Terry Collins will find out tonight if he will be named the National League Manager Of The Year in 2015. Collins, along with Joe Maddon of the Cubs and Mike Matheny of the Cardinals, are the three finalists for the award.
Collins led the Mets to an incredible playoff run despite the odds being stacked against him. New York was expected to miss the playoffs again this year, but Collins and the Mets defied expectations by winning the National League East and National League pennant.
“As I’ve said to our fan base for a long time, there’s a big light at the end of the tunnel,” Collins said. “That light’s now shining.” (Anthony Di Como, MLB.com)
After a disastrous stint as the Angels manager in 1998, Collins has regained his reputation and does an excellent job working with the players. According to General manager Sandy Alderson, this is his greatest strength.
“I think that’s been the cornerstone of his success, being able to tell the players like it is without jeopardizing or criticizing them directly in public,” Alderson said.
“That’s a hard line to walk, but he’s been very successful at it. … Terry is appreciated by the players, as well as the fans, because of his authenticity. Terry tries to be as honest as he can be without throwing people under the bus. His ability to communicate, and maintain the level of commitment in the clubhouse regardless of circumstance, I think has always been a tremendous strength on his part.”
While the award won’t factor in the playoffs, he should still be the favorite to win. He had to overcome so much adversity to even make the postseason as the Mets dealt with devastating injuries and poor performances early in the year. However, Collins and the Mets kept fighting and provided their fans with one of the best seasons in recent years.
