Why did Collins survive? 100 large

In deciding to bring back Terry Collins, Mets GM Sandy Alderson did not hold the team's 74-88 record against the manager. He did, however, see the team's .500 mark in its final 100 games as a sign that the team did not quit under Collins despite losing several player in the injury an personnel change.

"A .500 record over the final 100 games is not going to get you into the playoffs but it's a base," Alderson said Monday at the press conference announcing the Mets had extended Collins for two years. "And it's not a small sample of games, and it's definitely a foundation on which we can build. And having that kind of season we have to have next year is not that unrealistic when you think about how the team played substantially over the last two-thirds of the season."

While the Mets hope to be better than .500 next season, they were impressed with how they finished those final 100 games despite missing some of their biggest names for long stretches.

David Wright missed 45 games in August and September with a strained hamstring. Ace Matt Harvey did not throw a pitch after Aug. 24 due to his partial UCL tear. Closer Bobby Parnell didn't pitch the final two months with a herniated disc in his neck. Outfielder Marlon Byrd was traded away in late August.

"I think you now add the big pieces back. David's back, we don't know what's going to happen with Matt, he's back, all of a sudden, you know what, when it's all working out at the same time it's going to be good enough," Collins said on Monday. "Yeah, we have to have some guys have big years. Ike [Davis] has to have a big year. Lucas [Duda] or whoever has to have a good year. But you know what, the good players have good years."

In breaking down the Mets' final 100 games, they were 30-17 against teams that finished below .500 but went 20-33 against teams that went. 500 or better, including an 11-18 mark against teams that made the playoffs.

QUESTION: Were you impressed with the way the Mets played over their final 100 games?