“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 8-18-13
Twitter: @LTJ81
Website: http://www.TheNYExpress.com
“You absolutely bring back Terry Collins in 2014”
I will never forget back in 2010 when things were vastly different with the NY Mets and their organization a year after they debuted their new home of Citi Field. GM Omar Minaya was running the ship while giving the main keys to current Manager at the time, Jerry Manuel. Man oh man was it bad. We had some superstars on the team, guys like SS Jose Reyes, CF Angel Pagan, an unknown SP to Mets fans in R.A. Dickey and the debut of at the time our top catching prospect Josh Thole. We were a mess that year, and Mets fans all across the globe were gitting sick and tired of the combo of Minaya/Manuel. After that 2010 season where the Mets ended at 79-83, it was time for a much needed management change. The Wilpons decided to part ways with both Minaya and Manuel and bring in Sandy Alderson for our new GM and he in turn brought in Terry Collins to be our Manager. What did these two together start to restore to this organization? Respect.
Every year so far under the tenure of Alderson/Collins, we slowly but surely brought in an aura of success by doing all the little things right. The Mets did the right thing by starting to build up our minor system to bring in the future of this team. If you look all across Major League Baseball, the Mets have one of the best farm systems with the best top prospects you can find anywhere. Lots of players as I type this are perfecting their pitching, hitting, defense, and experience until that fate changing phonecall to be brought up to the majors hits their cell. It takes time to build such caliber players and one of the things Alderson worked on was cultivating that youth. Collins on the other hand, took care of business by bringing more of a winning mentality. Being mediocre wasn't going to cut it anymore when you are wearing that Mets uniform. He demoted several players who just had no place playing in the pros and brought up guys that deserved it. He built around quality guys like Harvey, Wright, Buck, Wheeler, Murphy, etc. and started to build a product on the field that might not win every game but they give it their all no matter what.
It truly makes a difference based on what Manager you have to determine the kind of culture you create on that team. I see the look in the eyes of the players and you can tell they like Collins and will play for him. It's no shock that in the New York sports market, it's either put up or get out. It's just the way that it is, especially if you want to succeed in the big apple. Collins has handled all that pressure and then some while bringing some positive news to this organization. Yeah, the Mets might not be winning all the time but man, they have fight. The dominating starting pitching we have, the bringing up of some of the best prospects I've seen in quite some time, and the hype of top offseason free agency talent gives us excitement for years to come. I feel Collins should be a part of that. Now the question is, do you keep Collins around considering he built all this at a time when everyone was frustrated with this team just three years ago? Do you give him a four year deal to give him a chance to actually have the best of the best at his fingertips to finally bring a Championship back to the Mets? What do I think needs to happen with Terry Collins? You ABSOLUTELY bring him back in 2014!
This is the last year left on his contract and now all eyes are on Alderson to see if he can keep one of the cornerstones of this team in tact. I honestly believe it would be quite the regression to bring in a new Manager to have everyone adjust to especially since the core players have played under Collins for a few years already. You can't really rebuild chemistry like that since it takes years to build. Collins has put together quite the lineup, quite the pitching, and while not every decision he's made has been 100% right, he is the Manager we need to win. Next year I guarantee you that we will be in prime position to contend in the National League East for the postseason. We got most of the pieces now and are just a few more superstars away in free agency to complete the package. I look at the other teams and only see one other team that will be another top contender and that's the Atlanta Braves. Both the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins won't really do anything since they are nowhere near the teams they use to be. The Washington Nationals will be good but not good enough to keep up with the Mets. 2014 is the year it all begins for this team and Terry Collins needs to be involved. He deserves it since for the past few years he has been an intricate part of getting this team out of the gutter and into the spotlight. He did it by building fundamentals around the basics of baseball and it shows it by the loyalty and respect he has earned from this team.
If this team is serious to make a push next season, they need to lockup Collins for the long-term picture. I truly hope he gets at least a 3-5 year deal so he gets the opportunity to have a quality team under him that makes it all the way to October for years to come on a consistent basis. Let him run wild with the best team he can field and lets bring that World Series Championship back home to add to our collection. What do you guys think? Doesn't it make sense to bring Collins back for the long-term? Or do you think it would be best to start with a new Manager? Leave your comments now and I will respond as soon as I can!
Mack’s Mets – the premier site for information on the New York Mets talent pipeline and dialogue on Mets prospects, Mets news, and Mets opinions.
8 comments:
I couldn't possibly disagree more!
Have you watched Collins mismanage younger ballplayers? Burn out his bullpen unnecessarily? Hold childish grudges? Start washed up veterans over and over again?
Granted, Alderson hasn't given him more than the shallowest of talent pools with which to perform nightly magic, but it's as if Collins goes out of his way to use the least sensible combination of players to ensure defeat. Why else would Ike Davis and Rick Ankiel play as much as they did earlier this year (as two very clear examples)?
It's time for him to go. Never let him near a younger player, but keep him in the organization if you feel he has earned something with his third consecutive losing finish.
I have to agree with Reese, though I don't have a candidate past Tim Teufel.
The Mets are becoming a very young team and need a manager that understand them more.
Reese and Mack, you're spot on and I don't have much else to add.
I would have fired Collins immediately after he risked Zach Wheeler's health as a pinch runner. He's one of the team's most valuable assets and has no business being in position to risk injury on a day he isn't pitching.
Yes, Collins was tasked with keeping the show going during a down period. That doesn't mean he gets rewarded in any way when the Mets really have something to lose. Look up the Peter Principle - http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle
I’m late to the show here, but here’s something I’ve been wondering about as a fan. When I see a team like the Diamondbacks in contention, a team that doesn’t seem to have any more talent than the Mets, I wonder what’s the difference maker. Is it coaching? And, if it is, then something is lacking with Collins and his staff. Yeah, Collins has kept things from coming apart, but hasn’t gotten the team set right either.
All of us only follow one team with this kind of scrutiny so it's hard to compare. This is where Sabr goes out the window. Teams win games because they score more runs.
All I know is I break into a cold sweat after six innings of every Mets game and I truly believe that Edith Bunker could have made better decisions during those last three innings of every game.
The current Mets (without injuries) simply doesn't have enough talent to compete above .500 for an entire season if they have the kind of start that they had this year. That being said, take away their bad start and prorate what they have bee doing during the 'new year' and you have a team around 2 games behind the Red for the last playoff spot.
mack - It's like you wrote last week (and I cracked up)they just need to get one more fucking rbi a game! I hope Harvey doesn't end up in the psych ward with these no decisions.
well... the good news is this is how close they are...
Hey everyone! Thank you for your comments, lets respond in orderly fashion:
Reese, I understand what you're saying, that's why I wrote that he didn't make all the right choices but for the most part I think handled it ok. Don't you think with the superstars we will have next year, lots of talent, Collins will shine?
Mack, I see what you mean. What manager besides him would you recommend? I can imagine maybe you guys would want a younger manager since he would relate more to the general team?
IB, I definitely agree to a degree. But this season hasn't been the best, but we've improved a lot throughout Collins tenure as Manager. Yeah, he could be a better coach with a better supporting cast under him in ways of his coaches, but I think he would still do solid with all the callups and talent we sign in the offseason.
When it comes to bullpen relief, that is definitely something we need to address in the offseason. What else do you guys think we should address?
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