It’s been nearly 20 years since Terry Collins has been in the pennant race and he’s relishing every minute of it with the New York Mets.
“When you’re in a pennant race, there’s nothing else like it. There’s nothing like the energy in the clubhouse, the energy in the stands. It’s an experience that doesn’t happen to too many people,” Collins said recently at Citi Field.
“This is when you’ve got to really enjoy it. It makes all the tough times and all the work you’ve put in worth all the time and effort.” (Matt Ehalt, Record)
Collins has been in three pending races during his managerial career, however he missed the playoffs each time. His last chance was in 1998 when his California Angels led the AL West by 3 1/2 games with 19 left to play. However the Texas Rangers ended up winning the division.
“This is what you play for. You play to win, and as a manager the biggest thrill is to run a team out there that competes and you’re in the hunt,” Collins said.
“This is a long year. When you’re looking up in October and you’re playing for something, you come to the ballpark and there’s energy here.”
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As the Mets prepare for an important two-game series against the red-hot Orioles, Baltimore’s pitching coach Dave Wallace spoke glowingly about Terry Collins during an interview with Mike Puma of the New York Post. Wallace says that Collins has been able to save the team despite inheriting a mess.
“Given what he’s done over the last few years when he got there and inherited that team and all the problems that were going on internally, and to handle the New York press and do the job he’s done, I think it’s terrific,” Wallace said Monday by phone.
“I was hoping he would have an opportunity to see this thing through and obviously he has,” Wallace said. “It looks like it’s really paying some huge dividends for them.”
Wallace even went as far as comparing him to the Orioles’ manager Buck Showalter.
“Just their intensity and game management and being on top of things — the preparation that goes into it,” Wallace said. “I certainly know Terry well enough to know what he does and how prepared he is. Buck is prepared going into every game, he just doesn’t miss a trick for nine innings. He’s on top of everything.”
Wallace has been Baltimore’s pitching coach since 2013, but he has had a long friendship with Collins dating all the way back to the 80’s. Wallace served as Collins’ pitching coach during their time together in the Dodgers’ minor league system.
I certainly wouldn’t compare Collins to one of the game’s best like Showalter, but it’s still good to hear someone from an opposing team publicly support Collins, especially since he’s been the subject of such intense ridicule and criticism during his tenure in New York.
The media and fans have hammered Collins relentlessly over the years, but the results this season are hard to argue with. Collins has the team sitting in first place with a 4.5 game lead, which is a lot more than anyone could have realistically expected heading into the season.
Regardless of how this season ends up, the buzz is that the Mets will likely pick up his 2016 option and extend him through 2017. A team source told Newsday’s Steven Marcus that it’s unlikely the Mets will discuss an extension with Collins while the season is ongoing.
