PHILADELPHIA _ While Pete Mackanin informed his team Friday afternoon that he would not return next season, Mets manager Terry Collins was readying to defend himself as he entered what is certain to be his final days as manager.
The strange day at Citizens Bank Park ended with a 6-2 win over the Mets, but the game seemed secondary. The division rivals will enter next season with new managers and they will finish the weekend led by men who know they won't return in 2018.
Mackanin, who will manage this weekend before being dismissed and moved to a front-office role, watched from the dugout as Maikel Franco, Jorge Alfaro, and Cesar Hernandez homered. Ben Lively pitched six strong innings in his final start of the season and is in the mix for a spot next year in the back of the rotation. Adam Morgan pitched yet another scoreless inning and has a 0.69 ERA in his last 20 games, a span that stretches back to August 2. The Phillies can end the season with a better than .500 record (38-37) in the second half if they win on Saturday and Sunday.
It is all but official that Collins, whose contract ends Sunday, will not return next season. The New York Post and Newsday wrote this week that the front office wanted to fire Collins in the past but he was shielded by team owner Fred Wilpon. The Post wrote that the front office thought Collins mismanaged the bullpen enough to injure closer Jeurys Familia and that players complained that the manager was not communicating.
"Time to pile on," Collins told reporters before the game.
Collins and Mackanin are both baseball lifers, who pined in the minor leagues before getting their crack at a major-league job. The two formed a quick friendship when their paths crossed decades ago. Collins is 68. Mackanin is 66. This is likely it for them as managers. And it seems almost fitting _ even with these strange circumstances _ that their tenures end together.
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