Ranking the NL East: Managers

Sep 23, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; New York Mets manager

(10) walks through the dugout during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

4. Terry Collins (New York Mets)

The New York Mets are a classic example of a team that just can’t seem to get it right.

They should be a decent team hovering just above .500, but each year they seem to under perform. Again, the common question for each NL East manager, or at least for this particular ranking, is how much responsibility do we give a manager for a team’s failure when the talent level is not where it should be?

Terry Collins is the manager for the NY Mets and guided the club to a 79-83 record last year. He has an overall 304-344 record with the team. His managing career spans four decades and started in 1981 with the Dodgers and the Pirates minor league affiliates. He started his major league career 1993 with the Houston Astros. Collins then went on to manage the Anaheim Angels in 1997 before joining the Mets in 2011.

Injuries to star players Matt Harvey and David Wright provided a few bumps in the road for Terry Collins. But, with the acquisition of Michael Cuddyer from the Colorado Rockies and a healthy lineup,  the Mets are expected to finish second in the NL East and possibly compete for a wild card slot.

The question now is whether or not Terry Collins has the chops to lead them with his managerial style.

The Mets often played without discipline and Collins’ erratic decision making did not render any relief. There is a growing Mets’ contingent calling for his head and it is no secret the Mets have not extended Collins contract into 2016 yet. If there was ever a definition of hot seat, this would be it.

Terry Collins leads a Mets squad that is expected to win now and if he doesn’t produce, he will be left out in the cold.

His unproven record with this club, more talent than most without accompanying production, and his very warm seat puts Terry Collins at number four on our list.

Next: NL East Manager: Number 3