Craig Mitchell -- Terry Collins, The "Ward Cleaver" of Baseball.

What is the Mets problem? Or is it problems. Look, no team is perfect. Met fans are storming the castle with

pitchforks and torches. Even when they win the comments on various webpages are downright depressingly negative.  There is an overall hate and resentment of The Wilpons. Their financial crisis has crippled the development of the New York Mets. Well, that’s the cry.  The Wilpons, or “The Coupons” as they are called by many may have caused damage between them and their fans that is irreparable.  The only solution is for them to sell. Well, honestly, that doesn't help the 2014 Mets. The Wilpons aren't about to sell right now or in the foreseeable future. In the now, the “right” now, we have a team that can be competitive.

It’s not far-fetched. The Met pitching is strong. The Mets starting pitching has distinguished itself so far this season and that’s with Matt Harvey on the sidelines recovering and Zach Wheeler not hitting on all cylinders yet. The bullpen is a work in progress. But to be honest, it’s not the disaster that it appeared to be in the first 3 games. Sure, we need another lefty and we need a closer. But, one step at a time. No one expected Bobby Parnell to go down with Tommy John surgery. Kyle Farnsworth is a stop gap. The Mets must find a solution from within or trade for a closer. To be continued.

But, for the Mets to finally start winning over fans and start winning consistently. They need Terry Collins to stop acting an overprotective Ward Cleaver.  When I heard Collins reasoning for batting Daniel Murphy clean up the first game that he moved a struggling Curtis Granderson to the two hole, I literally screamed at the television. The Mets just traded away a former 1^st round draft pick and named Lucas Duda the starting first baseman. He is the heir apparent. He is the slugger, the power source, the job is his.  But Collins didn’t want to move him into the clean-up spot because it might be too much for him to process? Are you F*&King kidding me? This is what Duda should have been waiting for. Duda should be salivating to bat clean up and lead this team to the playoffs.

Is that the atmosphere Collins is creating? Duda is hiding behind Daddy because it’s too scary to put all the pressure and responsibility of batting 4^th on his shoulders? That is about the saddest thing I've ever heard. Say what you want about the Wilpons and their financial woes. This is sadder and a much bigger problem.  

I keep thinking what would other managers do in a situation like this? Gil Hodges wouldn't have babied Duda, Duda would have been batting 4^th from the instant he was named the starter. The same is true with Davey Johnson. Johnson bred a team in the 80’s that was cocky, confident and self-policing. If someone made a bad play, the team didn’t get down. If the team had a tough loss, they came back stronger and tried even harder the next day. If someone dogged it or was lazy, Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez got in their face. Johnson created a winning atmosphere. Terry Collins has me confused. Sometimes I think he’d rather be liked than manage a winner. 

Now all of this comes from extrapolation. I haven’t been in Collins locker room. Nor have I talked to him. But I read the papers, websites and I see what he says. Just once I’d like to see Collins lose his cool and throw some bats and batting helmets on the field. I’d like to see him get red in the face and get into a players face when he doesn't hustle.

I absolutely LOVED what Matt Williams did with Bryce Harper. It was exactly the right thing to do. The

message was “You’re in the Major Leagues. You put in 100% effort every on every play, every at bat. Every time NO EXCEPTIONS. I don’t care if you are the hottest young player to come along. It’s my way or the bench” Pulling him out of a game because he loafed on a comebacker is exactly what I’m talking about.  That creates an atmosphere where attitude and hustle and teamwork are the formula for winning. Holding a player back because you feel that because he just won the starting first base job on a major league baseball team in 2014 and batting cleaning might be too much for his fragile psyche is the formula for losing.  Instead of saying that to the press, Terry should have sat down looked Duda in the eye and said “It’s all yours. Go out there and earn it”

Ike Davis might be the real winner after all. He’s in Pittsburgh playing for Clint Hurdle. You don’t get more old school than Hurdle. I can’t even imagine Hurdle saying “Well, Ike has had a hard month; I will ease him into a bigger role….” First game in Pittsburgh, Ike batted Clean-up.  He went 2 for 4. Two days later, 2 more hits and a grand slam.  A baseball locker room is no place for a thin skin or someone laden with self-doubt. Clint Hurdle’s guidance more importantly his influence might just make Ike Davis the all-star we all thought he could be.  Good for Ike. 

Terry Collins seems to be more of a baby sitter, than a manager.  We all know that the roster decisions and player moves aren't entirely up to Collins. Maybe even less than we think. But it has been apparent to me that Terry Collins is not the man to take the Mets to the next level. He’s not. The two year extension he got in October confused the hell out of me. I couldn't figure out what Collins had shown Sandy Alderson and the Wilpons that made him worth that. Except maybe he did fight them on any decisions? Perhaps was a yes man? Please note, that’s all personal extrapolation once again.

I propose that if the Met are serious about taking the talent they have and maximizing it. They need someone

to lead the way. They need a fighter. They need someone who played on teams that had that philosophy.  All due respect to Terry Collins, I just don’t think that’s him. Matt Williams is in Washington  so he’s out. Keith is in the booth. The Kid is playing upstairs and Davey Johnson is retired.  But…I say…look to the bright lights of Vegas.  There is a manager who most of the younger players on this roster have played for and won for.  Of course I’m talking about Wally Backman. Polarizing yes, for sure. But Backman has the fire and the fight and the experience to take this team to the next level. Call it a hunch. Many people ask “IF Backman is so good, then how come his name hasn't come up for other managing jobs?”  I’m no G.M. but I’m not sure it hasn’t. Who knows who’s contacted him. He almost had the Diamondbacks job some years ago, but a DUI incident marred that.  That incident is in the past now, and hey if Tony LaRussa can get a DUI and win a World Series, I’d say Wally is worth a gamble.  But one thing I do know. He wants the Met job. I feel he’s right for it. The only problem is, the Mets would have to suffer a total collapse to move in that direction anytime soon. I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Collins is under contract through the 2015 season. I don’t have much hope that Backman will still be available after 2014. Someone will grab him and that would be a shame, because if Backman were the manager today, Duda would be batting clean-up and loving it.