Terry Collins could use a Mets winning streak about now to silence the whispers about his job security.
The Mets are a mess as they prepare to begin a six-game homestand Tuesday against the Brewers and Padres, and though Collins doesn’t believe he’s in imminent danger of getting fired, according to a person close to the 65-year-old manager, he also understands he will be at the mercy of team COO Jeff Wilpon and general manager Sandy Alderson should this slide continue much longer.
Alderson, with his hand possibly forced by Wilpon, already has dropped the ax once this season, dismissing hitting coach Dave Hudgens on May 26. More reverberations were felt late Saturday, when rookie catcher Travis d’Arnaud was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.
The Mets (27-34) have lost six straight games for the first time in 13 months, and the heat under Collins is more intense than at any point in his four seasons managing the club.
Alderson, in firing his longtime friend Hudgens, cited the need for a new voice instructing the hitters. Though most talent evaluators would agree the Mets are flawed in their construction — which reflects more on ownership and the front office than the manager — Alderson could cite needing a new voice in the manager’s office as a reason to fire Collins.
But David Wright says the Mets don’t need a new voice.
“Especially when you have such a young clubhouse, I think that is the last thing you worry about,” Wright told The Post. “I think everybody in here kind of respects authority. There might be things on a daily basis you disagree with (Collins) about, but at the end of the day you understand that he’s the authority figure.”
But Wright also only gave Collins a lukewarm endorsement when asked if the manager is doing a good job.
“What he’s done with our minor league system, he knows a lot of these guys,” Wright said. “And it’s the same thing when we were talking about [Hudgens]: He is not up there with a bat in his hands and making pitches and there is only so much a manager can do to help the outcome of games.”
Alderson would almost certainly need the blessing of the Wilpon family to fire Collins. Not only is Collins well-liked by the Wilpons for his no-nonsense approach to the job, but he is tight with Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax. An industry source indicated that firing Collins could create an uncomfortable situation for owner Fred Wilpon, who is tight with Koufax from their days growing up together in Brooklyn.
Wright, the team captain, said he wants no part of any conversation that might decide Collins’ fate.
“As I have always talked about, there has got to be that separation of powers,” Wright said. “I can’t start getting in the business of the front office. I don’t want the front office to start getting in the business of what’s going on in the clubhouse, so there’s got to be that separation. If ever there is a question they have for me, I would be more than happy to answer it, but I am not going to start going knocking on doors.”
Wright, who was 7-for-45 (.156) on the road trip, was on the team the last time the Mets made an in-season managerial change, firing Willie Randolph in June 2008. Wright was asked if he senses the same vibes now.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Trust me, at this point with how badly we’ve played and how poorly I have played over the last week, I am just worried about going up there and trying to get hits.”