Even the most diehard New York Mets will admit that the team was a tremendous disappointment last year. Heading into the 2017 season, the Mets looked primed to compete with the favored Washington Nationals for the division title. A deep and talented starting rotation coupled with a more than respectable lineup had fans expected a championship coming to Flushing.

But early season injuries to their ace, Noah Syndergaard, and right fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, completely derailed a young and promising ball club. The team was also impacted by poor managerial decisions from Terry Collins. The now former manager often pulled his starters relatively early, even after solid outings, leading to an overworked bullpen, blown leads and frustrated players. A few Mets expressed their displeasure with Collins toward the end of the season (anonymously) with the media. After reaching the postseason in back-to-back seasons before last year’s collapse, the Mets find themselves fighting just for respectability instead of competing for a World Series. At the conclusion of the season, Collins resigned, a decision that did not come as a shock to many. His contract was likely not going to be renewed. This left Met fans wondering, who would the team select for the job?

Enter Mickey Callaway. Only a few days before the crosstown-rival New York Yankees elected to not bring back Joe Girardi, the Mets hired the former pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians. Callaway knows what it takes to win consistently. His pitching staff for Cleveland, led by Corey Kluber, posted major league highs last season in team ERA, strikeouts and Wins Above Replacement. Callaway has major league playing experience himself, pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays, Anaheim Angels and Texas Rangers during his brief, five-year career. Although he does not have experience as a head manager, he has been working under the tutelage of one of the best in the game, Terry Francona. Callaway enters the 2018 season as one of the youngest managers in the league with a lot to prove. The pressure is on for the “rookie” as he looks to guide a 70-win team back to the playoffs.

During his introductory press conference, Callaway expressed his excitement to work “in the greatest city in the world.” He intends to meet with each player throughout the offseason to discuss his plans moving forward for the franchise. One of his goals pertains to building a strong rapport with each guy in the clubhouse in order to keep the team focused throughout the long, grueling season. Recently, the Mets’ organization considered trading former ace Matt Harvey, whose up-and-down career seemed to be at a standstill. Prone to injuries, the team thought it would be best to let the former all-star leave the Big Apple, and take his massive ego, (which caused locker room tension) to another city. But Callaway was given a say and made the decision to retain the services of the Dark Knight in Flushing. The former pitching coach hopes to resurrect Harvey’s career, and develop him similar to the work he did with Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer.

There have been many positive comments made by current players who admire Callaway’s style and work ethic in the dugout. The only offseason move for the Mets came shortly after naming their manager. Former Brewer, Yankee and Indian reliever Anthony Swarzak agreed to a two-year deal with the team, bolstering an already solid bullpen. Swarzak was average early on in his major league career, but soon crossed paths with Callaway after joining the Indians a few years ago. He offered the reliever advice on his delivery and pitch selection, and sure enough, Swarzak went on to dominate the competition. After bouncing around, the righty has been reunited with Callaway.

The Mets will start the regular season with a young, healthy, and hungry group of stud starting pitchers who are all looking to rebound from disappointing performances. Will Callaway be able to corral the once dysfunctional team to greatness, or will the Mets remain a basement dweller and laughingstock of the league, leaving fans pondering whether the team made a mistake not waiting a few more days to offer the job to Girardi? We will know the answer soon. Only 52 days before pitchers and catchers report for spring training.