Can Terry Collins Be More Than A Caretaker?

Now Collins is entering the final year of his contract, and as the 2013 season progresses you are going to hear and read much about him and the job he is doing. If the Mets struggle, fans will call for his job, because that is what people do to managers with losing records and expiring contracts.

But to blame Collins for what has gone on the past two seasons would be to place far too much responsibility on a single man. Has he done a perfect job in two years in Flushing? Of course not. But he has exceeded expectations to a certain extent, his players adore him and he would be a fine candidate to lead the next playoff-caliber Mets team — whenever it may come.

It would be a shame if Collins plays the role of a scapegoat after never really having a chance to succeed. – Anthony DiComo, MLB.com

Terry Collins as Manager of the Mets has been given almost a free pass the past two seasons, and may get one this season as well. He is the caretaker of the rough years the Mets have had and will go again through this year as the rebuilding process takes shape.

His situation reminds me a little of what Buck Showalter had to do with the Yankees in the early 1990′s and Larry Bowa in the early 2000′s with the Phillies.

Both had rebuilding jobs that they oversaw with the promise that young talent was on the way to bring those franchises back from the depths they had been in the previous few years.

The problem for both was that before all the potential was realized for both franchises, they were fired, replaced by Joe Torre and Charlie Manuel who reaped what they sowed by winning championships.

Now for some people, and I must include myself in that mix, feel that Terry Collins could share the same fate down the road. The manager of a team that gets them to the door before someone else comes in to walk them through it.

But, you also gotta wonder, considering he has gotten a lot out of the teams he has had the past two years, could he be more than just a caretaker for this rebuild?

The Mets have always made it obvious that 2014 is the season where the turn-around back towards respectability would take place. Unfortunately for now, Terry Collins is only under contract through the end of this season.

Apparently the players like him, the front office understands the bind he has been in when it comes to talent and the fan base has also been understanding of how tough his job has been.

But will everyone still be understanding if this team falls apart in the second half again? Will the players still adore him after year three? And will the men in charge think someone else is better suited to lead them?

Those are the kind of questions that a lame duck manager, like Collins will have to deal with and worry himself about throughout the season.

Collins has had his work cut out for him so far and this year will be no different. But it will be interesting to see if the Mets want him to come along for the ride when they feel the worst will finally be over.

4 Comments

1. 

   d.v.mets

   January 8, 2013 at 6:03 pm

   Watch out for Wally, didn’t go to Vegas for the dry air.

   Reply
2. 

   Dan Tanna (@danXtanna)

   January 10, 2013 at 1:18 pm

   The answer is 100% No, he can’t…. Wally will be here either during or after the conclusion of the 2013 campaign and that is the correct and only course of action.

   Reply
   • 

     apy5000

     January 11, 2013 at 11:50 am

     Exactly what has Backman do to prove he is a better he is a better manager than Collins? Being a platoon player on a championship team and having a “fiery” personality doesn’t mean anything when it comes to being a decent manager.

     When Alderson traded Dickey, he punted New York’s 2013 playoff chances, so unless the Mets go 0-162, Collins will start the season with the team in 2014. That’s Unless Mets ownership pull a Prokorov and sack Collins for no reason. I’m hoping the Wilpons are more reasonable than that.

     Reply
3. 

   jerseymet

   January 14, 2013 at 2:05 pm

   I’d like to see Wally have a winning season first. Sure we win at the lower minors but not in AA or AAA.

   Reply