Decisions by Terry Collins last season may have cost the New York Mets wins. If they are to return to the playoffs, he’ll need to be better.
2015 was a magical year for the New York Mets. What started with a coalition of the Mets fan base putting up billboards in Queens and Florida, calling for the owner’s heads, ended with a National League Pennant.
Last year, however, reminded Mets’ fans of the cruel reality, that it’s a long grinding season. To repeat a performance is easier said than done.
Hats off to manager Terry Collins for the job he did in the 2016 season. He was forced to go into battle with an injury-riddled roster. Even so, he did a wonderful job leading the New York Mets back to the postseason. Ending a 15-year drought.
The problem is… it could have been better.
The injury list was long and extensive.
Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, David Wright, Neil Walker and Lucas Duda, all suffered season-ending injuries. Zack Wheeler had a setback in his rehabilitation, forcing him to end his big for a 2016 return from Tommy John Surgery. Minor injuries seemed to affect everyone on the team, as well. It seemed like a day would not pass before a vital member of the team would get banged up.
It seemed like a day would not pass before a vital member of the team would get banged up.
Sitting under .500, on August 19, the Mets went on one of those magical runs where they went an astounding 27-13 over the final stretch.
Somehow, someway, the Mets were able to overcome the inevitable disaster and reach the National Wild Card play-in game.
In a matchup of team Aces, the San Francisco Giants’ “Mr. October”, was able to quiet the Metropolitan’s bats, and move on in the tournament.
Collins really willed this team to play on even after key pieces of the roster went down to injury. He was aggressive, played the right matchups in the final month and a half of the season, and used Alderson’s abundance of resources in the minor leagues to perfection.
So why the criticism?
Watching this team each day, even less than keen eyesight could see him miss the obvious move, or playing the hot hand. Some of his tactics left the fan base dumbfounded and questions about him being the guy to lead this team to the promise land were constantly coming into question.
If the Mets are destined to be World Series Champions, then the Manager will need to hone in on where he falls short.
ESNY breaks down the areas in which Collins needs to get better:
Managing the Starting Pitchers
A pitching rotation that other MLB Managers envy. Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz are the locks. The fifth starter spot will come down to how Sandy Alderson and Collins feel about Zack Wheeler’s progression in rehab.
If they plan on taking a slow approach with Wheeler, Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman could be in line to start the season as a starter.
With all of this talent and depth, should be easy to manage, right?
Unfortunately, four out of five members of the possible rotation will be coming off of season-ending disabled list stints to start the season. Another factor Collins will need to consider is the age of his young staff.
With the free agency loss of Bartolo Colon, has dramatically decreased the average age of the staff, so again, it can be considered one of the youngest in baseball.
Terry will need to rely on Pitching Coach, Dan Warthen to determine the workload the young rocket arms should receive.
Spring Training will be a key determining factor in how best to utilize each arm, with the exception of Noah Syndergaard, who lead a healthy 2016 campaign.
Managing the Bullpen
Where the Mets have star power and depth in their starting rotation, they lack both in the bullpen.
A big question mark surrounds their All-Star Closer, Jeurys Familia, after an off the field incident that will affect the beginning of his season.
The Mets may need to turn to internal resources to pick up the slack in the case of a Familia suspension. If this is the case, Terry will be tasked with knowing the limitations and the ability of his staff. A closer by committee solution isn’t out of question.
Other than a three-year stint in Chicago and Arizona, Addison Reed currently is the only Mets relief pitcher with substantial closer experience. Reed has compiled 106 saves over his five-year major league career.
A trade or surprise free agent signing could mitigate this issue, but as it stands now, the bullpen is lacking closing ability.
Perhaps the Mets even look at the arms they have stockpiled in the minor leagues to fill the void. Something that worked when they discovered Familia.
Right Combination of a Starting Lineup
There wasn’t anybody more relieved to see the return of Yoenis Cespedes than Terry Collins. Cespedes’ bat changes the entire look of the lineup card when he is in the middle of it.
Of course, this creates quite the log in the outfield with Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson, Michael Conforto and Juan Lagares all still currently on the roster.
A lineup comprised of Cespedes, Bruce and Granderson leaves a lot to be desired in regards to defensive alignment. Substitute in Conforto and things only slightly improve. Lagares’ main role will be as a defensive substitution late in games or when the Mets are able to have a lead. The obvious issue is it may not give Lagares many opportunities to get consistent swings.
Lagares’ main role will be as a defensive substitution late in games or when the Mets are able to have a lead. The obvious issue is it may not give Lagares many opportunities to get consistent swings.
The infield alignment also offers some challenges. Neil Walker accepted a qualifying offer presented by the Mets earlier this offseason.
They also picked up Jose Reyes’ club option for 2017. The Metropolitans will also get the benefit of having Lucas Duda and team captain, David Wright return for Spring Training.
The options to start the season will be vast, as prospect T.J. Rivera played well in the absence of Walker. The combination of Reyes and Wilmer Flores filled in admirably for Wright, while Matt Reynolds will get a chance to stay up with the big club. A midseason acquisition of James Loney covered the loss of Lucas Duda.
Riding the Hot Bat
Many may not understand the difficulty a ball player experiences when he comes off the bench. There is no routine to follow, you could be called on at a moment’s notice.
This was the case with Wilmer Flores during the 2015 season. There were spurts where Flores was the most dangerous hitter in the National League.
In a stretch dating from July 3 to July 7, Flores smacked 5 home runs with 10 runs batted in. That type of production can occur at any time when it comes to Wilmer’s batting skills. Collins will need to find the suitable playing time to harness that talent.
First base will also be a guessing game with the return of Lucas Duda. Duda will account for a large number of strikeouts, what Collins receives in return, are long balls that take your breath away. Duda can certainly mash the ball, as that has been on display over the past few seasons.
Health and inconsistency have tempered his ascent to becoming one of the predominant home run hitters in the league. James Loney, a more consistent contact hitter, could provide a better base to base approach.
Again, it will come down to Terry making the right decision on the right day, to whom should start.
In-game adjustments
The 2015 World Series was a nightmare for Terry Collins, he looked overmatched as a manager.
The lasting memory of that series will forever be Matt Harvey talking his way into pitching the ninth inning of Game 5. Which ended up being the deciding game of the series.
This can’t happen.
If the Mets are going to get over that hump and become champions. Terry needs to be the authority when it comes to in-game decisions. Adjustments are his biggest weakness. This was apparent during the 2015 World Series and for a majority of the 2016 Regular Season.
Collins will need to be consistent with defensive alignments when to walk batters, when to pitch hit, when to double switch, all areas where he has failed in the past. Terry has done enough to win the locker room, the players believe in him as a manager, a huge achievement.
Now is the time for him to perfect his craft of managing. If he’s able to master that then he can bring that elusive World Series back to Queens.