N.Y. Mets: Inside Mickey Callaway's First Week at the Helm

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH CALLAWAY

It's a long season but Mickey is already mesmerizing 

apprehensive media/fans with his early manipulation of the roster.

New York Mets:  Many times in past years I've said you can't win pennants in April, but with a poor start you sure can lose them.

Callaway's Crew is only seven games into this campaign, leaving 20 games yet to play in April.  For the moment they're getting strong pitching, ample offense, and flawless defense.  Thus the team has jumped out to a 6-1 start and presently enjoy an early view from atop the National League East standings.

That said, the 2015 season is a perfect example of just how far a good start can carry a team.  If you recall the Mets posted a 15-8 April record that season, then hit the skids.  They went 13-15 in May, then 12-15 in June.  With the trade deadline fast approaching, they played one game above .500 during the month of July.  That gave them a 53-50 (.514) record over their first four months.  But subtract their April record, and the Mets were below par with a 38-42 (.475) mark.  The Mets then went 37-22 (.627) over the final two months of the season en route to capturing a division title and the National League pennant.

This year's fast start, however, hasn't stopped Mets fans from debating and even disagreeing with some of Callaway's line-up choices.  Coach has employed seven different line-ups through seven games.  However, I'd argue one week's worth is hardly enough for identifying trends.  As long as the Mets keep winning more games than they lose, I think we fans know enough to tone down our gripes (for the time being).

On the bump, the respective performances of both the starting rotation and that of the bullpen have been commendable, yes.  But I'm not without trepidation.  The bullpen has accounted for 43% of all innings pitched.  I understand the starting pitchers are still stretching themselves out, but the bullpen is potentially facing an onerous work load which may prove unsustainable if this keeps up.

Mets starters (Syndergaard, deGrom, Harvey, Matz) have pitched a total of 35.2 innings through seven games for an average of just five innings per outing, albeit to a collective 2.81 ERA.  They've surrendered just 26 hits and twelve walks, while striking out 46 batters.  Again, it's very early in the season.  And maybe the metrics (don't get me started) indeed say get them out by such-and-such fork in the road.  At this juncture, though, it's still hard to say.

• Seth Lugo is scheduled to make his first start of the season this coming Wednesday against the Marlins at Miami.

In the meantime, the bullpen has accounted for 27 innings pitched, or nearly four innings per game, with Callaway averaging nearly four relievers per game.  But like the starting pitching, they've performed somewhat brilliantly to start the season.  The pen so far owns a 1.33 ERA after allowing just four earned runs on 15 hits and 10 walks, with 36 strikeouts.

However, if you eliminate the season's third game against the Cardinals - a bad day all around - the pitching numbers naturally reflect far more positively.

But for how much longer?

To be fair I've considered an alternative perspective.  The Mets are presently carrying twelve position players and thirteen pitchers.  Every person on the 25-man active roster has already seen game action (including Philip Evans/Michael Conforto and Swarzak/Robles).  I'm almost sure this is by design.
There seems to be more methodology to his overall madness than just abiding by Info Squad recommendations.  Within the span of one week, Mickey Callaway has rid the roster of the intrusive season opening butterflies.  And with their respective first games out of the way, he seems to have agreeably arrested every one's complete attention.


April is important.  It's better to be ahead of the game, than behind.  Tonight the Boys of Flushing attempt to sweep the rival Washington Nationals ... Let's Go Mets!

SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL

New York Mets

vs.

Washington Nationals

FROM

Dystopia of Columbia


FINAL
Mets            6
Nationals     5
12 innings

SWEEP!!