Just a quick word… As we begin the final leg of our nine game road trip with a weekend set in Atlanta, there’s something I’ve been waning to get off my chest.
I have to tip my cap to Terry Collins and his all-out, must-win strategy to close out the last homestand on a winning note. While bringing a shitload of unwarranted heat upon himself, Collins ignited a blaze under his team’s collective asses.
Not only did Collins let the brash New York media have it, but his own clubhouse put an exclamation point on it by exhibiting steadfast support for their manager and putting the pedal to the metal.
The team responded with 19 home runs in their last six games – a new franchise record. Lucas Duda, Yoenis Cespedes, Michael Conforto and Neil Walker have each busted out of late and only Travis d’Arnaud has yet to join this Mets coming out party.
Also give credit to Collins for taking the youngest and most inexperienced player in the lineup and batting him third on a team full of veterans. It was a bold move and he pulled it off with no back-biting from his team.
The Mets still have some kinks to work out, but what we’ve seen in these last two series in Cleveland and Philadelphia, is some great starting pitching, an explosive offense, superb relief pitching, and some exceptional team defense.
Once again – as we saw so many times last season – Collins has gotten his team to respond and they did so in some very boisterous and resounding ways. I expect that to continue this weekend and look forward to watching this team overtake first place in very short order, and begin to build a huge lead in the NL East.
The media loves to rile fans up with their false takes and concocted dramas. But we’re lucky we have a manager who knows how to navigate these shark-infested waters and keep his clubhouse protected from the unfair criticisms that are constantly lobbed at them.
The truth is that this is a very exciting time to be a Mets fan. Enjoy it.
