Mets manager Mickey Callaway was at the center of a heated exchange involving a reporter following the Mets' 5-3 loss to the Cubs on Sunday.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway was at the center of a heated exchange involving a reporter following the Mets' 5-3 loss to the Cubs on Sunday.

Mets manager reportedly cusses out reporter while Mets starting pitcher tries to fight him


by - Senior Writer -

CHICAGO — Following a frustrating 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, in which Cubs shortstop Javier Baez hit a game-winning 3-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, the New York Mets were far from happy in the visiting locker room at Wrigley Field. That unhappiness boiled over into sheer rage, with Mets manager Mickey Callaway and Mets starting pitcher Jason Vargas both getting into heated exchanges with a reporter.

Callaway seemed frustrated when reporters asked him about not inserting star closer Edwin Diaz into the game prior to Baez hitting the go-ahead blast off reliever Seth Lugo, who had been in since the early goings of the bottom half of the seventh inning. While there is no existing video at the moment of the heated exchange that stemmed from Callaway's frustration, multiple sources who were present in the locker room at the time of hubbub reported that Callaway became irate when Newsday reporter Tim Healey made a remark that did not sit well with him.

Reportedly, Callaway proceeded to curse Healey out, which led to Vargas, who is known for being fiery, charging after Healey and challenging him to a fight. Several of Vargas' teammates had to hold Vargas back in order to prevent him from confronting Healey, and, afterward, Callaway ordered the Mets public relations staff that was on hand to remove Healey from the locker room.

Matt Ehalt, a Mets beat writer for Yahoo Sports, and Justin Toscano, a Mets beat writer for The Record, both tweeted that Healey simply told Callaway that he would see him tomorrow, which, according to Ehalt, is normal for Healey and other reporters to say to Callaway, as well as one another, when the Mets are about to travel. In this case, the Mets are flying out to Philadelphia for a series against the Philadelphia Phillies that begins tomorrow night, so Healey's remark made total sense.

The Mets organization released an apologetic statement after the fact that reads, "The Mets sincerely regret the incident that took place with one of our beat writers following today’s game in the clubhouse. We do not condone this type of behavior from any employee."

Update: The Mets fined Callaway and Vargas for their roles in the incident, and Callaway and Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen publicly apologized for the unfortunate occurrence. Vargas was less apologetic, telling reporters that he simply wanted to move on when asked about his confrontation with Healey.

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