Collins willing to take one for the team
Mets manager Terry Collins, left, has made a big effort to show his players that he's got their backs. Credit: Getty Images
DENVER
When he first put on a Mets uniform in spring training, Terry Collins' No. 1 priority was to forge a bond with his players, something that unraveled for him during previous stops in Houston and Anaheim.
Despite a disappointing on-field record almost six weeks into this season, Collins evidently has learned from his past mistakes when it comes to the clubhouse, where the manager has made a positive early impression. And if that means going overboard on occasion, so be it.
"I'm probably a lot different now," Collins said. "It's hard for me to go back and remember what I said years ago, but I just know right now I've made a concerted effort to make sure these guys know I'm in their corner -- 100 percent. I've tried to make sure that these guys know where I stand, where they stand, and let's move forward together."
One such instance occurred April 29 in Philadelphia, when Collins took the bullet for another dismal outing by Mike Pelfrey. The Mets' de facto ace was an obvious target because of his underachieving start in an important role, and getting ripped by the Phillies -- again -- kept the bull's-eye on his back.
Rather than being critical of Pelfrey, however, Collins' opening remarks to the media came off as a mea culpa. He said he deserved the blame for sending out a weakened Pelfrey, who had just recovered from a stomach malady, in the first place.
It was a stretch. No one was prepared to fault Collins for allowing Pelfrey to pitch, but that's how he wanted it, obviously in the hope that one of the more fragile members of his pitching staff would be spared. "I told him I appreciated it," Pelfrey said. "But he didn't need to do that. You appreciate having a manager that has your back."
Collins employed the same strategy this week with David Wright, who had concealed a back injury since colliding with the Astros' Carlos Lee on April 19. That happened three weeks ago, but the manager must have sensed the growing scrutiny of his struggling third baseman and confirmed that back pain indeed was hurting his performance. "I think Terry's done a good job keeping his finger on the pulse of what's going on here," Wright said.
There's a fine line to walk between accountability and what can be perceived as making excuses. But Collins made it clear to the players from Day 1, when he made his opening speech to the team, that they would have an ally in the manager's office.
"I hope that's what came out of that day because that's the way it's going to be," Collins said. "We've got a long way to go and it's going to be a real grind. Tempers start to get short and everything else because guys are getting tired, and you've got to know somebody's there for you. That's ultimately the way it's going to be."
It hasn't been mere talk. Collins was a daily presence in the Port St. Lucie clubhouse, making the rounds every morning, and he still touches base on occasion.
Before posting the lineup prior to Thursday's game, Collins made sure to tell Willie Harris that he would be starting at third base. Earlier in the week, he gave Jason Bay a heads-up about dropping him behind Ike Davis in the batting order and his reasoning for doing so. And once the game begins -- regardless of who's at fault -- Collins is ready to absorb the blows to protect his players.
"No question about it," Collins said. "Absolutely. These guys are all accountable. Every one of these guys has stood up at the end of a game if something has gone wrong and they've been very good about it. But I'm the manager here, and in the decision-making process, I'm the one who should be held accountable. I have no problems standing up and saying it's my responsibility."
