Just yesterday, the New York Mets officially announced Terry Collins as their new skipper, ending his 11 year tenure in baseball oblivion. Collins has been out of the majors for so long that many people were wondering who he was upon his hiring. Well, in brief, he was the former manager of the Houston Astros (1994-1996) and Anaheim Angels (1997-1999), and he compiled a respectable 444-434 career mark in that time period. The closest he ever came to the postseason was in 1998, when his Angels finished only three games behind the AL West Champion Texas Rangers. That's not too shabby for a managerial career that lasted all of five seasons, but why wasn't he given another shot until now?
Well, as you might have expected, there is another side to the Terry Collins story. Apparently, he wasn't well-liked among the players that he managed back in the '90s. Matt Vasgersian, the host of MLB Network's "Hot Stove" program, even went so far as to call his managing style "despotic, at worst." Former major league reliever Mitch Williams, on that very same show, said without a hint of hesitation that "he was not a very good communicator with his players" (referring to his tenure in Houston). Rave reviews, huh?
What exactly is causing all of this acrimony towards a guy who hasn't managed in the big leagues since Tiger Stadium and the Astrodome were still active ballparks? One should not have to look any further than his drama-filled tenure in Anaheim. During the 1999 season, there was a virtual coup within the Angels clubhouse, as the players petitioned then-GM Bill Bavasi to fire him. The toxic atmosphere in the clubhouse was not entirely of his making, but his managing style, described by New York Times writer David Waldstein as "intense" and "confrontational," did not earn him many supporters.
My best guess is that the reason why he went so long without a big league managing gig is probably because many people saw how his clubhouse in Anaheim unraveled, and many believed that his militaristic style wouldn't mesh well with most ballplayers. However, Collins has paid his dues in the 11 years since, as he managed the Orix Buffaloes in Japan, and the China National Team during the second World Baseball Classic. Having two overseas managing jobs certainly has to involve some sort of patience, something that Collins could have used all those years ago. He also was a minor league coordinator during that time period as well, another job that I'm sure takes a great deal of patience, as you are working with many players that are fresh out of high school or college, or even new to the United States.
The 61-year-old Collins even admitted that he has mellowed over the years during his initial press conference, and he has owned up to his mistakes in the past as a manager. Now, he faces quite possibly the biggest challenge of his career: turning the listless New York Mets into a winner. A manager who is not afraid to confront even superstar players is a refreshing thing to see in today's game. Besides, one of the reasons the Mets hired him was because of his up-tempo personality and fearlessness. However, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda once said of managing that it's like holding a dove. If you squeeze it too tightly, you will kill it; if you hold it too loose, it will fly away. In a media market that's known for scrutinizing even minor situations, Collins must be prepared to show more deftness with regard to how he handles his players and the press. Otherwise, his tenure in New York could have an uglier end than it did in Anaheim.
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