The three seasons he spent managing in Anaheim aside, Terry Collins never has been confused for an Angel. Yesterday he tried to dispel the notion he’s a combination of Attila the Hun and Hannibal Lecter.
“I’m not the evil devil a lot of people have made me out to be,” Collins said upon his introduction at Citi Field as the 20th manager in Mets history.
The 61-year-old, donning No. 10 in honor of mentor Jim Leyland, said he knows there is a rap sheet on him that includes resigning from the Angels in 1999 amid player turmoil, a DUI arrest in 2002, and another resignation managing in Japan. He has worn out welcomes with his “intense” personality. Collins would like to believe he has learned from it all.
The Mets are banking on it. Collins received a two-year contract with a club option for 2013 and will try to go someplace the past eight Mets managers haven’t: down the Canyon of Heroes for a World Series victory parade.
“I will do whatever it takes to bring success to the New York Mets and win more ballgames, and we want to be the last team standing next October,” Collins said.
General manager Sandy Alderson echoed Collins’ sentiment: The goal is to win in 2011 while building for the future. Alderson said Collins was selected with that plan in mind.
“We can win, our goal is to win and we’re not going into spring training with the notion this is a bridge to something else,” Alderson said. “We’re going to focus hard on 2011 and do what we can to give ourselves our best shot.”
Alderson cited Collins’ managerial experience, familiarity with the Mets’ farm system as the minor league field coordinator last season and intensity as the main reasons he was selected from a final list that included Bob Melvin, Chip Hale and Wally Backman.
Collins, who managed the Astros and Angels in the 1990s, took responsibility for the clubhouse mutiny that led to his departure from Anaheim 11 years ago. It was reported at the time that Collins clashed with Mo Vaughn, who led the insurrection.
“I did a bad job managing the clubhouse, no question about it,” Collins said. “I’m accountable for that. I was the manager of that team. I should have done a better job of staying on top of it. I learned from it. I will guarantee you it will not happen here.”
Alderson said team brass did its homework on Collins and left satisfied that he is not an “undo risk.” The GM said the 11 years Collins spent removed from major league managing probably helped Collins gain a new perspective on what the position entails.
Though Collins received a contract that is guaranteed for just two years, he doesn’t view that as a problem, with Backman potentially on deck should the Mets crash and burn next season.
“I told Sandy, ‘You can give me a six-month contract and I’m going to give you all I’ve got,’ “ Collins said.
Collins pointed to Tom Lasorda, Lou Piniella and Leyland as other “intense” managers he’s been around. It’s clear that Leyland, who gave Collins his first big league coaching job with the Pirates, had the biggest impact on him.
“I learned a lot of managing from Jim Leyland,” Collins said. “One of the things he talked about when dealing with general managers: ‘It’s their job to get you the players and it’s your job to manage them.’ Sandy and I have already talked about that.”
mpuma@nypost.com
