Reds expected to offer Dusty Baker a “short term” contract

By Craig CalcaterraOct 12, 2012, 8:22 AM EDT
21 Comments

There was chatter during yesterday’s Giants-Reds game that, seeing as though he’s only under contract through 2012 at the moment, it could be Dusty Baker’s last game at the helm in Cincinnati. Which, theoretically, could be his last game as manager.

Seems that isn’t the case, though:

 

Baker’s last deal was a two-year deal, covering 2011 and 2012. The deal he had before that was a three-year contact. In August, the team’s president said he wants Baker in Cincinnati “for many years to come.”

Given the “short” talk here, it’ll be interesting to see if he merely gets a one-year extension.  And, if he does, it’ll be interesting to see if he accepts it.  The team has made long term commitments to Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips.  Does it think that Baker is the guy to take them to the promised land?

Mickey Callaway will not be fired over his blowup at a reporter

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By Craig CalcaterraJun 24, 2019, 10:44 AM EDT
3 Comments

As you no doubt saw already, Mets manager Mickey Callaway had a bad day yesterday. After some testy exchanges with the media over his bullpen use, he blew up at Newsday reporter Tim Healey after Healey told Callaway that he’d see him tomorrow, which Callaway took as sarcastic. Then Jason Vargas unhelpfully piled on, walking toward Healey and threatening him with violence. Healy spoke to his Newsday colleague David Lennon and explained the whole thing here. He’s pretty even-handed about it.

Callaway was already thought to be on at least moderately thin ice as Mets manager given his team’s underachievement this year. Thin ice or not, it’s not unreasonable to say that his behavior yesterday is something that a lot of teams would think of as a fireable offense. At the very least leaders in other businesses would think that way if one of their public-facing employees treated a reporter who covered him in that manner. In addition to it simply being bad form, it raises questions about Callaway’s temperament and his ability to handle pressure and adversity.

The Mets, however, do not seem to consider the matter to raise to that level. While they offered apologies to Healey and vowed that that he will be welcome in the clubhouse — for which Healey was appreciative — Callaway will be back to work as usual today, with the Mets announcing this morning that he will hold his usual pre-game press conference at 4PM in advance of tonight’s game against the Phillies.

Tell me: if you’re the GM or owner of a team and your manager does that, do you keep him? What do you do?