According to the NY Post, Terry Collins is expected to meet with Sandy Alderson today at Citi Field, at which time the manager’s contract will be addressed (Nov. 3, 12:23 pm).
Matthew Cerrone
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My hunch is that the Mets will soon announce a new two-year deal for Terry Collins.
His contract is technically up, but he has a team option for 2016. He dealt with a lot of adversity in 2015, had to manage a young rotation like no other in baseball, kept his squad motivated and got the Mets to the World Series. He will get Manager of the Year votes for this past season. So, despite a variety of questionable postseason moves in his bullpen, he’s earned another season at the helm. And, for all he’s done for this organization since he was hired, he has likely earned an extra year on his contract as well.
I think this is fair. However, I’ve always been concerned about his ability to manage this team through important games. And, this was confirmed during Game 5 of the World Series.
I’m cool with Collins letting Matt Harvey pitch the ninth inning of Game 5, despite having his closer ready to enter the game. It’s not the decision, it’s how Terry made the decision that is of concern.
“I let my heart get in the way of my gut,” Collins said after the game, pointing to a moment after the eighth inning, when Harvey looked him in the eyes and argued his way back on the mound.
So, who’s the boss here? Collins or Harvey? I appreciate Terry’s love for the game and wanting to reward his players. That’s great. Harvey throwing a complete game would have been an amazing story, I would have loved to have seen it, and it would have 100 percent resurrected Matt’s reputation. In the event Terry is back next season, I hope Sandy Alderson tells him that Game 5 is not the time to be romantic. It’s a time for cold, calculated choices that are in the best interest of the entire team, not one player’s ego.
Similarly, in times when he had to veer from the script, Terry’s bullpen management was all over the road throughout the entire postseason. Admittedly, he’s not working with a crack staff out there, but his decisions were no less confusing. His reliance on Addison Reed and Tyler Clippard in high pressure situations are something the organization must address in 2016. I appreciate Terry’s desire to have a formulaic approach to the last nine outs of the game. However, he didn’t have the necessary talent to make that work. Instead, he needed to use a level of foresight and creativity that I am not sure he possess. This is not an uncommon problem, with most MLB managers ending up in a lose-lose situation. Therefore, if the front office isn’t going to arm Collins with the appropriate weapons, he clearly needs to have more information to be better prepared and make better, more effective choices late in games.
Otherwise, with the help of veterans and coaches, Collins has done an amazing job at keeping his young team motivated. He does a very good job communicating with his roster. And, if he can’t, he has the support to stay informed, knowing what his players are thinking and feeling, and able to use that knowledge to keep his team together when they could easily come apart at the seams. He is also terrific with the media, and getting better. He does very good job directing narratives and protecting his players from the noise that can be overwhelming from the New York media.
Again, he’s earned the chance to get this team back to the World Series. He’s earned two years of guaranteed pay. However, despite recent success and the contract extension, if something goes off track during the next 18 months, if Collins loses the team or things aren’t working out, I hope they’re not afraid to make a change if they feel it can help get things back on course.
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