Photo by Ed Delany, MMO
Terry Collins
Current Position: New York Mets Manager (2011 – 2017)
Age: May 27, 1949 (70)
Managerial Experience: New York Mets (2011 – 2017), Anaheim Angels (1997 – 1999), Houston Astros (1994 – 1996)
Rumor has it when Carlos Beltran interviewed for the New York Yankees job, he indicated to the team if hired he wanted to have Collins as his bench coach. After Beltran was hired as the Mets manager, he would tell reporters he would think Collins is the best manager he ever played for during his 20 year career.
That praise from Beltran should not be taken lightly. Beltran played for Bruce Bochy, who is a future Hall of Famer. He also played for World Series winning managers in Joe Girardi and AJ Hinch. That praise should also not be taken lightly because Collins was there during a very rocky time for Beltran.
Collins was the manager when Beltran fought with the team over his having to undergo knee surgery. Collins was the manager who had to inform the Gold Glover it was time for Beltran to move to right field. He was the manager when Fred Wilpon derided Beltran and other Mets players in an interview with the New Yorker. He was the manager when Beltran was traded to the San Francisco Giants.
This doesn’t come as much of a surprise to Mets fans. Over the years, we have known Collins to be a manager who was deferential to his veteran players. Even with Marc Carig’s takedown of Collins in one of his last Newsday columns, Collins was known as a manager who connected well with this players, which is a departure from the manager he was known for being in his stops in Anaheim and Houston.
One real strength Collins had was his dealings with the media. Unlike Mickey Callaway, the stories weren’t about his confrontations, and when he did have a gaffe, like his insulting Jay Horowitz, he was quick to apologize. More than anything, Collins had this innate ability to give the fans fire and fury in the press room when they wanted it, and he knew when to preach patience.
Before the video of him surfaced of his reaction to the Noah Syndergaard ejection, he was best known for his breakdown when he allowed Johan Santana go for the no-hitter.
When things were right, the Mets went to the postseason in 2015 and 2016. When things went wrong, they went really wrong. This is partially because Collins really had his faults.
Collins was reckless at times with his relievers. With some, like Tim Byrdak, he was apologetic. When he did the same with Jim Henderson years later, in an effort to win a “must-win” April game, he was defensive and confrontational. Really, when going over his Mets tenure, Collins constantly mismanaged the bullpen to the point where he constantly abused effective arms.
Collins also blatantly said he had little to no interest in developing Michael Conforto because the Mets were trying to win games. That was part and parcel to his deference to veterans and an indication why the clubhouse fell apart when the Mets sold at the 2017 trade deadline.
Lastly, Collins did make a number of questionable managerial decisions. It would cost the Mets the 2015 World Series. He played Yoenis Cespedes in center over Juan Lagares. He unnecessarily used Addison Reed, Tyler Clippard, and Jeurys Familia to close out a six run lead. There were more errors before and after you remember his leaving Matt Harvey in too long.
Through all of it, Collins did one thing few Mets managers have done, and that is to go to a World Series. Obviously, there are some things he does well, but the question for the Mets, is whether he does enough things well to lead them to have him mentor a manager who has never managed or even coached a game in his life.
What They Say:
Sandy Alderson: “But ultimately the tenure and success he’s had to me speaks for itself. There are always going to be disagreements from time to time. That’s inevitable if you have more than one person thinking creatively and constructively about what’s best for the organization.”
Carlos Beltran: “I have been fortunate to play with so many good managers, but the one that really sticks out to me is Terry Collins, for the fact that when I was playing with the Mets he was able to handle my situation. (Billy Witz, New York Times).
David Wright: “For a player to not put his name on the quote and to bash Terry, who has a lot of success for taking us to the playoffs in back-to-back years, in my opinion, that is cowardly and lazy. The man sits 10 feet from you. Go walk in there and say your gripes. Terry has treated us like men and adults.” (Mike Axisa, CBS Sports).
Recommendation
In speaking with Mike Puma of the New York Post, former Mets manager Bobby Valentine said, “A bench coach was important for me after 20 years of managing, so I think it’s important the first year. But if the manager has to be the general manager’s guy, I think the bench coach has to be the manager’s guy.”
As we know, Collins is Beltran’s guy, but he is not the only candidate who can be that guy. Really, when you break it down, Collins cannot be that guy at all.
Beltran enters this job with no experience, and as a result, the bench coach will have an important role in shaping how he manages a team. While Collins is a tremendous asset in how to manage a clubhouse and dealing with reporters, his preference for veterans over younger players, his history of abusing relievers, and his eschewing data for gut feel more often than not makes him an ill-fit for the position.As a result, the Mets need to look in another direction.
