Updating this post with some new information, this time from Andy Martino of the Daily News who also hears that it is “widely accepted” that Terry Collins will be re-signed to a new deal to manage the Mets in 2014 and beyond.
It certainly seems like nothing will keep this from happening, so get used to it.
One interesting side note to this, was Martino’s view on how the role of a manager has evolved over the years. He credits the recently fired Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel as the new model for the “modern manager” and how other MLB managers have taken a page out of his playbook.
The modern athlete is sensitive, insecure, and performs better when flattered. If a player does not feel that a manager has his back, the skipper will not succeed. Jerry Manuel once joked that injured righthander John Maine could pitch lefthanded, and called the Mets’ offense “pathetic;” he was right on the latter point, but lost the locker room with comments like that.
Terry Collins began his tenure by courting veterans Carlos Beltran, David Wright and Johan Santana, and has been rewarded — in most cases, at least — with a team that listens to him, and plays hard during losing seasons. Fans often want managers to be tougher, but that approach simply does not work.
Even Joe Girardi, not often a compelling figure in public, will almost never criticize a player to the media. He keeps nearly all feelings — even those about the increasingly roguish Alex Rodriguez — in-house, a sign of respect from Charlie Manuel’s playbook.
Today’s players make 10-20 times more money than their managers which makes an already difficult job that much more tough to do. Trying to keep a clubhouse unified and team’s morale high has become almost as important as the play-calling.
One thing that has never changed is that a manager who gripes about players to the media won’t survive in a major league clubhouse environment. Nobody knows that better than Terry Collins who lost the respect of two of his teams for doing just that before arriving to the Mets.
Original Post 8/17
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Mets are still not tipping their hands on whether Terry Collins will remain the team’s manager beyond the 2013 season, but it is “widely expected” he will be given a new deal after this season.
Last week, a team executive told the NY Post that the front office is very happy with the team’s performance since June 18 and that it bodes well for the Mets manager who has guided the team to a 207-237 record since taking the reins.
“I think they’re doing a good job of sprinting to the finish line,” the official said.
On Monday, another Mets executive said that he would be surprised if Terry Collins were replaced after the season.
My chief gripes with Collin are many, but the three that concern me the most is his misuse of the bullpen, the way he panders to veterans at the expense of playing time for more deserving youngsters, and his very questionable in-game play calling.
The way he handled the Jordany Valdespin incident was completely unprofessional. Letting young players who needed playing time squander on the bench, such as Josh Satin and Juan Lagares during the first half, was very bothersome to me.
That said, it’s looking better and better for Terry these days… Whether you’re satisfied with his performance or not, he’s making lots of friends in the front office who are firmly behind him….
