Thanks For The Memories Terry Collins

Before the last game of the season, Terry Collins told us all what we were expecting.  He will not be returning as Mets manager.  While unnecessary, he was magnanimous in announcing he was stepping aside and taking himself out of consideration for the managerial position with his contract expiring.  The Mets rewarded him with how he’s handled himself in his seven years as manager and over these trying three days with a front office position.

In essence, Collins’ tenure with the Mets ended much in the way it started.  The Mets were bad and injured.  It was a circus around the team, and he was the face in front of the media left holding the bag.  What we saw in all of those moments was Collins was human, which is something we don’t always see in managers.

Part of being human is being emotional.  We’ve seen Collins run the gamut of emotions in those postgame press conferences.  And yes, we’ve seen him cry.  Perhaps none more so than when he had that gut wrenching decision to keep Johan Santana in the game and let him chase immortality.  In his most prescient moment as a manger, Collins knew he could’ve effectively ended a great players’ career, and yet, he couldn’t just sit there and rob his player of his glory.  In the end, that would be the defining characteristic in Collins’ tenure as manager.

He let Jose Reyes bunt for a single and take himself out of a game to claim the Mets first ever batting title.  He left Santana in for that no-hitter.  He initially let David Wright try to set his own schedule for when he could play until Wright all but forced Collins to be the adult.  Through and through, he would stick by and defer to his players, including but not limited to sending Matt Harvey to pitch the ninth.

Until the very end, Collins had an undying belief in his players, especially his veteran players.  It would be the source of much consternation among fans.  This was on more highlighted than his usage of Michael Conforto.  What was truly bizarre about Collins’ handling of Conforto wasn’t his not playing one of his most talented players, it was Collins had a penchant for developing players when he was interested.

In fact, that 2015 Mets team was full of players Collins developed.  You can give credit to Dan Warthen, but Collins deserves credit for helping that staff develop.  Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, and Jeurys Familia all developed into dominating pitchers under Collins guidance.

But it wasn’t just the heralded pitchers.  It may have taken some time, but Collins developed some other less heralded prospects into good Major League players.  Collins helped make Jon Niese, Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy, Juan Lagares, and Wilmer Flores into significant contributors to a pennant winner.  It wasn’t just those players.  Collins seemingly brought out the best in all of his players.

With the exception of Murphy, you’d be hard-pressed to find a player who performed better after leaving the Mets.  Ruben Tejada, Eric Young, Ike Davis, Josh Thole, R.A. Dickey, and Marlon Byrd regressed after leaving the Mets.  Really, you can pick you player, and the chances are those players were not the same after playing for a different manager.

Because of his managing, Mets fans saw things they never thought they’d see.  A knuckleball pitcher won 20 games and a Cy Young.  A Mets player won a batting title.  There was actually a Mets no-hitter.  Despite the Madoff scandal, the Mets got back to a World Series.

Through all of our collective hand wringing over his managing, we have all tended to lose sight of that.  Collins got the best out of his players.  It’s why we saw the rise of that team in a dream like 2015 season, and it’s why the Mets fought back so fiercely in 2016 to make consecutive postseasons.

And in those moments, Collins celebrated with his team . . . and the fans.  More than anyone who has ever been a part of the Mets, Collins treated the fans with respect.  He returned their affection.  That was no more apparent than that improbable run in 2015:

It was more than the celebrating.  Collins was there to console grieving widows and take time out for sick children who just had heart transplants.  At his core, Collins is a good and decent man.  It may be that part of his personality which allowed him to get the most out of his players. It helps you overlook some of his shortcomings.

Certainly, Collins has left behind many reliever careers in his wake.  Names like Tim Byrdak and Scott Rice are just footnotes in Mets history, and that is because Collins over used his relievers.  This was just one aspect of his poor managing.  There were many times where he left you scratching your head.  It was his managing that helped cost the Mets the 2015 World Series.

However, as noted, the Mets would not have gotten there if not for Collins.  To that end, we all owe him a bit of gratitude for that magical season.  We owe him gratitude and respect for how he has treated the fans.

He did that more than anyone too because he ends his career as the longest tenured manager in Mets history.  When he was hired no one expected him to last that long.  Yet, it happened, and despite all of his faults, the Mets were better off for his tenure.  In the end, I respected him as a man, and I appreciated what he did for this franchise.

I wish him the best of luck, and I’ll miss him.  My hope is that whoever replaces him is able to capture the best of the man.  Those are certainly huge shoes that are not easily filled.  Mostly, I hope he’s at peace at what was a good run with the Mets, and I wish him the best of luck in his new role.

19 Replies to “Thanks For The Memories Terry Collins”

  1. Gothamist says:

    I am not nostalgic.
    Who are the players who really developed as men, players, teammates etc.
    He got paid.
    Ne got his name in the Met record books..

    Good luck!

    1. metsdaddy says:

      I listed the players who developed in the article.

      1. Five Tool Ownership says:

        Like It is said, who developed the intangibles TOGETHER – maxing ability, learning to work hard as a role model, leaders as example, team first…

        CAN NOT teach emotion or passion ….
        On draft, trade or sign it….

        I do not think he did more than be positive, encouraging, and evaluate talent:

        Then Grandy came, de Grom’s rise was his fate, Familia has unhittable stuff, Cespedes killed the B pitching and Murphy is a tremendous energy to say the least !

        Sandy got Reed….Noah… Harvey was Minaya’s along with many!
        Like Wilmer, deGrom, Matz, Harvey, Lagares, Reyes….

        TERRY WAS A FUXKING BABY SITTER from a team going from the basement to third place w Harvey and deGrom, ASS KISSER OF STARS, DREADFUL

        What was the Mets record in 2015-2016 and his ither fuve years?!

        He developed sh*t, no one and the only mark he left was baby sitter cheer leader and ass kisser!

        TALKING ABOUT TERRY IS NOT GOING TO LAST A DAY IN THE NEW YORK MEDIA

        HE IS A TRANSITION
        HOPEFULLY UP
        BUT PROBABLY DOWN FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE THINGS WILL IMPROVE

        IF Giradi is a 8/10 then TC is a 5.5/10.
        NEW YORK FANS DESERVE MUCH MORE
        YET WITH THE FIVE TOOL OWNERS
        THERE IS NOT MUCH HOPE REGARDLESS OF THE GM OR MANAGER…

        1. metsdaddy says:

          I’ve long been one of Collins harshest critics. However, to be dismissive of what he’s done isn’t fair at all.

          He’s got a background in player development, and it showed with the development of the players who significantly contributed in 2015.

          1. Five Tool Ownership says:

            Piazza bought cars, gave huge bonuses to the clubhouse people.

            Is there any connection?

            Wasn’t one clubhouse manager disgraced?

            There is nothing to talk about Mets success since 2000.

            I would take Jerry Manual over Terry any day…
            Willie did not have a great IQ, neither does Fred….

            The 2006 team was financed by Madoff returns and a real estate bubble, transitionary, flash of light, Pedro and Beltran hate Jeff Wilpon and David Wright really did not effect much outside of himself then or ever again….

            THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING – I AM FORMATTING THE MEMORIES….. clean slate ~ no continuity whatsoever!

            OUTSIDE OF de Grom and Murphy there is nothing to show for plsyers who impact and improve w age in 2000-2017….

            The WS was great but mgmt got lucky and treatted it as luck spending no money on pen in the two years after…. they just threw money at Zobrist!

            Can you believe it, 2017 18 months after game five, Sandy pleads with them for payroll, the same as roster as 2016…

            Sandy had to agree to dump salary this year before August if they were not in it….

            Continuity…. the WILPONS NEVER WANTED ANY!!!

            They moved on, YET YET YET they invested $40,000 in a video game sport franchise…

            I moved on…
            We gave to the Salvation Army everyone of our Mets tees including a Cespedes jersey…

            CESPEDES IS A DUD, AN ALBATROSS!

            We have Harvey button downs left for we are really rooting for him!

          2. Gothamist says:

            Dismissive, nah…. just realistic…

            He is a footnote.

            But wait for the history books, what the players say…

            Does what Wright says EVER make a difference?

            Did TC make a difference in Wright?

            and

            Did WRIGHT leverage those intangibles he got via TC to other players?

            Were there any?

            Btw, if you were ever dismissive of TC – the Jeff Wilpon proxies will not post anonymously on your blog and trash you….

            Guaranteed!

            Who besides you defended TC?
            I mean ranked hs accomplishments?

          3. metsdaddy says:

            Curtis Granderson praised Collins today, so there’s that

  2. Gothamist says:

    Dave Eiland, formerly of the Yankees, of the 2014, 2015 Royals who had a WS staff who amazed me with their precision. He is free…

    If the Mets already canned Warthen, and especially if the Mets have already hired Kevin Long…?

    I love Warthen……

    Let Dan stay…

    http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20894525/kansas-city-royals-part-ways-pitching-coach-dave-eiland-part-staff-shakeup

    1. metsdaddy says:

      Based on reports, it appears Ricky Bones will get the job if they fire Warthen

      1. Gothamist says:

        Just hire the best bullpen coach in the game, that is who gets those without great talent to walk on water three straight years…

        If Kevin Long is a goner if not hired as a manager, do we need more HRs in 2018?

        No Dan Wartnen?
        Clean house, including Bones!

        1. metsdaddy says:

          I’m not as concerned about homers as I am runs. Homers are just one way to score runs

  3. Five Tool Ownership says:

    Bones who:

    Taught Familia how to overcome doubt when his pitches were missing
    Got Robles to focus on the outside corner peripheral on his first batter
    Taught Sewald to cut down on walks

    Bones who turned down multiple offers to become a MLB pitching coach since 2014

    Bones, the last hope for Montero

    Bones, who gets 25% pay of Warthen or Eiland
    Bones, who will monitor the physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, rehab, trainers, winter league loads and visit players like Noah in the off season….

    Ricky Bobes, the great savior!
    Who commands respect from everyone, who Harvey would never had pleaded with in Game Five!

    1. Gothamist says:

      Bones, based upon what?

      He will take less money?

      1. Five Tool Ownership says:

        What does Ricky Bone’s resume say?
        Or does a bullpen coach have no say?

        1. metsdaddy says:

          Rumor has it he’s adored by Hispanic pitchers, and he’s helped cultivate these Mets pitchers, especially the unheralded guys

    2. metsdaddy says:

      Harvey would’ve pleaded with anyone in Game 5 just like any other big game pitcher having the game of his life in the biggest game of his life.

  4. Gothamist says:

    “The bullpen coach, I think, needs to be very much a “player’s coach”, somebody who can bring the best out of each individual on a day-to-day basis. The pitching coach needs to have complete trust in the bullpen coach.”

    letstalkpitching.com

    “Bullpen Coach – the bullpen coach helps the pitching coach with the team’s relief pitchers. He doesn’t make mound visits, however, instead staying in the bullpen the entire game where he advises the relievers and helps them in their warm ups and preparation. Like most coaches, the modern bullpen coach has to be up-to-date on video technology. Bobby Thigpen and Ricky Bones are examples of bullpen coaches.”

    Lineupforms.com

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