MLB NEWS

Mets’ Callaway defends Cano after latest issue

Field Level Media

May 20, 2019 at 5:11 am.

May 17, 2019; Miami, FL, USA; New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano (24) reacts in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

May 17, 2019; Miami, FL, USA; New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano (24) reacts in the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Despite failing to run out a double-play ground ball for the second time in three games Sunday, New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano isn’t feeling any heat from his manager for the lack of hustle.

Instead, Mickey Callaway attributed some of Cano’s apparent lack of hustle to struggles players and teams face “when things are going bad.”

With a runner on first and one out in a scoreless game in the top of the fourth Sunday, Cano chopped a ball that landed behind home plate and rolled into the batter’s box — a foul ball — and stepped out of the box rather than running to first. Miami catcher Chad Wallach, however, scooped up the ball as it rolled into fair territory, threw down to shortstop Miguel Rojas standing on second, and Rojas took his time in throwing to first baseman Neil Walker to complete the double play.

Cano never ran to first, instead questioning the call of a fair ball by umpire Jordan Baker.

The Marlins would win the game 3-0 to complete a three-game sweep in Miami.

“I thought it was a foul ball,” Cano reportedly told reporters after the game. He added the ball remains foul “99 percent of the time.”

“I don’t want to say it’s a bad look because, like I said, I thought it was foul, like everybody else,” Cano added.

This came on the heels of Cano hitting a comebacker to the pitcher on Friday and not running out another inning-ending double play. On that one, Cano told reporters he thought there were two outs rather than one, and added the scoreboard was incorrect.

On Sunday, Callaway — himself the subject of job-security rumors — defended Cano on Sunday.

“Things are piling up on Robbie right now,” Callaway told reporters. “Come on, let’s face it — the ball lands foul and spins into fair territory. He saw it hit foul, and by the time he looked back up the ball had spun into fair territory and the play was over. Stuff happens like that when things are going bad.”

The Mets are 20-25 — a season-worst five games below .500 — and on a season-worst five-game losing streak.

“I understand that everybody is disappointed — the fans, the ownership, myself, the team — because this is not who we are,” Callaway said.

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