SANDY GOES ON THE ATTACK!
Irked GM wants to fire Met leakers, mum on Terry’s future
PHILADELPHIA — Meet the Mess. Three days after the Mets’ 2017 season dissolved in an embarrassing mess of anonymous allegations against manager Terry Collins, Sandy Alderson stepped forward to try to take responsibility for the disastrous ending. “I am the leader of this group, I feel responsible for every aspect of its operation,” Alderson said. “In particularly in those areas where we may fall short.”
And the Mets have fallen short on and off the field once again.
In yet another ugly episode in Mets’ history, Collins’ seven years as the team’s manager will likely end after Sunday’s game, clouded by anonymous allegations that included he abused his bullpen, perhaps causing an injury to the team’s closer, let the “inmates run the asylum,” and needed the intervention of owner Fred Wilpon to keep his job this long.
Referring to the reports, Alderson was unhappy with the way 2017 came crashing down off the field.
“I thought it was an unfair piece given the time at which it was written and unfortunate given the fact that, we have said we will make a decision and have an announcement after the season,” the Mets GM said before Saturday night’s game at Citizens Bank Park. “I felt this was very unfortunate for the timing and for the content.
“To the extent that the information came from players, I was extraordinarily disappointed their willingness to talk without attribution. To the extent information purportedly came from anywhere in the front office, I was exceptionally disappointed. Were I to know who that person was, that person would be terminated immediately.”
Alderson did not deny the fact that Fred Wilpon, father of team COO Jeff Wilpon, had prevented him from making a manager change in the past, as alleged, and would not comment on Collins’ future.
But he made sure to point out there is give-and-take in these relationships.
“Any seven-year relationship has its up and down. I’ve been married for 47 years. It doesn’t mean my wife and I have agreed on every occasion. It doesn’t mean I haven’t slammed a door, walked out and taken a walk from time to time,” Alderson said. “But ultimately, the tenure of success he’s had to me, speaks for itself.”
Collins’ contract expires after the season and the Mets are not going to extend him, according to multiple sources. He will likely step down as the manager, but will not retire soon after the season ends.
The Mets had initially hoped the 68-year-old would quietly retire. But he made it clear he wanted to keep his options in baseball open.
That was quickly followed by reports citing anonymous front office personnel and players making a litany of complaints about Collins. The most pointed and hurtful to Collins was that the front office felt that Collins’ use of closer Jeurys Familia had led to the blood clot in his shoulder that required surgery this season. Familia said he did not believe that and Alderson also said he did not think Collins contributed to the Mets’ rash of injuries this season.
“I wouldn’t agree to any of the substance of that conversation,” Alderson said. “I am not here to talk about the substance of the conversation. With respect to injuries we continue to look at how those injuries occur, both in terms of usage and terms of medical care and overall conditioning. We will continue to look at that.”
Alderson has already said that the Mets will retain the current medical and training staff, including head trainer Ray Ramirez and controversial strength and conditioning consultant Mike Barwis.
But things have to change as the Mets are on the verge of completing their fourth losing season in Alderson’s seven-season tenure. Firing Collins is just a cosmetic change in an organization where baseball operations dominates the decision making.
On the field, Alderson has to rebuild a team that’s core — the starting pitching — is diminished and rebuild a bullpen that is the worst in Mets’ history and figure out a way to add some cheap offense.
Off the field, the Mets are almost lacking as much.
He said he hoped he would not have to say anything to players taking shots at the manager anonymously. Mets captain David Wright publicly called them “cowardly” Friday night and Jacob deGrom called it “ridiculous.” Alderson, a former Marine, took responsibility for the overall culture of the Mets. If he’s going to improve it, he has his work cut
out for him.