WRIGHT RIPS METS
HOWARD SIMMONS/NEWS
PHILADELPHIA — David Wright did not mince words. The Mets captain called anonymous complaints to reporters about manager Terry Collins “cowardly” Friday and told his teammates to “man up.” “It was cowardly, in my opinion. I have been very fortunate in my career. I haven’t had too many gripes, but when I did, I went and talked to Terry or whoever the manager is. His door has always been open and he’s always listened,” Wright said before the Mets game Friday against the Phillies. This series will almost certainly be the final three games of Collins’ career as Mets manager. His contract is up and the Mets were already looking at replacements.
Wright and other Mets players were upset with the “kick him while he is down” tenor of a report that quoted several anonymous players and front office personnel complaining about Collins. Among the issues were the manager overusing his bullpen, contributing to the injury of Jeurys Familia, that he mishandled younger players and that he let the “inmates run the asylum.”
Collins said he had never been approached by the front office about his bullpen use and was reluctant to discuss the reports.
“It’s part of the job. You sit here and make decisions you think are in the best interest, certainly there are a lot of factors involved. We don’t send anyone out to hurt anybody, never have and never will,” Collins said. “There are players, training staff, coaches all have input. You make the