With the Mets entering play on Friday with a 63-52 record, Terry Collins is en route to having his best season since taking over as the club’s manager in 2011.
Despite the success, Collins is still without a contract beyond 2015 – his future is no more or less certain today than it was during the team’s struggles in June and July, when there were whispers his job might be in jeopardy.
But Collins insists his focus is on ensuring the club maintains it’s pace and expanding their lead in the National League East, not on being retained beyond 2015.
“I don’t think about it,” the 66-year-old manager told Steven Marcus of Newsday. I think about playing golf in November. That’s the only thing on my mind right now.”
If he can keep the club on course, Collins is very likely to be at the top of the list for the National League’s Manager of the Year award, and likely win it if the club reaches the playoffs.
Collins is very well aware of the things which get written about him, the team, their struggles as well as their successes. But he has been able to filter all of that noise out and away from the clubhouse, keeping the focus on what goes on in the dugout, on the field, and all of the preparation that has gone into their surprising success this season.
Does that make Collins the greatest field manager? No, not at all. But there aren’t many truly great strategists managing teams, anyway. He is also surrounded by a fantastic supporting cast of coaches and staff members who do a great job and embrace the science of the game which help him make the best possible decisions. He doesn’t make them all the time, but the 63-52 record speaks for itself, too.
And, it’s a lot easier for Collins when he has a roster full of talent like this, too.
It’s safe to assume if the Mets get to the playoffs, or even if they make a huge run and fall just short, Collins will be back in 2016. It’s hard to see him go into next season with uncertainty again, especially after the job he’s done given all of the adversity, shortage of players, and awkwardness in 2015.
Just Mets 
2 responses to “Without a contract for 2016, Terry Collins is focused on the present, not his future”
“I worry about playing golf in November” – What an awesome response!
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I think this is a good time for all the bloggers — long out of practice when it comes to pennant races — to follow TC’s advice. Focus on the games. I came across another guy writing and speculating about payroll in 2016. Save it for another day. Focus on the games. The here and now.
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