This past weekend the Daily News ran a column that suggested that Mets manager, Terry Collins is the “right manager at the wrong time“, a transitional manager if you will. While the columnist that wrote this piece may be correct, and Collins may not be at the helm when the Mets become relevant in the baseball realm again, I can see Collins managing the Mets for years to come.
First off Collins is possibly the best manager the Mets have had since Bobby Valentine. He is not ineffectual as Art Howe came across as. He is not as rigid as Willie Randolph ( who was actually a pretty good manager ), nor is he as laid back as his predecessor, Jerry Manuel. I am on record as stating that I was on the fence when Collins was hired for the Mets managerial position, but he won me over with his passion and his motivational skills. It was also good to see that he was not hard headed and had a open door policy where players could always talk to him.
I liked the way that he handled the Carlos Beltran situation earlyon in Spring Training last season ( developing a plan with Carlos on how to utilize him), just like he is handling the Johan Santana situation this Spring. The players seem to like him and they want to win for him.
Is Collins the second coming of either Hodges or Johnson that remains to be seen. Collins in in the unenviable position of trying to manage a team that is a mix of raw talent, youth and that hasn’t had a winning season since ’08. He has the spectre of fan favorite Wally Backman ( the Mets AAA manager) waiting in the wings of the heir apparent for his job. So he will have to make a favorable impact once his contract expires after the ’13 season.
Lets just hope that Collins is seen as part of the solution to rebuilding the Mets and not just a transitional manager.
To read the full transcript of the conference call that Terry Collins held with Mets bloggers click here (hat tip to Amazin Avenue for the link)
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday includes:
Reserve outfielder from the ’99 season, Terrence Long is 36 (1976).Long was the Mets first round pick (20th overall) in the 1994 draft. He was dealt to the Oakland A’s at the ’99 trade deadline for starting pitcher, Kenny Rogers .
Mo Vaughn wants to become a manager. He even enrolled in management trainee course with McDonalds !
6 comments
darknova306
2/29/2012-6:49am at 6:49 am (UTC -4)
I really couldn’t care less if he’s the manager after the 2013 season. All I want to see is winning baseball. If that’s with Collins or someone else, I really don’t care.
I think the original plan was to bring Collins in to change the culture of the team away from the card playing losers that would mail it in at the end of the season. He seems to have done a pretty good job so far at that, but I think people make too much of baseball managers in the first place.
gategem
2/29/2012-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
“but I think people make too much of baseball managers in the first place.”
Amen to that.
darknova306
2/29/2012-6:49am at 6:49 am (UTC -4)
Just win, baby.
Stickguy
2/29/2012-7:26am at 7:26 am (UTC -4)
I said at the time I thought he was a short term guy. Actually I said the same thing about Sandy. They were coming in to instill a sense of professionalism (hardassness?) to the team, and start developing a younger core base, but the right way (play hard, play smart, pay attention to fundies, etc.)
But, I never really thought Terry would be here more than a few years. Even before he was hired, I remember reading that he had said he really had no desire to manage again. Maybe he has changed, but I could see by the end of 2013 him being ready to step away and relax.
basically complete the transition to the next foundation, then hand over the reins.
trs86
2/29/2012-7:56am at 7:56 am (UTC -4)
Why concern ourselves over if Terry is short or long-term. Who was the last long-term manager we had? We like most of baseball change managers just for the hell of it.
What is relevant is while he is here. He brings energy, passion and most of all accountability.
gategem
2/29/2012-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
“We like most of baseball change managers just for the hell of it.”
Does the same rule apply to HS basketball coaches?