When the Mets dismissed Terry Collins as their manager, a sigh of relief was heard. In retrospect, though…
The Mets were in a different mode in 2017 when they dismissed Terry Collins, the only manager to lead the team to a World Series appearance (2015) since 2000. They were looking for a change and change it was when they bought in an inexperienced Mickey Callaway.
The Mets did not run Terry Collins out of town. Instead, they retained his services, installing him in their front office, joining Omar Minaya and Ruben Amaro as Special Assistants to the General Manager.
To be picky, Collins resigned, he was not fired. But it’s only a matter of semantics since his job was in jeopardy from June on as then GM, Sandy Alderson, lobbied hard for Collins to be dismissed, only to be met with resistance from Fred Wilpon.
On Why, Mets Players Threw Collins Under The Bus
Following his departure, Collins was met with a blistering backlash from players who went public with their gripes. One report appearing in metsmerizedonline.com contained these missives about Collins:
“He has always been difficult to communicate with,” one Met said. “It would be a surprise if he said ‘hey’ to you when you passed each other in the hallway if your name wasn’t Matt Harvey or Yoenis Cespedes. It’s always been those couple things along with some of the in-game decisions he makes.”
Said another Met: “We were all miserable”.
You Weren’t The Only One Who Was “Miserable”
History allows looking back and away from the heat of the moment. In that light, it is not a stretch to say Terry Collins joined and even led his team in being miserable.
So yes, when the Mets came out flat one day in Arizona in 2016, Terry Collins wore his feelings on his sleeve. He challenged the Mets to be what they are – major leaguers – not to be moping around with “woe is me” body language. (Video)
Terry Collins burned with a fire in him that took displeasure with losing. He did not coddle his players. Instead, he challenged them to be the professionals on the job they have chosen for themselves and by themselves.
How refreshing is that when we look back at what’s happened in the Mets organization, and elsewhere in baseball?
Terry Collins did not lose control of his clubhouse; the players lost control of themselves.
These Players Are Ready For Terry Collins
With that in mind, let’s fast forward to 2020, and even to take a look back at the Mets who composed the team in 2019.
These Mets players took control of themselves with a” we will not go down” dedication and spirit to the task at hand, even when their effort became futile in the face of the standings.
We have a Mets team that already has grasped onto accountability when it relates to the results in the standings – or not.
They are, in effect, perfect as a match with Terry Collins and the in-game skills he brings to the table.
Collins will match their fire and desire with his half-century involvement in and love for the game of baseball.
It’s a stretch to think Brodie Van Wagenen has considered a reprisal of Terry Collins as he sifts through a collage of candidates to replace Callaway.
And there’s still the overworn suggestion that Van Wagenen will look far and wide to make his choice before he considers anyone of stature (i.e., power).
It’s still not too late, though, for the Mets to travel down a road already taken…
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
