Calla-went-that-way
It’s time for a daily news report.
Now we have to dislike him
Mickey Callaway will reportedly be officially named the new Mets manager, according to multiple reports. Callaway was the Indians pitching coach and of interest to the Phillies, according to reports.
Hopefully he wasn’t Matt Klentak’s top choice, because that would look bad. Either way, people are applauding the hire. The name “Joe Maddon” is being thrown around as a comparison. You do you, Mets.
Managerial search: The next Acta?
Jon Heyman is reporting the Phillies interviewed Manny Acta for the managerial position.
This feels like a giant meh. Acta has a poor managerial record (372-518, .418) over parts of six seasons with Washington and Cleveland. Granted those teams weren’t built very well for him, but those 2011 Indians he managed were out in front in the American League, then went down the tubes quicker than Drano in a clean pipe.
I should know. I was at their high-water-mark game (May 22, 2011), in which Carlos Carrasco and Lou Marson was the battery (yeah I was marking out) and the Tribe shut down Scott Rolen and the Reds. Within two-and-a-half weeks they were tied for first. September was worse – they started the month 5.5 back of first, but finished the season 15 back of Detroit.
Anyway, I’d rather someone new to managing in the bigs over Acta.
Utley vs. Giles (and Morton)
As you noticed Saturday night, the Astros beat the Yankees (yay) in the American League Championship Series. They’ll visit the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday.
It wasn’t that long ago that the Dodgers and Astros were division rivals, but times have changed and nobody will talk about how this is a stunning rematch from the 1981 NL Division Series.
Here in Philadelphia, we might talk about how this series pits fan favorites Chase Utley against Ken Giles. (I know, Charlie Morton is a former Phillie, and his Game 7 performance was outstanding, but please, show me your Morton jersey right now.)
Utley is not having a good postseason (.000/.250/.000), while Giles … also isn’t (7.50 ERA, 7 K, 3 BB). As Phillies fans, these are numbers we are very familiar with.
Who you got? While I’d love to see Chase get a second ring, the Astros have snared me in this postseason. Jose Altuve is awesome (and makes me pine for the day when Scott Kingery or J.P. Crawford is hitting .400 in the postseason), and it’s fun seeing Justin Verlander turn back into the best pitcher in baseball for a few weeks. (I’m especially happy we’re not watching the Madison Bumgarner Show again.)
I’m rooting Astros, but just as much, a great series.
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