Manager Terry Collins was heated after the Mets lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-0 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep.
The Mets manager is sick of seeing his injury-riddled team lose — they’re now 57-57 on the season after losing 11 of 15 — and ranted after their latest defeat. He made allusions to the team’s injuries, which includes Yoenis Cespedes, Asdrubal Cabrera, Lucas Duda, Matt Harvey, David Wright, Jose Reyes and others being on the disabled list.
“I don’t care who is not here. There are no excuses here. They are major league baseball players,” said Collins, via ESPN. “I don’t care where they came from. I don’t care how they got here. The names on their back and on the front of their uniforms say they are a major league baseball player. It starts with them. When you come and when you owe what you do, you have a responsibility to the fans, our fan base, the organization and to yourself — the respect for this game to come out and grind it out.
“Everybody’s been humbled. And those who get out of it stay here a long time. Those who don’t? … They keep getting a little time here and a little time there, but they don’t stay. I want the ones who can stay.”
After talking to the media at length without fielding any questions, Collins talked to his players for about 20 minutes. Players described his talk as one that tried to inspire and encourage them.
The Mets are 10.5 games behind the Nats in the NL East but three games back in the wild card race, so they’re not completely out of the postseason yet.
You can read a transcription of Collins’ entire rant here:
Terry Collins was asked about addressing team vs. veteran players doing so. His 4-min answer in full before leaving: pic.twitter.com/oZdo7VZnRa
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) August 11, 2016
