In the series opener against the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night, Mets manager Mickey Callaway made a crucial mistake that likely cost his team the game.
With two outs in the top of the 7th and a man on first base, Callaway decided to pull Noah Syndergaard, who was 103 pitches deep into the game.
The manager brought in Seth Lugo, who went on to allow the inherited runner to score, and the Mets wound up losing the game in 10 innings.
Callaway joined "Mike's On" Wednesday and held himself accountable for his decision to pull Syndergaard, completely owning his blunder that blew the team's late lead.
"That's one I'd like to have back..." Callaway told Mike Francesa. "It didn't work out the way we wanted it to, and that's what we have to live with as a manager. We make decisions, and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. But that one especially is one I'd like to have a do-over."
Syndergaard was visibly annoyed on the field as the manager made his slow walk towards the mound.
While some managers may not like their starting pitchers showing displeasure about being removed from a game, Callaway told Mike that he prefers his pitchers show emotion in that manner.
"I want them to be annoyed," the manager said Wednesday evening. "If I have a pitcher out there that likes getting taken out, then I don't want him on my team. I get it. I hated it and was pissed every time somebody took me out, even if I had given up seven runs. I totally get that. I want these guys to want to be out there pitching.
"And they're all annoyed. Most starters, especially the good ones, they're annoyed when they get taken out because they know their job is to go out there and pitch as many innings as possible. So I always understand that."
One of the reasons for the Mets' recent rough patch, as well as their season-long struggles, has been the performance of the bullpen.
New York relievers currently sport a 5.10 ERA, which is the fourth-worst bullpen ERA in the National League.
The Mets lost a few games over the last 10 days because of blown opportunities by the bullpen, and Callaway knows they need to get better in order to turn the season around.
"We just have to make better pitches," the manager stated. "You can't go out there and not execute pitches as a reliever. I mean, you're in there for a reason. You're going to throw nasty stuff, you have to get the ball where you want to get it. We're not doing that right now, and it's cost us a few games this week.
"If we win those games, we're two back. That's not what happened, so we're back further. But we do understand we have to be better. We're taking all of the necessary steps to try to get these guys in a better spot. Until then, they have to go out there and battle and just get the job done until they get everything squared away and get on a roll."
With the loss, New York dropped to 28-32 and have gone 8-7 since Brodie Van Wagenen's press conference stating his support for Callaway as manager.
Despite losing five of their last six games, the Mets sit just 5.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the lead in the NL East.
While Callaway is far from pleased about the team's recent play, the manager made it clear that there is still a ton of baseball left to be played this season, and the Mets are not yet out of it.
"At 28-32, it's not where we want to be," Callaway told Mike. "I think the reality of the situation today is we're just a few games back with 102 games to play. So that's the reality we live in today. We know we haven't been as good as we want to be. We're striving everyday to come here, have urgency, win games every single day...
"Our guys have a great perspective. They're a 'never say die' team."
To listen to Mike's full interview with Mickey Callaway, click on the audio player above.
