The level of scrutiny faced by managers and coaches is always high. However, it’s magnified even more during the postseason.
During Game 4 of the World Series, Mets manager Terry Collins chose to use Tyler Clippard to begin the eighth inning with his club nursing a one-run lead over the Royals. After getting Alcides Escobar to ground out, Clippard walked Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain. Collins then brought in closer Jeurys Familia. A fielding error and two singles later, the Royals had a 5-3 lead.
Many feel Collins should have gone with Familia at the start of the inning, which would have obviously meant he entered with no base runners, for a chance at a six-out save. Familia was used in a similar situation during Game 5 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.
Needless to say, with the move not working out the way Collins or the Mets would have liked, Collins is hearing the criticism. Among those second-guessing him was his wife.
Terry Collins said his wife wanted Jeurys Familia for a six-out save Saturday night.
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) November 1, 2015
Collins fully understands the nature of the beast, though.
“I brought Familia in Los Angeles for six outs, and you guys crucified me, Collins told MLB.com. So now I didn’t bring him in, and I’m getting crucified because I didn’t bring him in. But that’s the nature of the beast around here, that’s what it’s all about. This game’s about what you should have done when something didn’t work.”
Obviously, had Daniel Murphy not committed the error, the complexion of the inning would have changed. However, it did and it contributed to an inning that left the Mets down 3-1 in the World Series. As a coach or manager, some decisions work out the way you intend, others don’t. This is one that didn’t go in New York’s favor and Collins is hearing about it from seemingly everyone, including his wife.
H/T NBC Sports
