Collins vows to be better in 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The day after Game 5 of the World Series, Terry Collins "sat down and reflected on the season," in his words. He told his coaches to be proud of their work. He made vows to be even better in 2016.
"It's all about not just repeating what you did, but playing better," Collins said. "There's a place to grow, and we plan on growing."
A little more than five weeks have passed since the World Series ended, and Collins was back behind a podium on Tuesday speaking about the state of the Mets. Despite his team's inactivity over the first five weeks of the offseason, Collins remains confident in what carried the club this summer.
"I'll stand by this," he said. "Yes, we made some moves that took us over the top, but the job those coaches and those players did when times were tough to keep us afloat and keep our heads above water and not get buried gave us that opportunity to go get help. ... There was a time when this thing could have [fallen] apart and it didn't, and I credit the coaching staff and the players to keep it going."
Collins recently signed a two-year contract extension that could make him the longest-tenured manager in Mets history, as well as the oldest manager in Major League Baseball. When asked if the team's recent success makes him want to manage for another 10 years, he laughed.
"I wouldn't say 10," he said. "I'll hopefully get through the next two."
Changing roles? Tim Teufel will interview for the Mets' bench coach vacancy in a process that will take place next week. The Mets will interview in-house candidates for Bob Geren's former bench coach job as well as for third-base coach, Teufel's former position.
"We want to stay inside the organization," Collins said. "I think it's important and imperative that our Minor League coaches and managers understand that they are going to advance. So we are going to talk to a couple of big league coaches and a couple of the Minor League guys and make some decisions. But we have got a quality organization, and those guys deserve an opportunity to be at the Major League level."
Losing Geren to the Dodgers was not ideal for the Mets, though Collins understands his top aide's desire to be closer to family.
"Bob was a very good help for me," Collins said. "We had running conversations throughout the game about what we think we should do, and I think sometimes it just helped to have another opinion. That's what he brought, and what I'm going to look for in the next bench coach is a guy who doesn't just nod his head -- he has a difference of opinion."