Terry Collins Should Fire the New York Mets
To say that this year has been one continuous headache for Terry Collins would be a vast understatement. But with all the talk of his head being on the chopping block, it might give pause to realize that they need him more than he needs them
It’s never easy when a team underperforms. “Heads will roll” becomes the every day chant heard from the front office. “Changes will be made ” and on and on and on. When this happens, the first scalp to be taken is usually the manager. In the case of the New York Mets, it’s Terry Collins getting only a lukewarm endorsement from Sandy Alderson and the stage is being set for what may now be inevitable regarding Terry Collins future with the Mets.
But if you start with the belief that no one is perfect, and there is no such thing as a perfect manager (although Joe Maddon sure comes close), then you have really need to step back and look at all of the imperfections in your franchise. Because Collins didn’t do this all by himself. He had lots of help beginning with “I can’t seem to pull the trigger ” general manager, Sandy Alderson, who came in with a roar and a solid reputation for when he was with Oakland, but who has done little since the R.A. Dickey trade that brought Syndergaard here. Okay, I’ll give him Cespedes too.
But he’s the same man who practically stood still at the trade deadline and who’s now hiding under his desk somewhere as the season continues to wither and wane. If the Mets season wasn’t over on August 1st as Alderson has constantly reminded us, then why hasn’t he done anything to provide Collins with a better lineup than he’s being forced to string together every night.
Look around. There’s a lot more to blame around here than simply Terry Collins
Not to mention all the players with under performing years in progress. What, they get a pass? With the exception of Walker, Colon, Syndergaard, and Familia, has anyone even come close to what was expected and needed from them? And yes, Cespedes is missing from this brief list because you have to be in the lineup to help the team and he was MIA during the crucial part of the season because of this and that when things really started to fall apart.
Related Story: What are the 5 biggest headaches facing the Mets?
So, there’s enough blame to go around. But, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Collins has been the glue that has held this team together. Sure, he’s had his moments like the rant showing his clear frustration a few weeks ago. But that’s Terry and he gets excited about these things as a manager is supposed to do.
And if there’s a player or two, or even a group of ten who don’t see eye to eye with Collins, I’ll bet a year’s pay it’s only because Collins has called them out and sat them down for lack of effort. He won’t name names because again, that’s the kind of man Collins is. However, you can be sure he’ll give his boss Alderson an earful, if only Alderson would ask at the end of the season.
must read: What were the most impactful trades the Mets have made in last 20 years?
Collins has proven himself to be a very capable big league manager (how quickly some forget last year) and if indeed he is let go, he’ll have no trouble finding another job as soon as the purge of managers is ended after the season. Odds are too that he’ll be able to find a job with a team that is far less dysfunctional than the Mets. Everyone makes it sound like he really wants this job and is holding on to it for dear life. But maybe he’s thinking to himself, “Heck, why don’t I just fire the Mets!”
To put it bluntly, we need him more than he needs us right now. And except to save his own butt by using Collins as the proverbial scapegoat, Alderson would be wise to realize that.