Tag: Mickey Callaway

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A Healthy Matt Harvey Can Still Thrive With Mets

Baseline Perspective | Matt Harvey
Matt Harvey – (Image Credit: Anthony J. Causi)

Matt Harvey may not be the ace of the New York Mets anymore, but he can still thrive in 2018.

Harvey pitched three scoreless innings in a 4-2 victory for the over the Detroit Tigers in spring training.  Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo, of MLB.com, described his fastball as resting in the mid-90’s for a second straight start.

Velocity for the right-hander was a concern last season during his return from injury. There was a bout with shoulder weakness, a result from dealing with the aftermath of horacic outlet syndrome and arterial surgery.

To see Harvey finding his groove with his fastball again is an encouraging sign for the Mets. In 48 pitches, against Detroit, he struck out two, walked one, and allowed one hit.

Anthony’s Perspective

It’s no secret on this site that I really like the hiring of new manager Mickey Callaway for the Mets. There’s a confidence and charisma to his approach on the field. This was a team badly in need of a new voice and a player like Harvey can benefit from it.

Callaway, as Anthony DiComo noted in his article, spotted a mechanical flaw in Harvey’s delivery from past seasons. The results obviously are helping with Harvey’s approach this spring on and off the field.

Harvey might not turn back into the dominant force he was which took New York City by storm. But with Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, now at the front of the starting rotation, Harvey has a chance to fly under the radar for the start of the 2018 season.

Callaway, with new pitching coach Dave Eiland, were brought in for their leadership skills as much as their knowledge of pitching. Part of those skills include getting their players to embrace change. Harvey appears to be buying in and so far the results have been on the money.

 

 

 

 

 

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Same Steven Matz Looks Like Familiar Problem

Baseline Perspective | Steven Matz
Steven Matz (Image Credit: . (Jeff Roberson/AP)

The Mets would like to see Steven Matz be a key member of their starting rotation in 2018. Now if someone can just remind Matz of this, preferably before the Mets begin their season.  

Matz, for the second time in as many starts, allowed five runs. He recorded only one out, gave up five hits, and walked two in a 7-3 loss to the Washington Nationals. 

It’s only spring training, and he’s working his way back from injury, but the early signs are alarming and familiar. 

The Nationals didn’t hit him hard, however the left-hander didn’t help himself by working deep into counts and running his pitch count up. 

Mets manager Mickey Calloway, after the game, called his struggles a “bump in the road”. Well, it’s a bump the Mets have seen before.  

[irp posts=”443″ name=”Mickey Callaway Brings What Mets Need Most”]

Anthony’s Perspective

In past seasons, whenever he’s struggled, Matz consistently falls behind batters. All this does is run up his pitch count and make it difficult to pitch deep into ballgames.  

The potential has always been there for Matz, however, his inability to stay healthy has been a problem.  

With his health concerns and command issues, the Mets have to think about their options for the 26-year old talent. With his history of arm problems, the bullpen doesn’t seem like a good fit. But, as Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News points out in her article, Matz does have an option left and could be sent to the minor leagues. If it comes to that.

Callaway, and pitching coach Dave Eiland, are preaching patience, and as they should because it’s still spring training. But there’s enough depth on the roster to spark debate on what role their lefty should have when the regular season starts. 

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Mets Manager Mickey Callaway Hits Right Note Praising Rotation

Baseline Perspective | Mickey Callaway
(Image Credit: Ames Keivom/New York Daily News)

The Mets report to Port St. Lucie, Florida this week. There’s plenty of buzz around the team with new manager Mickey Callaway taking over.  

Pitching is once again the projected strength of this team. Their ability to stay healthy, however, is a legitimate area of concern.  

What doesn’t appear to be a concern is the communication skills of Callaway. That’s not a knock on his predecessor, Terry Collins, but how quickly Callaway can win over his new team will be intriguing.  

In his press conference, with pitchers and catchers already reporting to camp, Callaway raved about his first extended look at his pitching staff. 

“I got to sit there and watch bullpens in the last week and I’ve never seen anything like that,” Callaway said. “The amount of very good arms and quality stuff we have in this Mets organization, I promise you nobody else has that. I have been around some pretty good arms and this is the best group of arms and stuff that I’ve ever seen, from top to bottom. It’s really amazing.” 

Callaway, along with first-year pitching coach Dave Eiland, have their hands full with a staff full of question marks. Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, and Steven Matz missed significant time last season and highlighted the injury woes of the Mets in 2017. 

 Anthony’s Perspective 

By praising his pitching staff, I thought new Mets manager Mickey Callaway made a great early impression in his first spring training. 

There is great power in compliments. Client strategist Kathryn Christensen wrote compliments can increase productivity, performance, and morale.  

The injuries to Syndergaard and Harvey helped put the Mets in an early hole they never recovered from. Of the five projected starters for 2017, only Jacob deGrom managed to avoid the major injury bug.  

Harvey and Matz are still major question marks in the rotation, not far behind is Zach Wheeler.  

The Mets are coming into camp this year excited and already talking about getting back to the playoffs. But this is a team which must crawl before they can walk again. 

Every team coming into spring training gets excited for the fresh start a new season begins. But those early expectations lead to humbling realities really quick.  

Callaway’s early praise of the pitching staff will help sustain the confidence of his players as the spring progresses.  

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Mickey Callaway Brings What Mets Need Most

When the Mets open their 2018 campaign they’ll have a new voice in charge, Mickey Callaway.  

After seven seasons, Terry Collins stepped down as manager and took a role in the team’s front office. Collins, at 68 years old, took the Mets as far as he could. Under his leadership, the Mets reached the World Series in 2015. A year later, they returned to the playoffs as a wild card team.   Continue reading “Mickey Callaway Brings What Mets Need Most”