Mets manager Terry Collins ponders future: 'It's a young man's game'

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla -- Terry Collins will celebrate his 67th birthday in May, but has no plans to step away from a game that’s kept him employed more than half a century.

The New York Mets manager tells USA TODAY Sports he’ll manage until it stops being fun, or told to stop. He represents the old era in this new era, where he still trusts his eyes more than a spreadsheet, and believes his word is the same as a signed document.

“I’m not sure how much an old-school guy can add to the game today,’’ Collins said. “It’s become a young man’s game, especially with all of the technology stuff you’ve got to be involved in. I’m not very good at it. I don’t enjoy it like other people do.

“I’m not going to sit there today and look at all of these (expletive) numbers and try to predict this guy is going to be a great player. OPS this. OPS that. GPS. LCSs. DSDs. You know who has good numbers? Good (expletive) players.

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“That’s why to me the (Yoenis) Cespedes signing was good for us. He changed our team last year. He makes our lineup legitimate. This guy is going to hit 25 to 30 homers. He’s going to drive in 100 runs. That’s what he does.

“Those are the numbers I like.’’

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Collins laughs. He wonders why everyone’s trying to change the game, or come up with new-age statistics that define good players. How can you discredit a 20-game winner?

And, what’s wrong with a little candor these days, even if it may hurt?

“There should be no secrets,’’ Collins said. “Secrets are bull. …Yeah, once in a while there are things I’m not at liberty to talk about, but I don’t hold secrets. I tell it like it is.

“If you can’t handle it, (expletive) it. Get out. I’m serious. I tell my guys if you want to come in and ask a question, you better be prepared to hear something you don’t want to hear. I’m tough, but I’ve never lied to a player. You may not like what I have to say, but I never have to take it back.

“That’s just me. I don’t have to apologize to anybody.’’