consistency between Mickey's approach and our approach and what he was looking for in the way of managing and what we were looking for in the way of a leader in the clubhouse."
The 42-year-old Callaway, who has no managerial experience, met with the media for the first time, and his enthusiasm was evident.
"I'm probably the most excited guy that you're going to see in a long time," Callaway said. "This is certainly an honor and a treat."
Callaway laid out a simple formula that he hopes will produce the same kind of success that the Indians achieved while he was in Cleveland working under manager Terry Francona.
"I think that if there were three words to describe what I'm looking for in players, it would be durable, it would be prepared and aggressive," Callaway said.
The former major league pitcher was responsible for putting together one of the best staffs in baseball with the Indians.
Callaway is big on building relationships with the players.
"And we will care about them," he said. "It won't just be an act. The next three months are going to critical to what we're trying to do, and we're going to get to work right away."
Callaway not only learned the game under Francona but also from managers Mike Scioscia and Buck Showalter.
Callaway pitched in the major leagues for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Anaheim Angels and Texas Rangers. He logged a 4-11 record with a 6.27 ERA in parts of five seasons before ending his pitching career in South Korea in 2009.
"We're going to take our players and maximize their strengths, every time," Callaway said.
The other candidates who interviewed for the job, according to Alderson, were Chicago White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing, new Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, Seattle Mariners third base coach Manny Acta, MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa and Mets hitting coach Kevin Long.
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