PHILADELPHIA — An incredulous Terry Collins took issue Friday with the notion his handling of Jeurys Familia could have led to the All-Star closer needing surgery in May to remove a blood clot from his right shoulder.
A day after The Post reported Collins has ignored directives from the front office regarding bullpen management — and the manner in which to use Familia, in particular — the manager provided his view of the matter, as the Mets prepared to begin their final series of the season.
Collins, who is expected to be notified in the coming days that his contract won’t be renewed for next season, denied the front office has voiced displeasure with his handling of the bullpen.
A source indicated Collins was told not to use Familia in non-save situations or too many days in a row, but the manager ignored the directive, and there was a belief in the organization it led to the right-hander’s blood clot and subsequent surgery.
“Seriously?” Collins said. “With the WBC and all the other factors, I am the factor? OK, I’ll take it. I’m the manager.”
Familia, who pitched for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic during spring training — the Mets were unhappy about the manner in which he was used in the tournament — said he doesn’t blame Collins for the blood clot. In his previous three seasons, Familia was among the most-used relievers in the major leagues (he averaged 76.7 appearances).
“I don’t put any names or say anything, it’s part of the game,” Familia said. “I got hurt and it’s something you can’t control.”
Familia noted if he rests too many straight days it’s important to pitch so he won’t get rusty.
As previously reported by The Post, general manager Sandy Alderson nearly fired Collins last season, but co-owner Fred Wilpon intervened to save the manager. Wilpon’s faith was rewarded when the Mets rallied to secure a National League wild-card berth. Team brass also discussed firing Collins this season.
And now, with a brutal Mets season on the verge of completion, Collins may realize he is not returning.
“It’s time to pile on, so they do,” Collins said.
What is Collins’ reaction overall to the criticism?
“It’s part of the job,” he said. “You sit here and make decisions that you think are in the [team’s] best interest. There are certainly a lot of factors involved. We don’t send anybody out to hurt anybody. We never have, we never will. There is the players, the training staff, the coaches, they all have input and you try to make the best decision that you think will help you win.”
The 68-year-old Collins has indicated he has no plans to retire and wants to continue in baseball. The longest-tenured manager in franchise history, Collins is completing his fifth losing season in seven years.
But the Mets were also decimated by injuries that sidelined Noah Syndergaard, Yoenis Cespedes, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz, among others, for extended periods.
The Mets’ list of potential replacements for Collins includes Robin Ventura, Alex Cora, Joe McEwing, Kevin Long, Bob Geren and Chip Hale.
In addition to Collins, pitching coach Dan Warthen is expected to be told he won’t return for 2018. Bullpen coach Ricky Bones and minor league pitching coordinator Ron Romanick are the primary candidates to replace the 64-year-old Warthen, who has been the team’s pitching coach since June 2008.