Coleman: Mets' Collins Shoots Straight On Playoff Expectations, Roster
By Ed Coleman
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Manager Terry Collins had some rather interesting things to say about his team, his players and his expectations for 2015 over the last couple of days.
So let's recount:
-- Collins said that despite 79 wins and a losing record again, the Mets accomplished quite a bit during 2014 that bodes well for this season -- and besides, it's time.
-- OK, so is this team a playoff contender this year?
-- Bobby Parnell will start the season on the disabled list, but will be the closer when he returns -- unless he's not.
-- If Dillon Gee is on this team Opening Day, barring injury, he'll be looking at the field from a different viewpoint.
-- Despite speculation that Matt Harvey would be held back to start the home opener on April 13, Collins stated that Harvey will pitch in one of the opening five games, probably in Washington.
-- It has been assumed that Juan Lagares would be the leadoff hitter for this team, but that is up in the air as spring training commences.
-- Daniel Murphy has been pretty much a fixture in the No. 2 spot in the lineup for the Mets, but there is some sentiment to dropping him down (No. 6) in the lineup as well.
-- Collins does feel there is a definite benefit to hitting Murphy sixth in a better RBI spot.
-- It was probably just posturing -- hey buddy, I got your back as manager -- but Collins was adamant that Ruben Tejada would be given a fair shot to win the shortstop job. No, I don't think Sandy Alderson was consulted before answering.
-- Noah Syndegaard has been labeled as the next-in-line pitching phenom to arrive -- and he may be -- but for a lot of people's money, Long Islander Steven Matz may be closing in.
C U soon
Eddie C.