In a column for the NY Post this past weekend, Ken Davidoff said "The Mets require a culture transfusion," because their reactions and sensitivity, "has made the Mets the butt of many an industry joke."
Culture. Brand. Identity. Purpose. They're all essentially the same thing. And, regardless of what you want to call it, the Mets need a new one, they need to be successful with it, and they need to let people know about it...
Thankfully, new Mets manager Mickey Callaway agrees...
During his introductory press conference at Citi Field in October, Callaway repeatedly talked about the importance of creating a team culture, not just as it relates to winning, but in how it can help influence the opposition and incoming players, as well as fans and media.
Oct. 23, 2017: Sandy Alderson, left, Jeff Wilpon, right, pose for pictures with new manager Mickey Calloway after naming Calloway. Credit. Kathy Willens, AP
He said when a person joined the Indians -- similar to when someone joins the Yankees, Twins, or Cardinals -- there is an understood expectation about how and why a player and coach should think, work, prepare, and behave on and off the field.
Callaway made it sound like he and Sandy Alderson see eye-to-eye on creating a similar culture and set of expectations for the Mets.
It was hard to decipher the exact tenets of the culture Callaway has in mind, but it will likely involve constant communication, "personal responsibility," hard work, and being both physically and mentally prepared. I expect we'll hear him talk more about this during Spring Training.
I also expect we'll hear a lot about "sacrifice," and doing whatever is necessary to win. "Information" will also be part of the equation, because I've repeatedly heard Callaway say it's important that a player understand the logic and research behind the team's decisions.
"Times have changed, mainly because players have changed," Callaway explained to The 7 Line's Orange & Blue Thing podcast in January. "Billy Martin was an effective player's manager back in the day because that's what those players responded to. You could get in their face if you wanted to. Today's player has so much information at his finger tips, they're going to test and challenge you on everything you give them. They're going to go look it up after the game. And so you have to make sure you're prepared going in with whatever it is you're talking to them about."
Respect is clearly going to be a tenet, as well...
"These players want someone that knows they're a person, as well as a player, and that you understand what a difficult job they have," Callaway continued. "Now, that doesn't mean we don't have high expectations. We have very high expectations for all of these guys and we're going to hold them accountable for all of the work that they do. When you care about someone, it doesn't mean you just let them do whatever they want. That's not caring. I'm not gonna be the guy that tries to please everybody, I'm going to hold them accountable. But, I'm gonna care about them in a way that makes them better. And they might not realize that at the time, but maybe 10 years down the road they'll realize I was trying to help them."
I hope Callaway is successful at instilling these principles in the clubhouse, after which I would love to see Alderson push them in a public way from his front office. Think about it -- if the Mets organization as a whole treated fans the way Callaway is treating his players, the organization's 'brand,' or, 'way,' or, 'culture,' could extend beyond the ballpark. This is what happens in the Bronx, St. Louis, and Minnesota, and it's why Yankees fans, Cardinals fans, Twins fans, etc., take pride in how the organization acts -- not just in what they attain...
You're close, Mets. Callaway has the right idea.
Let him lead, win, and we might all finally end up going the right 'way.'
Matthew Cerrone (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Contact) is lead writer of MetsBlog.com, which he created in 2003. He also hosts the MetsBlog Podcast, which you can subscribe to here. He recently left his position as Executive Editor and Dir. of Digital Content for SNY.TV to help sports brands build their own digital content businesses...
