Terry Collins can fly into 2012 with both wings flapping.
The Mets officially eliminated the possibility of their manager entering next season as a lame duck by yesterday exercising the option on Collins’ contract for 2013. The move was announced by general manager Sandy Alderson before the Mets lost 5-4 to the Reds in 13 innings at Citi Field.
Collins, who signed a two-year deal with a club option to replace Jerry Manuel last offseason, is 76-85 as Mets manager, but has impressed Alderson with his work ethic and communication skills.
“This is something we feel he’s earned as a result of this season,” Alderson said. “One of the things I think I’ve mentioned from time to time is that we’ve made every effort to change the perception of the New York Mets baseball [team], and Terry has gone a long way toward doing that.”
Collins deflected the credit to his players.
“I’m very proud of the way the players have played,” Collins said. “Managers, we get extended and we get contracts because your team plays well and plays hard. We’re not happy with the wins and losses, but we’ve hung in there all season long and made games out of games people didn’t think we would win or be close in.”
It’s expected the Mets will invite back the entire coaching staff. Almost certain is the return of pitching coach Dan Warthen, despite the team’s lackluster 4.22 ERA, which ranks 13th in the NL. According to an organizational source, Warthen is safe because Collins and the front office view talent, and not preparation, as the issue behind that performance.
Warthen has a strong advocate in Collins, and the pitching coach felt comfortable enough about his situation to tell The Post: “If [Collins] is staying, I think there is a good chance I am, too.”
Collins disputed the notion Warthen should be made a scapegoat for this season.
“Dan, in my opinion, gets a lot out of his pitchers,” Collins told The Post. “There are some changes we have to make, obviously in some things, but I think Dan has done a nice job.
“When you’re coaching at this level and things don’t go well, a lot of times there can be some finger pointing. And that is not the case here.”
Under Collins the Mets reached the All-Star break with a 46-45 record, but saw their playoff hopes disintegrate following the July trades of Francisco Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran. Injuries to Jose Reyes, David Wright and Daniel Murphy, among others, also crippled the team for much of the season.
“[Collins] has just done a terrific job in leading our team under sometimes difficult circumstances,” Alderson said. “In all of those circumstances he has not used injuries or trades as an excuse for the performance of the team.”
Pitcher Chris Capuano said Collins’ extension was deserved.
“He’s doing everything right,” Capuano said. “He has guys working hard every day and he keeps the atmosphere positive.”
The 62-year-old Collins had personality conflicts that led to him quitting as Angels manager in 1999, after similar issues facilitated his departure as Astros manager three years earlier, but those old demons haven’t resurfaced.
“Terry is an emotional guy, high energy, intense,” Alderson said. “And so I think it’s a credit to him that we never even approached such an incident. Occasionally he would lose it, but I think in a way that was constructive and not destructive, and I think there is a big difference.”