Collins Frustrated By Players Who Don't Care If They Win Or Lose

While checking my email this morning, I came across this from the Flushing Flash which I subscribe to.

It’s an exclusive Q & A that new manager Terry Collins did with fans last week.

Flushing Flash: Terry, congratulations. Thanks for taking the time to sit with us.

FF: What can Mets fans expect from you?

Terry Collins: They are going to get energy, and a work ethic that is second to none. We are going to be a team that is prepared, which I hope leads to better execution. Our fans can expect a team that is going to win.

FF: How would you describe yourself?

TC: Intense, caring, I care about the game and the way it’s played. I competed to the max when I played, because I had to. Have I mellowed? Yeah, a little bit. But I’m still competitive.

FF: What’s the most fun for you?

TC: Watching your team succeed, when you watch and execute something you really believe in.

FF: What are your biggest frustrations?

TC: Guys who don’t care if they win or lose.

FF: What are important qualities in players?

TC: Preparation. I know I have the intensity and the love of the game. The players, they are all very gifted and get themselves prepared to play on a nightly basis. This is where my focus is going to be. They also need to have the ability to adjust.

FF: Is there anything you want to say to Mets fans?

TC: There are 30 teams all trying to figure out how to win. I want the fans to know that we are going to work hard and not be outworked. Nobody is going to be more prepared on a daily basis than us. I believe in winning and talking about winning, you need to have that swagger.

FF: How do you get that swagger?

TC: You need to get everybody to understand they are good enough. Bad times happen and you have to learn how to rebound. We have to move on and pick ourselves up. I will talk to every single player on the roster. There is a new attitude here, what happened in the past remains in the past.

FF: How do you get the players on your side?

TC: You have to be on each others side first. It’s still a team game. They have to rely on each other, team unity, and what a team is about, and what every guy on this team brings to the team framework. Every player wants to be a champion, if they truly believe that, they will leave their egos at the door. In my background, with one year of knowing these players, the makeup is here, the attitude is here.

FF: Thanks for your time, Terry. Good luck!