Manager Mickey Callaway scored a victory before the New York Mets even started their seven-game homestand Monday, as the front office game him a vote of confidence.
Then the Mets went out and defeated the visiting Washington Nationals 5-3 to end a five-game losing streak.
Speculation was rampant that Callaway could be fired soon because of the Mets’ 20-25 start to the season, before Monday’s game. That chatter only intensified when the Mets were outclassed in a three-game sweep by the lowly Marlins at Miami over the weekend.
To make matters worse, the Mets were shut out in the final two games of the Marlins series. One success the players did have over the weekend was come to Callaway’s defense while making a case for their manager. That was recognized before Monday’s game with the Mets saying Callaway would stay for now.
“There is support from every part of this organization that we believe Mickey is going to be our manager as we go forward,” general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Monday. “That expectation wouldn’t change from going forward to the next season, and hopefully to winning games and winning championships.”
This year’s slow start comes on the heels of last year’s 77-85 record, Callaway’s first with the team. The poor 2018 result came after the Mets opened the season with an 11-1 record.
“I never felt that I wasn’t supported at any time, and we’ve always had unbelievable dialogue about how we can do things better,” Callaway said. “We realize that we have to do things better. We have to start winning games. And that’s what our focus has been at all times.”