New York Mets pick Tough Guy Terry Collins as Manager

Although Terry Collins may not have been the fans choice like Wally Backman, I predict Mets fans will fall in love with Terry Collins.

Welcome to The Last Tradition Mets fans.

The New York Post The Mets have their man.

The four-horse race for the Mets managerial opening concluded Sunday with the 61-year-old Terry Collins standing in the winner’s circle, according to league sources. Collins is slated to be introduced as the Mets’ new manager during a press conference Monday after receiving a two-year contract.

Collins beat out Bob Melvin, Chip Hale and Wally Backman, all of whom had received callback interviews from general manager Sandy Alderson at last week’s GM meetings.

Alderson, according to sources, was sold on Collins’ experience managing the Astros and Angels and his grasp of the Mets’ farm system – he served last season as the organization’s minor league field coordinator.

Though the popular Backman impressed team officials during interviews, Alderson was not prepared to take a chance on hiring somebody who lacked big league managing experience, according to sources. Backman managed Single-A Brooklyn to the playoffs last season and is expected to be offered a minor league managing job within the organization. Hale is expected to return to the Mets’ coaching staff, but it’s unclear if Melvin will retain a role within the organization – he served as a major league scout last season.

Collins’ hiring could signal Dan Warthen’s departure as pitching coach. Collins will have a strong say in selecting a staff, and he is extremely tight with Dave Wallace, who spent last season as Atlanta’s minor league pitching coordinator.

The 63-year-old Wallace, who was Mets pitching coach in 1999 and 2000, recently turned down an opportunity to join Milwaukee’s staff, and is tight with Fred Wilpon and Sandy Koufax – the Mets tried to hire Wallace for a front office position last year. Collins wanted Wallace as his pitching coach with the Astros in 1994, but Wallace accepted a promotion from the Dodgers instead.

Collins resigned as Angels manager in 1999 after players petitioned the front office for his removal. But a major league executive who has worked with Collins said the player revolt in Anaheim should be considered just a blip on the radar.

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