Los Angeles Angels: Mickey Callaway just the tip of the iceberg

The Los Angeles Angels and Major League Baseball had a major problem in February. Numerous allegations of sexual misconduct began to swirl about pitching coach Mickey Callaway, with the team suspending him indefinitely. MLB began an investigation, but there was little news regarding anything involving those allegations or Callaway’s fate.

That changed on Wednesday. The league announced that Callaway will be on the Ineligible List through at least the end of the 2022 season.

Los Angeles Angels finally have answer with Mickey Callaway

It did not take long for the Angels to have their own announcement once Major League Baseball announced the results of their investigation. They terminated Callaway effective immediately, and will presumably begin the search for a new pitching coach as soon as possible.

This ruling does not mean that Callaway will be back in the game after the 2022 season. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement at that point, which is not a given. The league can choose to refuse to hear the plea as well, delaying the conversation for another year, just as they have done with Pete Rose for the past three decades.

Likewise, this does not mean that Callaway received a different punishment than Roberto Alomar. The league had conducted their own investigation into the former Blue Jays legend, terminating his contract while the team removed him from their Ring of Honor. Both will have the option of applying for reinstatement, although they likely have the same minimal odds of actually returning to the game.

This should not be the end of the investigation. Callaway’s abhorrent behaviour occurred during his time with three different franchises, and it needs to be determined how this was permitted. Likewise, it would be fair to question how much Terry Francona and Joe Maddon knew about their former pitching coach’s predatory actions. Both managers may be respected throughout the game, but there have to be questions about how lack of action and how much they knew.

Although the investigation into Callaway appears to be over, it should really just be starting. There has been a pattern of sexually predatory behaviour throughout the league, with Callaway, former Mets’ GM Jared Porter, and Alomar, amongst others. Major League Baseball has a problem, and Callaway is just the tip of the iceberg.

Former Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Mickey Callaway is finally facing the music for his behaviour. But MLB has some soul searching to do.