On Tuesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks arrived in New York with a 45-66 record, firmly in last place in the National League West division.
That's pretty much all you need to know about why New York Mets manager Terry Collins flipped his lid after the visiting D-backs beat his team 9-0 on Thursday to complete a series sweep.
The Mets, which advanced to the World Series last season, are a mediocre 57-57 this year -- and Collins isn't happy about what he's seen from his club lately.
Terry Collins explodes after the #Mets get embarrassed by Arizona.
[SNY, via WFAN] pic.twitter.com/xmCjy6Upf7
— Funhouse (@RNs_Funhouse) August 11, 2016
"There are no excuses here. These are Major League Baseball players," Collins said toward the beginning of his four-minute-long rant. "I don't care where they came from. I don't care how they got here. The names on their back and the front of their uniforms say they are a Major League Baseball player."
The Mets' issues go back further than their series against the D-backs, as they've lost 11 of their last 15 games dating back to July 27.
Collins placed much of the blame for his team's struggles on his shoulders, but he also blasted his team for a lack of passion on the field.
"I'm the manager here. It starts with me," he said. "And yes, some guys are having a bad time, but you cannot say 'Woe is me' at this level. You cannot do it.
"I know one thing: There has to be passion to come and play. There has got to be a sense of, 'This is what I do for a living. People who pay to see me play are going to see my best effort.'
"Now, we're going to get our ass beat again. Don't ever mistake it because that's part of the game here. You are going to get beat and you are going to get beat bad sometimes. But you need to pick yourself up and move on."
Terry Collins was asked about addressing team vs. veteran players doing so. His 4-min answer in full before leaving: pic.twitter.com/oZdo7VZnRa
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) August 11, 2016
