Speaking shortly after GM Brodie Van Wagenen, Mets manager Mickey Callaway -- who was fined along with Jason Vargas for Sunday's clubhouse incident with reporter Tim Healey -- addressed the incident. But he stopped short of apologizing, despite being given several chances to.
"I understand that I can't control the actions of others or the words of others, but I can always control my reaction to those things," Callaway said the day after allegedly calling Healey a motherfu--er and attempting to get him thrown out of the clubhouse. "So I think everybody deserves respect regarding job title or role. I think we can understand that this is a tough game played by passionate competitors and I hope moving forward that we can all do our jobs honestly, ethically. And understand that other people are involved."
He later publicly apologized in a second meeting with reporters an hour before the game.
Asked if he wanted to tell his side of what happened, Callaway declined.
"I don't think one side of the story needs to be said over another. It's unfortunate that it's a distraction. I don't need to tell my side. That doesn't help me in any way. It was a misunderstanding, obviously, for things like that to happen it's always a misunderstanding. I'm sure there was no mal intent by either. It's something that happened and we have to move forward."
After going the first few minutes without apologizing for his role in the incident, Callaway was asked what he would do if he could turn the clock back. His first response was to jokingly say "Not walk through the food room to eat. I'd have eaten at the hotel."
He then continued, saying "No, it's something that happened. I got to talk to Tim personally. We're fine. He understands."
Asked again if he personally felt like an apology was warranted and asked if he apologized to Healey, Callaway said "I talked to him privately."
And did he apologize during the private meeting?
"I feel like when two people talk privately they can keep their private conversations to them," Callaway said.
But is he sorry?
"Like I said, I can control my reactions better," Callaway explained.
Toward the end of his scrum with reporters, Callaway said he was a "tough competitor" and that the "passion will show through sometimes." Callaway also spoke about former Yankees manager Billy Martin, who once punched a reporter.
"You guys don't need it directed at you," he concluded. "That's the number one thing that I know."