Peter Hyatt - Terry Collins Managerial Death Watch

The proverbial employment "death watch" for New York's Mets Manager, Terry Collins, is ticking a bit louder now trust as he crosses into the record book for longevity as Mets skipper.

It's an ode to mediocrity and/or submission to Sandy Alderson.

Perhaps it's a bit of both.

Matt Harvey was, with the bar now lowered, not too bad.

6 innings of 3 run/4 walk was better than we have become accustomed to.

At 94 pitches, should he have been left in?

Terry Collins was in no-win land and can't be faulted here. I don't know the answer and I don't think others do, either.  

He needed another inning to keep the bullpen from pitching another inning and Harvey appeared strong at at only 94 pitches, he could have left him in.

He also knows that we were right at the Harvey breakdown point as hitters are seeing him for the third and fourth time, they've eaten him for lunch.

Also if Harvey injures himself Collins will be blamed without regard. Scott Borss has the media on speed dial and a ready victim to blame.

All of this, including a horrific bullpen, gave Collins no real option but to play it safe.

I felt for him.

Yet, the talent though injured team is in dire need of leadership as many have addressed:  the inmates run the Bedlam of Baseball.

An opportunity to lead and send a signal that he wants to win instead of his verbalized perception of keeping the team from implosion.  He isn't trying to win as much as he's trying to avoid losing.

Collins has a history of doing the unconventional.  It mostly fails but when it does succeed,everyone takes note of it, as if he is savajylu genius in his bizarre choice.

Such was having one of the league's lowest on base percentage hitter lead off.

Jose Reyes led off with a sharp single and as he turned first base, he she showed tiny only the speed and skill of yesteryear, but the focus and turned it into a double.

This type of hustle is contagious. It was impressive.

Reyes ended up with thre hits which to the attention deficit today means he's clearly the best choice for both lead off and shortstop even while Amed Rosario tears up AAA

Reyes isn't battle his weight.

Then as quickly as Reyes electrified the team he deflated and muted them with his lack of focus.

Terry Collins was granted a gift-wrapped opportunity to exert leadership and turn from avoidance to active competition.

For a moment I thought he would avail himself of the golden opportunity and tell Reyes to sort down and think.

The signal to the demoralized Mets would have been;

You are privileged to play a kids' game and make more money than most every customer who ultimately pays your salary. You will give 100 percent maximum effort and concentration or you will sit.

Had Reyes gone 0h-for after that, more would likely agree but like the roll of the dice Collins, acting when no such gamble is called for, memory is short.

The ticking of the clock is increasing.  A few more losses will seal his fate.

It’s very easy to unravel right now, and I will not let that happen here. We are not going to do that. We are going to stay together, play together, get on the same end of the rope and pull together. I will not let this team get down. I will not do it.’’

That he chose a "rope" to employ his meaning is not a surprise.  He does not want to be retired; he would rather retire on his own terms.  No one can blame him for this, either. 

"We got back to .500 and we are going to do it again. We’ve got to get healthy a little bit, but it’s too easy, losing can be as contagious as winning. We’re going to turn this around.’’

Off topic, the Post included an ironic quote from Matt Harvey:

“I think we are ready for an off-day.  Things happen in baseball, it just seems like everything is not going our way right now. The off-day will help.’’

Would you have mentioned an "off day" after what he just did last week? 

Collins' use of English is sometimes startling.  Here he substitutes "head" for "tail"....

“I’m going to continue to communicate with these guys, I’m not going to put my head between my legs and feel sorry for myself, that doesn’t go here,’’ Collins said.

He gets the notion of accountability but does not act upon it:  

“You can’t feel sorry for yourself because no one else does. You’re big league players you’ve got to get ready to play. You’re a big league player, with that are expectations.’’

In the next one: The pronoun change from "you" to "they" shows he will not hold anyone accountable.  "You" is universal.  If he had said, "They have to execute or they're going to sit..." it would have been strong, but:  

“You got to go execute and make adjustments. If they belong here there are things that have to get done or we’ll find somebody else, and we’ll continue to do that.’’

Head-scratching.  

As difficult as it is to see Alderson pull the plug on Collins the day before he ties the longevity record, days off are sometimes the day to make the change. 

My guess is that Alderson has be pre-screening a list of candidates.  

But I also believe Collins is a "yes man" for Alderson more than anything else. 


Maybe as June arrives, and the super-date signing passes, we will see kids get opportunities under new leadership.