HEADLINE

Mets’ Callaway, Vargas confront reporter after loss

Field Level Media

June 24, 2019 at 2:35 am.

New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway cursed and pitcher Jason Vargas had to be restrained from a confrontation with a reporter during a postgame incident in the team’s clubhouse Sunday.

Tensions were running high after a 5-3 loss in Chicago to the Cubs, after which reporters questioned Callaway about his choice of reliever Seth Lugo, who gave up a three-run homer to Javier Baez in the bottom of the eighth inning.

As Callaway came out of his office while reporters waited to talk to players, Newsday reporter Tim Healey said, “See you tomorrow, Mickey.”

Callaway, still agitated from the loss and his postgame interview, according to a report from Yahoo Sports, turned and yelled, “Don’t be a smartass, (expletive).”

Callaway continued to curse at Healey and asked a team official to remove him from the clubhouse. Vargas stared down Healey and eventually charged at him before being restrained by teammates. No contact was made with the reporter.

Healey left the clubhouse soon after.

“The Mets sincerely regret the incident that took place with one of our beat writers following today’s game in the clubhouse,” the team said in a statement. “We do not condone this type of behavior from any employee. The organization has reached out and apologized to this reporter and will have further discussions internally with all involved parties.”

The Mets open a four-game series in Philadelphia on Monday.