Collins, Amazin’s fight for survival
Terry Collins managed his 1,000th game for the Mets on Friday night and had to do it with Rafael Montero as his starting pitcher. Montero quickly put the Mets in a 7-1 hole.
Collins’ Mets, though, have proven to be resilient time and again and they battled all the way back to beat the Marlins, 8-7 at a damp Citi Field.
“What a game to win, makes 1,000 even more special to win a game like that,’’ Collins told The Post after the comeback victory, which tied for the fourth-largest deficit overcome by the Mets in franchise history.
With all the injuries and lack of pitching depth in the minor leagues, it’s going to take quite an effort for Collins’ 13-15 Mets to climb out of the hole.
The Mets produced a five-run seventh with six straight hits to take the lead. First baseman T.J. Rivera delivered a key two-run double and Wilmer Flores pushed in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk. Rivera also homered in the first.
Collins is 494-506 as Mets manager. Many thought Collins would not last 100 games. How the heck did this happen?
“I got around some very, very good people and I changed the way I went about things, which I think helped,’’ Collins said. “I became a much better communicator with the players.’’
Collins turns 68 this month. He made these changes in his 60s and he deserves credit for changing. He is going to need all the communication skills at his disposal to get through this season with Noah Syndergaard out for months and Yoenis Cespedes sidelined indefinitely.
Collins has taken the Mets to a World Series and has been to the postseason two straight years. If he somehow pulls off a miracle and gets these Mets back this year, he will accomplish something no Mets manager has accomplished — three straight playoff appearances.
To survive, Collins accepts the new school philosophy of players and front office, but there is enough old school in him to give his team an edge. It’s still hardball with Collins but with new info.
“You have to buy into the new systems,’’ Collins said. “You’ve got to make it work.’’
Collins has his detractors, and a manager who once was considered to be too hard on his players now is considered a bit too soft by some, allowing the Mets to get away with lack of focus on some plays without the hammer coming down. It’s love him or hate him. Collins’ use of the bullpen is also often criticized, but that goes for every manager in this age of Glass Menagerie pitching staffs.
Only Davey Johnson (1,012 games) and Bobby Valentine (1,003 games) have managed more Mets games than Collins. Valentine will be passed this week, Johnson will be passed before the end of the month. Johnson was 595-417 with the Mets, Valentine was 536467.
Collins is in his seventh year of managing the Mets. He is quick to credit his relationship with general manager Sandy Alderson for his longevity. Collins’ Mets career could come to an end at the end of this season when his contract expires. How long does he want to manage? “As long as I am having fun I want to manage,’’ Collins said. “I’m having a great time here. I love it here. I know it’s a tough place. I get it. I know how intense the fan base is but that stuff comes with the game. ... I get up in the morning and I love coming to the park.” It shows. “I got good players, they are fun to be around. I got good coaches,” Collins said. “One thing I truly believe in, Sandy has built cohesiveness. You don’t have everybody looking over their shoulder all the time — and I saw that work for years. All the years I was with the Dodgers they only had two managers.
“When the players know who the manager is, it’s controlled. Are there arguments? Sure, of course, there better be. That’s life.’’ Collins’ 1,000th Mets game is one he will never forget.