It's easy to forget that the Mets even exist in New York amid all the other news in town the past few weeks and months. Remember that phrase "Forget that the Mets exist" for a reference later in this story.
But, the New York Mets are content with mediocrity. The bumbling New York baseball franchise plans on bringing back manager Terry Collins for two more years through 2016. Collins earned the job with a lackluster record of 224-260. That is a .463 winning percentage if you are keeping count.
Collins who has come across as very mild-mannered during his tenure in New York has, like GM Sandy Alderson for reasons that go beyond human comprehension, received a pass in this town while producing dreary results.
The excuses have been the fact that owner Fred Wilpon is strapped for cash, as well as pinning continued blame on former GM Omar Minaya for spending too much money. As result Collins has been forced to work with the likes of Lucas Duda, Ruben Tejada and Juan Lagares; not exactly the '27 Yankees if you catch my drift.
Still the results are not there, and bringing back Collins, who has been viewed mostly as a care-taker for the next manager, probably isn't deserving of another stint in Mets blue and orange. The Mets have been listless, lifeless and pathetic. Citi Field has been a virtual graveyard for four years and counting, and this is a sign that management STILL is not ready to change the status quo for this franchise.
The talk by the Mets for the last year has been "wait 'til 2014, and we'll really show ya something."
Well so far 2014 is not looking too good. Not with the team's ace Matt Harvey likely on the shelf with a ligament tear in his elbow, which will likely require Tommy Johns Surgery at some point. Things are not looking good in 2014 with Collins coming back with the same excuses we have seen the past four years.
The Mets say they will spend money this year, but knowing how poorly this franchise has spent money in the past who is to say they will even spend it wisely?
Outside of David Wright, Daniel Murphy (even though I can't stand his defense at second base) and, for better or for worse, the oft-injured Travis d'Arnaud behind the plate, the Mets need professional help at all three outfield positions, shortstop, first base, the starting rotation, bullpen, and closer. Those are too many spots to fill and not enough money to spend this year to fix all of the gapping holes in the Mets.
The Mets would be better served going with a manager who carries himself with much more passion and zest for winning, and winning at all costs rather than Collins' tired, and now boring strategy about battling hard.
Nobody cares about battling hard, people in New York want to win, something Collins has not done here.
If this team should fail to match the organizations' overinflated expectations for 2014, will Collins then be fired? Or will the Mets use 2014 as another excuse on the long, long, long, long -- going on 5-years long stepping stone to success?
However you look at it, Collins returning in 2014 is not a good sign for the Mets. Its a sign that things are not going to change as quickly and as swiftly as Mets' fans hoped.
As the Queen song goes, "Another one gone, Another one gone, Another one bites the dust." Hence the existence, or lack thereof of the New York Mets.
Comments