Circus Hits Queens

As if things couldn't get any weirder for the 2019 New York Mets, this happens. Both Manager Mickey Callaway and starting pitcher Jason Vargas have been fined $10,000 each for their actions against a team beat writer Sunday after the loss to the Chicago Cubs. This should come as no surprise considering some of the other strange things that have happened to the Mets with Callaway running the team.

So the Mets couldn't hold a lead on Sunday, after Seth Lugo gave up a three run shot to Javy Baez, who I felt was left in way too long while others felt Lugo shouldn't have been pitching at all. Callaway was clearly agitated by the line of questioning after the game, particularly about his reluctance to insert Edwin Diaz as Lugo labored through the inning. Callaway said Diaz might have been available for four outs, but not five. It's stupid to not be using an all star closer for five outs when he hasn't pitched in a few days and is well rested unlike Lugo. And side note Mickey, I thought you knew when you took this job that you'd have to be dealing with stuff like this you stupid idiot.

\Anyway, back to the story. Jason Vargas had to be restrained from going after Newsday reporter Tim Healey in the aftermath of the Mets’ 5-3 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sunday. The incident began with Callaway imploring a public relations official to “get this motherf–ker out of the clubhouse” after telling Healey moments earlier “Don’t be a smart-ass” after the reporter had said in passing that he would see Callaway tomorrow. The incident occurred in the clubhouse about 15 minutes after Callaway’s postgame press conference in the visiting manager’s office. Vargas then engaged in a stare-down with Healey and threatened to “knock you the f–k out.” When Healey didn’t leave, Vargas took steps toward the reporter before Carlos Gomez and Noah Syndergaard interceded, separating the two.

It is good to see some fire from the players and their manager, but in this regard, it was totally misguided. Mickey should have known after the game that this kind of stuff was going to start coming down on him, and if he hadn't then he really is an idiot. He should have known about how well Lugo functions on his rest, even the radio announcers for the Mets even said it. But Mickey never got the Memo and left Lugo in for way too long, blowing another solid outing by Jacob deGrom Then there was Vargas, overreacting to Tean Healey. He's just trying to do his job, don't jump down his throat. And how about trying to pay attention to what might have been a little sarcasm from the writers.

This kind of frustration is why the Mets are sinking fast. I know there's a lot of baseball left to be played, but unless things starting turning around for the Orange and Blue, its going to be a long rest of the summer.