Terry Collins was a wreck, and not just because he had just seen Johan Santana break the Mets’ no-hitter drought. More than once during his remarks to reporters after Santana’s gem, he caught himself, the words refusing to come.
Part of that, of course, was because Santana had just thrown a no-no. Part of that was the high regard he has for the man and his comeback — he did, after all, call Santana his “hero” during a seventh-inning conversation.
But part of it was knowing, deep in his heart, he might be doing more harm than good by allowing Santana to go all nine innings, to throw 134 pitches with his surgically repaired left shoulder. And knowing that at the end of the day, he had to keep that decision in Santana’s hands.
“In five days,” Collins said, “we’ll see where we are.”
It is part of Collins’ charm and his skill set that he is not only responsive to his players’ emotions but he has no problem giving voice to matters such as this.
“You don’t want to ruin the organization,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but saying it all. “But it was going to be his call. All the way.”
Collins will have some options now if he needs them. He could use a sixth starter between now and Santana’s next start — which, for now, would be Wednesday at Washington. He could save him for the Yankees series starting Friday, give him seven full days. Rain the next few days could help.
Of course, there’s the possibility Santana will feel no ill effects at all. That, surely, is what the Mets are hoping for.
“At the end, he was going on pure adrenaline,” Collins said. “We’ll have to just see where he is five days from now.”