Earlier this evening, we learned that Mets officials are uncertain of manager Terry Collins future with the organization, via Ken Rosenthal’s latest (video link). GM Sandy Alderson’s status is also up in the air, although it’s widely assumed that the club will exercise his 2015 option or negotiate an extension. However, Collins may not return for a fifth season in New York.
Pitch counts could prove to be a sticking point. For example, Rosenthal noted that Zack Wheeler ranks fourth in baseball in pitches per start. He averaged 103 pitches per start, yet he’s also averaged fewer than six innings per start. Jacob deGrom, another fixture of the Mets projected 2015 rotation, has averaged 102 pitches with about six and one-third innings per start.
The Mets are currently in fourth place in the NL East, but they’re only half a game ahead of the last place Phillies. Collins’ club wasn’t expected to contend this season with Matt Harvey sidelined for the season. Still, their current 67-75 record is something of a disappointment, especially with improvements from Wheeler, Lucas Duda, Jenrry Mejia, and Travis d’Arnaud. However, it’s hard to blame Collins for poor performances from David Wright and Curtis Granderson.
The club is reportedly considering three options – they could keep Collins, dismiss him, or dismiss some of his staff. The latter option could be a compromise to address the pitch count complaints and other internal issues. Mets ownership is said to support Collins, reports Rosenthal, and they likely carry the strongest voices in any decision.
So, what will the Mets do?
I like Terry, and I wish he was handed a better team to manage, but I think it’s best for everyone if he doesn’t come back. He isn’t to blame for the Mets struggles but changes clearly need to be made.
Time to move on from both Terry and Sandy and I will also add in the Wilpons (they need to sell if they can’t up the payroll and act like big market owners)
Sandy has made 3 very good trades to help our Mets, he has improved our Farm System, yes the FA’s he has signed hardly work out, Sandy gets 2015 if it doesn’t get better than he can go after the Season, I think TC will get 2-3 Months in 2015 if things are the same as past 2-3 yrs Bye Bye TC!!
If they are going to keep Collins then they should be bringing in someone like a Daryl Svuem, or an up incoming coach as a bench manager that way if Collins doesn’t pan out your season isn’t lost.
Dale? I’d rather go with Backman or Pedro López but I do think Lamar and Warthen should be retained.
Paqza, like I said Sandy isn’t a Backmond guy, Backmond hasn’t proven anything as far as the coaching side of it is concerned on the big league level. If your letting go TC why not bring in a Dale S, Dusty Baker, heck even Mike Maddux
I can see PC, Dan Warthen, leaving to take his talents to another team. He has experience working with younger staffs in his career, something that teams like Arizona, Houston, and Miami could be seeking…
I think the Mets would be best served to keep him on staff. Terry can be shown the door; I wouldn’t mind. Warthen, on the other hand, has worked with Niese, Gee, Hefner, Harvey, Wheeler, Mejía, deGrom, Torres, Familia, Edgin, Montero, and the list goes on. The Mets’ pitching staff swears by Warthen and it’s hard not to argue with results. An ace, two #2s, and a slew of capable mid-rotation starters is a great resumé.
The club should bring in a new manager, but they won’t.
TC has been part of 3 miserable losing seasons. Time to change it up.
Your avatar is telling.
i can see it now. they will make changes to his staff and bring terry collins back next yr…if its nothing working by the all star break i could see the wilpons throwing the fans a bone and promote wally backman
Collins is awful, but I suppose there aren’t any better managers out there.
Fire Collins and tell Sandy he’s got one more year to field a team that can get over .500 or he’s gone too. They don’t need to contend in 2015 necessarily, though with a winning record they’d “contend” anyway.
Sandy has done a good job with the farm, though he has good trade chips in Beltran and Dickey. The Mets should be able to field a competent team next year and if they can’t, he should take responsibility.
It’s unfair to give Sandy an ultimatum when the Wilpons won’t let him spend. Their 2014 payroll is lower than their 2001 payroll, and they just tried to trade Colon in an effort to shed even more payroll. There’s already talk of the Wilpons worrying about 2015’s payroll, and that’s just due to arbitration raises.
imo, Sandy will stay because he’s working within Wilpon’s salary constraints and is potentially building a contender.
Also imo, but I firmly believe that the Mets will be at least .500 team next year. A lot has to fall in place, but that’s true for every team. Harvey’s back, I don’t expect Wright to be this bad next year (neither Granderson, but I’m less sure about that), d’Arnaud has been hitting great in the 2nd half, Lagares is fantastic, Duda could be better, Wheeler has been excellent since late June, Parnell is back (and the bullpen has been great in his absence), Syndergaard will be up (and potentially others like Plawecki), they could trade Murphy if Herrera keeps playing well, etc.
They’ve been bad this year but their Pyth is 70-72 right now. Even with just Harvey back, they should be really close to .500 in 2015. I think they can contend for a WC.
“The club is reportedly considering three options – they could keep Collins, dismiss him, or dismiss some of his staff.”
Well yeah, those are pretty much the possibilities.
If the Wilpons want to make a statement not just to the fans but to the entire Tri State area, and all of baseball they will have to let Collins go this off season and bring in someone with former coaching experience. Wally Backmond will never coach the New York Mets nor would i welcome him to. The Mets need someone who has won before. Also Sandy Alderson is going to want his own guy so that elimantes Backmond as the next head coach of the Mets. However, i must agree with Sandy because they don’t need a manager who screams at them all the time. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Dusty Baker as the next head coach, or a guy like Daryl S
I would disagree with you there and feel either Backman or TC would be better choices than a guy known for hurting young pitchers and an ex-felon.
Paqza, uhh Backmond is the ex felon. Also Sandy Alderson isn’t a Backmond guy so no one expects Backmond to coach the Mets. I could see Alderson bringing in Manny Acta, Dale S, Dusty Baker
How did that help the Red Sox when they brought in bobby Valentine to manage, a guy with success in mlb and Japan. Boston didn’t do very well, but he was a respected manager with success. Ferrell had little experience and no success and he guided boston to a world series. For managers to be successful, they must have a team to work with that fits their agenda. Example, Gibbons in Toronto was hired to manage a team built on speed. What did he do, he ignored it and sat back and waited for the 3-run homer, just like Gaston did and the team struggled. The manager wasn’t the right choice for the players he had to work with, regardless if he had ten world series championships under his belt with the same team that over-produced for him each year. The GM builds the team and the manager hired to run it is the last piece of the puzzle to guarantee success. Put in the wrong manager and it doesn’t matter if you have nine superstars on the field and the top rotation in baseball, they will fail, because the manager’s mistakes will cost them games.
Ok so who did John Farrell learn from.? Terry Francona, Gaston learned from Bobby Cox. Btw Bobby Cox developed 3 hall of farmers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and soon to be one in John Smoltz. Bobby Valentine was never a dominate manager such as Bobby Cox, and Terry Francona. I agree with you talent is 89 percent important. However, the rest is managing. Also how has fiery guys worked as of lately in the mlb let’s see. Ozzie Guillen will never coach again, Bobby Valentine is in the same age range as Collins is. Joe Torre won 4 championships with key clubhouse guys such as Jeter, Mo, Andy, Posada. Scott B. Why you think other mlb clubs haven’t given Backmon a chance yet.
other teams has restocked quicker (Astros), and can succeed with small payroll (A’s, Tampa Bay, Pitt, KC). He’s made a couple very nice trades and restocked the Mets with some great young pitching but at some point the Mets need to actually win or he gets the boot.
Fernado martinez was one of the top prospects in baseball of course he would rank in the the mets top 10. He also didn’t single handily rebuild the system as the Mets biggest moves were just the team trading away people Minaya signed.
Yes….Sandy traded them. And got top prospects. And also has done a great job in the draft.
Trading a Cy young winner for top prospects isn’t exactly the hardest thing to do.
Neither was trading Beltran for Wheeler. The Giants were desperate and the Mets paid most of his salary.
Really? Because at the time, people were questioning whether or not Sandy was going to get d’Arnaud OR Syndergaard. Nobody expected him at all to get both. I’d love to see you try and get that deal done.
Same goes for Beltran/Wheeler. People were saying you can’t get a top pitching prospect for 2 months of an aging, injured outfielder.
And how about getting 2 top prospects for Marlon Byrd and John Buck?
How about getting ANYTHING for Ike Davis?
That’s an unfair assessment. Nobody in the game thought Sandy would be able to get such a significant package for R.A. Dickey; keep in mind that there’s a difference between, say, David Price and a 37 yr-old knuckleballer with only 3 years of total success after more than a decade of struggles. That move was extremely shrewd. Moreover, the throw-in – Wuilmer Becerra – is hitting .300 with power down on the farm.
The Bryd trade was really nice though, because he waited until the perfect moment. Don’t think he’d get as much at the deadline.
“other teams has restocked quicker”
Here’s the thing – the Astros have had three consecutive 1-1 picks. The Mets haven’t even had a Top-5 pick in recent memory, unlike the Cubs or Nats. Where would the Nats be without 1-1 Harper and 1-1 Strasburg?
Alderson’s been fine but the on-field management leaves something to be desired.