Terry Collins and the New York Mets: 10 Reasons He's the Wrong Choice

The Mets have finally made a decision and named Terry Collins as their next manager.

This was a mistake, as their were much better candidates. Some got interviewed (Wally Backman and Bob Melvin) and others did not even get a shot (Bobby Valentine).

The Mets will have to live with this decision for at least the rest of the year and if the team struggles again, the fan base will once again be calling for change.

Lack of Exposure To New York

The New York media is known to be brutal. Collins has never been a manager in an environment like this. There is no way to know if he will be able to handle the media, especially if the team starts losing.

Sandy Alderson said this would be an important part of the job, and yet he seemed to ignore this with his choice of Collins.

If the media is able to get to Collins, then he will undoubtedly struggle to last beyond this season.

Managerial Success

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TOKYO - MARCH 05: China Team Manager Terry Collins attends a prectice session before the World Baseball Classic Tokyo Round match between Japan and China at Tokyo Dome on March 5, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)

Collins has never managed a team that has won more than 85 games. In New York, this would be considered a mediocre year. This is not acceptable.

Collins has not shown that he can lead a team to victory. His career record of 444-434 also attests to this fact.

Lack Of Experience

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TOKYO - MARCH 07: Manager Terry Collins #77 of Team China throws to players warming-up prior to Game 3 of the 2009 World Baseball Classic Pool A match between China and Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on March 7, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watana

I am well aware of the fact that Collins has managed more major league games than Wally Backman and nearly as many as Bob Melvin.

However, he does not have the experience that some of the other candidates had. He has only managed in the majors for six years.

Disconnect From The Major League Game

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8 Mar 1998: Manager Terry Collins of the Anaheim Angels looks on during a spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at theTempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Angels won the game, 9-4. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport

The fact that Collins hasn't managed in the MLB in this millennium should scare Mets fans. He last managed a major league team in 1999.

The game has changed significantly over the past 11 years and it is uncertain if Collins will be able to adjust to those changes.

Past Player Issues

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TOKYO - MARCH 05: Team Manager Terry Collins of China shakes hands with Outfielder Sun Lingfeng #1 of China during the World Baseball Classic Tokyo Round match between Japan and China at Tokyo Dome on March 5, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Junko Kimur

Terry Collins left the Angels in the middle of the season in 1999. The front office had given him a vote of confidence even though the team was struggling, but players had petitioned GM Bill Bavasi to have him fired. Collins eventually quit the job.

This shows that Collins didn't not have the ability to control a major league locker room. This could lead to a messy situation in New York.

1996 Collapse Of The Houston Astros

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LOS ANGELES - JULY 19: Manager Terry Collins of the Houston Astros looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 19, 1995 in Los Angeles,California. (Photo by: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Mets have gone through their fair share of collapses in the recent future. However, Collins dealt with this issue as well when he managed the Houston Astros.

The Astros were 74-63 and in first place going into September 1996. The Astros then went 8-17 during the month of September.

They went from two and a half games up to six games back and out of the playoffs. This led to Collins getting fired.

There Were Better Options Available

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28 Feb 2002 : Manager Bobby Valentine of the New York mets during the Spring Training game against the St.Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The Cardinals won 5-2. DIGTAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Eliot Schechter/Getty Images

The Mets did not even bother to interview one of the best available candidates for manager, Bobby Valentine. He was qualified for the job and did a great job during his time in New York.

Other options, such as Clint Hurdle, have had more success than Collins has. The Mets appear to be concerned more with the manager's cost than with his abilities.

Attitude

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TOKYO - MARCH 07: Manager Terry Collins #77 of Team China looks on prior to Game 3 of the 2009 World Baseball Classic Pool A match against Team Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome on March 7, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)

Collins is known for having a fiery attitude.

The Mets have had issues with other people with similar attitude types in the past. This attitude could also become an issue if the Mets are not winning.

Past Personal Issues

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17 Aug 1997: Manager Terry Collins of the Anaheim Angels argues with umpire Ed Hickox during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. The Orioles won the game, 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport

Collins does not have a clean past. In 2002, Collins was arrested at 2 a.m. in Augusta, Ga., for a DUI as well as failing to carry a license, and operating an unsafe vehicle as a result of him driving with a flat tire.

People make mistakes and deserve to be forgiven, but issues like this are things that the media will jump all over and could become a distraction to the team.

Struggles In Japan

After seven years away from the game, Collins signed on to coach the Orix Buffaloes, a Japanese team, in 2006. Collins once again was not very successful as a manager.

He posted a 83-105-5 record in under two years in Japan and resigned during his second season.

He admitted that he could not adjust to the differences in the game. As previously mentioned, Collins hasn't coached in the majors since 1999. The game has changed significantly since then.

Could Collins walk out from the Mets if he gets frustrated with the game again?