Mickey Callaway has shown enough in his rookie managerial season that he should expect a return to his position with the Mets in 2019.
That was the assessment of assistant general manager John Ricco on Tuesday, while acknowledging the full-time GM hired by the organization this offseason will have input on the manager.
“I would fully anticipate [Callaway] coming back,” Ricco said before the Mets’ 7-3 loss to the Braves. “We got off to a great start and then we had a rough stretch, but I think what has impressed me the most is for a rookie manager in New York he has got the team playing hard right down until the end.”
Ricco noted the number of players that have shown improvement in the second half, along with the team’s 41-35 record, entering play, since July 1.
“I think he just has a much better sense of what the job of manager is,” Ricco said. “We’ve had some conversations about ‘If this happens next year, how are you going to handle it?’ The answers I am getting I am pretty happy with.”
Callaway was asked to assess his performance.
“The one thing that stood out this year was trying to be consistent and how important that is and be even-keeled,” Callaway said. “I feel like I have tried to do that as much as possible this year and I feel that is very important.”
Yoenis Cespedes’ second heel surgery is scheduled for the third week of October, according to Ricco. After that surgery the Mets will have a better sense of a timetable for his return, which isn’t expected before June of next season.
Cespedes underwent surgery last month to remove calcifications from his right heel and remains in a walking boot. He will also have calcifications removed from the left heel.
Ricco, who is part of the triumvirate running the Mets’ baseball operations — along with special assistants Omar Minaya and J.P. Ricciardi — indicated he is not a candidate to become the Mets’ full-time GM.
Lucas Duda received a tribute video in his return to Citi Field with the Braves. The former Mets first baseman was dealt to the Rays at the trade deadline in 2017.