Mr. MetThere’s no team that it’s okay to lose to yet if there’s one team that we should never accept defeat against – it’s the Cubs. They haven’t been to the World Series for 17 years before we played our first game. And the Mets’ franchise is over 50 years old. My wife’s grandmother is 103 and the Cubs have not won a World Series in her lifetime. You look up the definition of losers in the dictionary and you see the Cubs’ logo.

That said, it didn’t hurt in the slightest to be held to four hits or fewer in each game against the Cubs and to lose the last two games of the series. In fact, it might have hurt more to win those first two games. Imagine if we had lost those two and were riding a seven-game losing streak. Something might have been done. And by something, read: fire the manager.

Our closer with the history of elbow troubles announces he’s pitching with a hernia and our manager decides to use him four times in five games, with only one time being a lead and a save situation. He brought him in on back-to-back days down a run in the ninth inning and both times he gave up homers.

Eric Campbell plays seven straight games and puts up a .464/.483/.571 line and then our manager gives him only four starts the next five weeks.

Monday, our manager does a double-switch and leaves the guy in who made the last out of the previous inning to take out a guy who got on base two times. The guy who made the last out? He was 0-for-3 in the game.

Tanking goes against the spirit of the game but at this point, there’s no pain in any loss. Bring them on by the bucket full. Each loss is accompanied by moves that make you shake your head. If the powers that be shake their head enough times, there’s hope they’ll have some sense float to the front and see what’s painfully obvious to the rest of us, that this manager is the wrong guy for this team.

Let’s not get caught up in the “manager is just a puppet for the GM” argument. Remember when the team fired Dave Hudgens and installed Lamar Johnson? Is there any material difference between Hudgens and Johnson? If the GM really is pulling the strings, do you think he did a 180 in hiring a new batting coach? But with a new voice in the room, Lucas Duda has flourished.

Coincidence? Perhaps, no one knows for sure.

But why should we dismiss the possibility that a new voice in the managerial chair could have an even bigger impact? Maybe a new manager clicks with Wilmer Flores and his .548 OPS. Maybe a new manager has the secret to a first inning with fewer than 25 pitches from Zack Wheeler. Maybe a new manager can help Juan Lagares transfer his power from batting practice into the real games.

Maybe the new manager has a spine and doesn’t insist that every lefty reliever be a LOOGY. Perhaps he has the gumption to move Matt den Dekker into the leadoff spot. It’s possible a new manager will give his players regular days off and not do a Hamlet routine about giving a slumping player an off day. Shoot, maybe he tells Rafael Montero he believes in him and wants him to start every fifth day.

Our manager has never led a team to the playoffs. Why do we think this old dog can learn that new trick? Why do we continue to employ a guy who takes a team the GM thinks should challenge for 90 wins and guides it to a sub-.500 finish?

One cannot give a legitimate reason to continue to employ the current manager. Meanwhile, the record hasn’t improved, the manager has a 70% unfavorable rating among the fan base and attendance has plummeted on his watch.

And his in-game tactics stink.

The Mets are traveling to the West Coast. It’s time to do what they did to Willie Randolph. Have him fly cross country and relieve him from his position. The only difference is that this time the fan base will applaud the move.

24 comments on “When losing to the Cubs doesn’t hurt, it’s time for Mets to make a move

  • NormE

    Amen! From your lips to God’s (Alderson’s/Wilpon’s) ears.

  • pete

    Maybe instead of “firing” TC the FO could just DFA him, I’m sure his salary is less than what the team is paying for minimum salaried major leaguers this year (I am surprised no reporter has found out his true salary). Just utilize TC in the role best suited for him. Motivational speaker to all the youngters coming up the farm system. All he has to say is look at me! I’m incompetent and badly outmanaged in every department and yet even I can get a two year contract!

  • Eraff

    “Why do we continue to employ a guy who takes a team the GM thinks should challenge for 90 wins and guides it to a sub-.500 finish?”

    I’m sure you were angry and confused when you posted this question. Between “what the GM thinks” and says….and what is on the field….oy!!!!!!

    I’d suggest they stop Hunting Strikes…and Hitting coaches, for that matter. Maybe they should “Hunt Hitters”.

    It’s tough for Me to accept firing the Manager as a solvent for this muck. It’s tougher to think that a string of losing seasons has not even caused them to make cosmetically urgent moves as a demonstration that they care….yes, that would start with firing the manager.

    Btw…Bobby Abreu is back in the fold!!!! He was re-signed and he’s in Vegas. He has 8 ab’s in the last 2 games—- Instead of AnyoneElseInTheWorld !!!!!!

    This is not a sane, competent, Urgent operation—TC remains the least of their problems. In fact, when they fire the Manager eyes will turn (Finally!!!) to the executive suite, including SA and Ownership. They are not ready to drop their Human Shield.

    • Name

      “It’s tough for Me to accept firing the Manager as a solvent for this muck”

      I don’t get this rationale. Of course firing the manager will not solve all the team’s problems, but it will make the team better. And if you have the opportunity to get an incremental improvement, no matter how small, you should do it period no questions asked.

      Would anyone use the excuse “Releasing Chris Young will not solve our problems, so we shouldn’t release him”?
      So why are people using this excuse with TC?

      • Brian Joura

        Where’s the Facebook like button when I need it? Well said, Name.

      • Eraff

        Dont forget my next sentence!!!!!!!!

        “It’s tougher to think that a string of losing seasons has not even caused them to make cosmetically urgent moves as a demonstration that they care….yes, that would start with firing the manager.”

  • James Preller

    We read this all the time: “They play hard for him, he hasn’t lost the clubhouse,” etc.

    And it always leaves me staring vacantly into the middle distance.

    Who is going to quit on him? Wilmer? Duda? d’Arnaud?

    It’s just this phony idea that perpetrated everywhere, that because these young Mets “haven’t quit” — as if that’s an option — is some kind of ringing endorsement of Terry Collins.

    Look, I don’t think he’s the problem, not by a long shot. Alderson has done some solid things, but he had failed, annually, in his attempts to put together a ML team. He talked 90 wins this Spring. Is he that bad an evaluator of talent?

    Anyway, yes, it’s dumb to bring back Collins, who is a loser. As my blogging partner Mike has often said, Terry is the human shield who protects Sandy Alderson from criticism. Remove Terry . . . and fire away.

    • Name

      “As my blogging partner Mike has often said, Terry is the human shield who protects Sandy Alderson from criticism. Remove Terry . . . and fire away.”

      I’ve seen many people say this and it makes no sense logically. Explain to me this? How does keeping Terry around shield Alderson from criticism?
      Isn’t everyone around here criticizing Alderson?

      Two different men with two different jobs. Evaluate them separately.

  • Rotoprofessor

    I agree he needs to go, but at this point they are better off leaving him in the position and let him steer them to as many losses as possible. The last thing the Mets need is to change managers now, get hot and then somehow get themselves out of the bottom 10 teams and therefore there 1st round pick being unprotected.

    That’s simply an excuse not to chase any big free agents this winter. While they are unlikely to do so anyways, given them further reason not to is just as anti-productive.

  • pete

    Regardless the Mets are not going to pursue zero quality free agents this off season. The excuse? Lack of attendance? No money? No decent free agents worth investing?. I could go on. But what’s the point? I was taught as a youngster that excuses were like … everyone has one. So what are the prospects of 2015 being any different than 2014 with TC at the helm? None. SA will announce that This team will win 90 games because they’re so much better at every position from the previous year. God! What B.S.! And the fans just keep swallowing this nonsense.

  • Brian Joura

    And here I was thinking that spending $87 million on Colon, Granderson and Young was the excuse not to spend on free agents again this year….

    • Rotoprofessor

      Colon actually hasn’t been bad……

      Agreed, there’s 1,000 reason that the Mets won’t spend next season. I’m just saying there’s no reason to give them another one.

      Plus, who are they going to have manage the team the rest of the way? Those clamoring for Wally Backman know that’s not going to happen. At this point just let another miserable season come to a close, then clean house

  • Rob

    You missed a move yesterday that baffled me. Why in god’s name did he use Niese to pinch hit for Torres. I thought maybe Niese would be used for an inning, but no. I have never seen a move like that in my years of following baseball and that been almost 60 years……………

  • Name

    “And his in-game tactics stink”

    This.

    I find that most people generally don’t understand how to evaluate a manger and what he’s responsible for. He’s not responsible for the team’s win-loss record, for the most part that’s not under his control.
    What he can control are in-game tactics, making players accountable for their actions, serving as a spokesperson between the media and team, and to a lesser extent work ethic.

    For the most part, he’s failed most of those.
    You’ve discussed how he can’t run a bullpen.
    His preference for guys his age.
    Anyone remember the circus known as Jordany Valdespin? Oh yea TC did a great job with him.
    Familia and his constant inability to throw the ball to 2nd base. Each time after he makes the mistake, and he’s made it 3 times this season, TC provides a BS excuse for him.
    His habitual lying of playing time.

    I challenge anyone to find positives, or an actual reason to keep this guy, instead of just BS excuses.

  • Steevy

    At this point I’m not sure anything would persuade Alderson to fire TC.If he hasn’t seen enough up to this point there is something else going on.

    • pete

      His salary is below minimum wage Steevy

  • Joe Gomes

    These Mets have many many problems and Collins is one of them regardless of the team that is on the field. Collins always fails to maximize players ability and has a knack for sitting down the hot players in order to play the now gone CY and Abreu.

    Sandy goes out and wastes the little money he has to spend on players like CY, Valverde, Farmsworth, Abreu while letting the Marlon Byrd, Cruz, Morse sign without even checking on them. But he has enough left to bring Abreu back to Vegas so he can take at bats from youngsters like Puello. Brilliant move.

    I have honestly given up thinking that the Mets will ever put out a team worthy of winning at least the NL east because the Wilponsis won’t spend, Sandy won’t trade, Collins can’t manage and they all seem happy maintaining the status quo.

    Forgotten is the logic in that if you want your business to succeed, you have to make it attractive for the fans to come in and spend their hard earned money.

    One simple move and more fans will show up to Empty-Field, make Backman the manager. But they won’t because Backman is not the company man Collins is and he was once in trouble which means he is not good enough for these winners in Queens.

  • pete

    If Backman is morally corrupt, what does that make the Wilpons?

  • Steve L

    Here’s TC’s record and the expected W-L (based on run differential) in each season with the Mets:

    2014: 59-67 v. 62-64
    2013: 74-88 v. 74-88
    2012: 74-88 v. 75-87
    2011: 77-85 v. 79-83

    Variation between actual won-loss and expected won-loss isn’t necessarily caused by the manager, but if nothing else there’s no evidence TC has ever squeezed a few extra wins out of this team, and he may actually cost them a win or two each year.

    I don’t really have a strong opinion on him, but if 70% of fans think he sucks (though I didn’t see a link to the poll to support this claim), it’s probably time for a change.

  • Wilponzi

    Again, using Jon Niese as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning? Has Collins gone insane? He should be managing Tee-ball.

  • PMO

    Brian, it was only the tv revenue money that was spent. It was spent hastily as they mistakenly thought that prices would go up last offseason.

    • pete

      I’m sorry PMO but that’s not true. This years payroll is less than 2013(Cot’s Baseball Contracts). TV revenue for All major league teams doubled this year from 25 to 50 million dollars(National MLB TV contract not including local TV revenue). The team was replacing the dead money that was coming offf the books. that 50 million dollars is being applied to the Wilpons debts, The same way the 25 million annual fee the Mets “receive” from Citi for the naming rights for Citifield.

  • James Newman

    As much as I agree, and think that this move needs to happen, I don’t think it’s going to happen during this season. It’s funny how they announce TC’s return, and the offense puts up awful numbers. I wonder how the team feels about him returning.

    I’m all in favor of letting Backman get a 2-year stint to see what he can do. d’Arnaud’s turnaround, his desire to win and fieriness is what the Mets need. Either let the guy manage, or let him manage in the big leagues elsewhere. Either way, Collins has to improve and lead us to more wins.

  • Patrick Albanesius

    I’d quite frankly rather see Wright play/manage than see another year of Collins. Long gone are those days though. I wish there was a manager WAR we could refer to and see just how bad Collins is. Apparently this is why there isn’t one:

    Most Managers Are Headed to the Hall of Mediocrity

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