Collins sends message LOUD and clear
Mets manager Terry Collins addresses the media a spring training workout at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie. (Feb. 16, 2011) Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa
MIAMI -- Terry Collins' clubhouse speech to the Mets before Thursday's workout was similar to the one he delivered at the start of spring training -- a large dose of the manager's endless enthusiasm, spiked with a positive message about defying the odds this season.
Collins already has a reputation for turning up the volume to get his point across, and his players believe it's working.
"I'm not sure how much higher you can get with Terry," David Wright said. "It seems like no matter if it's the week of the Super Bowl when I first got down to Florida or Opening Day, the energy level is going to be pretty high. So I don't think he fluctuates too much as far as going down and up, down and up.
"He's been pretty consistent with the amount of energy he's brought day in and day out, so I don't expect it to be too much higher without him having a heart attack."
Collins doesn't plan to mellow out once the season begins, either. Despite a meltdown with the Angels and a falling out with the Astros in his two previous managerial gigs, he insists he'll be the same person -- even 12 years later.
"Yeah, that's who I am," Collins said. "That's exactly who I am. I've changed, obviously. My philosophy of how to go about it has changed over the years, but I love the game. I love to be out here. Therefore, the energy has always been part of me.
"The communication, obviously, I think has improved immensely on my behalf. So again, I hope that the players buy into it a little bit and take on the personality of the manager here so that there's some energy, because it's a long season."
