Mets' choice of Collins a bold one

Well, say this for the Mets' hiring of Terry Collins as manager:

Clearly, Sandy Alderson and his crew didn't go this route to appease or impress anyone.

The people's choice, Wally Backman, never was getting this gig. Bob Melvin, the choice of many media folks, placed. Chip Hale just might have been the players' choice, and for that, he'll land a role on Collins' staff.

No, Collins represents an extremely bold selection. A questionable one, too. But though I'll admit personally that I don't get this, my respect for Alderson - and Paul DePodesta, Collins' greatest champion - draws the move the benefit of the doubt. And it generates curiosity about how Alderson will explain it.

There will be plenty of questions for Collins and his new bosses concerning his past, queries that seemed to annoy Collins during a brief media session Thursday in Orlando, Fla., after his second interview with Mets brass.

His last big-league managing job, with the 1999 Angels, ended in as disastrous a fashion as any such run ever did, with the clubhouse in utter disarray and Collins stepping down before the end of the season.

A stint managing in Japan ended after a year and change because, to say the least, it didn't go well.

And for the pro-Backman crowd, Georgia police arrested Collins in 2002 for driving under the influence.

With that pothole-filled past comes the "fiery" personality for which Mets fans have been yearning. Collins' news conferences after tough losses figure to be the most entertaining, by far, of the SNY era.

He'll be sure to get the players' attention with his intense approach, and maybe we'll see that manifest itself on the field with a few more victories. Or . . . maybe this will be a case of "Be careful what you ask for. You might just get it."

Most important of all, however, is that Collins will take control with the full support of the organization. There'll be no more dysfunction in the form of Tony Bernazard trying to undermine Willie Randolph, or apathy in the form of making Jerry Manuel carry Oliver Perez on his roster.

On the flip side, the contract, reportedly for two years, represents that in Alderson's universe, managers are somewhat dispensable. Which is why Backman and Hale should shake off any disappointment they feel and keep working hard. Their time just might come.

Now it's Collins' time, however, and the Mets just drew a few more eyeballs to their 2011 season than if they had gone with the safer Melvin. We know that DePodesta considers Collins "an absolute star for us in player development," and that these Mets believe in second and third chances.

This hire essentially constitutes a make-up for what happened in Los Angeles five years ago, as DePodesta was set to hire Collins to manage the 2006 Dodgers before owner Frank McCourt dismissed DePodesta.

"That's what we get into the game for," Collins said last week. "I grew up wanting to be a coach, to be a manager. I got my chance. Here it is again. I appreciate the opportunity just to talk to them."

The opportunity covers one of the more important and hopeful times in recent Mets history. The hiring of Alderson kicked off this exciting chapter. Collins represents an underwhelming second chapter.

Sometimes, though, to evoke new author George W. Bush, you trust the decider more than the decision. So let's see what Alderson and company see in Collins, and if that appeases or impresses any of the confused constituencies.