By Blake Arlington, bisons.com

The New York Mets today announced that they have hired Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer TERRY COLLINS to be their new field manager.

Collins, 61, managed the Bisons form 1989-1991 and was 246-186 during his time with the club. The .569 winning percentage is the 8th highest in the 125-year history of the Buffalo Bisons. Collins won 80 games in each of his three years on the bench and took the Herd to the American Association playoffs in 1991.

LISTEN: Ben Wagner on Collins adding to Buffalo bond

In 1992, Collins was inducted into the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame.

Collins is now the fifth current major league manager with direct ties to the Buffalo Bisons. San Diego Padres manager Bud Black was the Bisons pitching coach in 1998 while Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge led the Bisons to a 178-108 record in two years on the bench in Buffalo, 2001-2002. Newly hired Toronto Blue Jays manager John Farrell was 20-21 with a 5.02ERA in three seasons pitching for the Herd, 1987 and 1995-1996. Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade played 63 games with the Double-A Buffalo Bisons during the 1981 season.

Collins, 61, joined the Mets in 2010 as the Minor League Field Coordinator, overseeing all on-field aspects of the Mets Minor League Spring Training, mini-camps and the Fall Instructional League.

Collins spent six years as a major-league manager, leading the Anaheim Angels and Houston Astros to winning records and second-place finishes in his five full seasons. He managed the Angels from 1997-1999 and the Astros from 1994-1996, compiling an overall record of 444-434 (.506).

“Terry’s a lifelong baseball man who comes with the entire package – leadership, preparation, emotional commitment, and the drive to win,” said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson. “We believe Terry’s knowledge of our players, energy, intelligence, intensity, and direct approach will make an immediate, positive impact both in the clubhouse and on the field.”

“I want to win and there is no doubt in my mind we have the talent to win,” said Collins. “I know from working firsthand with our prospects that this organization is filled with potential for the future. It’s my job to help transform this team into the winner that our fans deserve, and I’m excited to get started.”

Collins also served as manager the Orix Buffaloes in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league from 2007-2008 and guided Team China in the 2009 World Baseball Classic to its first tournament victory.

Collins managed 11 years in the minors from 1981-1991, including capturing the Pacific Coast League championship in 1987 with the Albuquerque Dukes. The former shortstop played 10 seasons in the minors with the Dodgers from 1974-1978, 1980, 1984 and Pirates from 1971-1973. Collins, a native of Midland, Mich., graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1971 and was twice named to the NAIA Collegiate World Series All-Tournament team in 1968 and 1970.

PHOTO: Collins poses with long-time friends, Bob & Mindy Rich, at Citi Field. (Bruce Adler)

PART VIII (updated 11/9)

PART VII (updated 11/1)

PART VI (10/20)

PART V (10/6)

PART IV

PART III

PART II

PART I

Replaced with a state-of-the-art, vertically drained, sand-based playing field commensurate with those found at the highest levels of professional baseball.

Since the ballpark’s opening, the Bisons have invested over $20 million in various improvements. Coca-Cola Field is currently the oldest ballpark in the International League.

The Bisons have engaged Sports Construction Group of Brecksville, OH for the job.

The Bisons have also worked hand-in-hand with Populous (former H.O.K. Design, the architects of Coca-Cola Field) in the design of the new drainage system.
Digging has already begun for the project that should take close to two months to complete. SCG will dig at least 18 inches below grass level and haul out over 600 truckloads of dirt before installing the new drainage system.

Baseball legends are born in October. There can be a new hero on any one pitch. It’s why we love the playoffs. It’s why we cheer for teams from New York, San Francisco, Texas and Philadelphia.

But if you’re looking for a reason to align yourself with one of the eight teams vying for a World Series Championship this year, you need to look no further than your own backyard. Eight former Buffalo Bisons will take part in October’s action and many of them are vital pieces to their team’s championship hopes.

But which player might help push their big league club to a championship? Their careers in Buffalo may offer a clue to the team that will win it all.

READ: Who will win it all?

MLB PLAYER PAGE (with Bisons)
Chad Durbin, Phillies, (’03-04)
Ben Francisco, Phillies, (’05-08)
Cliff Lee, Rangers, (’02-03,07)
Brandon Phillips, Reds, (’02-05)
CC Sabathia, Yankees, (’06)
Kelly Shoppach, Rays, (’06)
Jim Thome, Twins, (’98)
Wilson Valdez, Phillies, (’09)

The bulldozers are working around the clock at Coca-Cola Field and the Bisons install a new state-of-the-art drainage system. Bisons.com Ben Wagner catches you up on the project.

The New York Mets announced that outfielder Lucas Duda was named the Sterling Organizational Player of the Year while lefthanded pitcher Mark Cohoon earned Sterling Pitcher of the Year honors.

In addition, the Mets announced the 2010 Sterling Awards, emblematic of the Most Valuable Player for each of their nine minor league affiliates.

Righthanded pitcher Dillon Gee was the Sterling Award recipient at Buffalo (AAA) of the International League; outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis received the award for Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League; shortstop Wilmer Flores was honored at St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League; outfielder Cesar Puello captured the award for Savannah (A) of the South Atlantic Leauge; outfielder Darrell Ceciliani received the honor for Brooklyn (A) of the New York-Penn League; third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez was tabbed for Kingsport (R) of the Appalachian League; righthanded hurler Domingo Tapia was honored for the rookie-level Gulf Coast Mets; centerfielder Eudy Pina was selected for the Dominican Summer League Mets #1 and catcher Hector Alvarez received the award for the Dominican Summer League Mets # 2.

STERLING ORGANIZATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LUCAS DUDA (OF)
Duda combined to hit .304 (129-425) with 74 runs scored, 40 doubles, two triples, 23 home runs and 87 RBI in 115 games between Binghamton and Buffalo. He became the fifth player in the 125-year history of the Buffalo franchise to hit home runs in five consecutive games when he accomplished the feat from June 28th-July 2nd. The 24-year-old finished tied for the team lead, and New York Mets organizational lead, with 17 home runs despite playing in only 70 games with the Bisons.

STERLING ORGANIZATIONAL PITCHER OF THE YEAR: MARK COHOON (LHP)
Cohoon, who was the Sterling Award winner for Brooklyn in 2009, combined to go 12-5 in 26 starts with Savannah and Binghamton this season. In 161.1 innings he allowed 46 earned runs for a 2.57 ERA. The lefthander allowed 142 hits and 32 walks while striking out 131 for a better than 4:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Cohoon, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today, allowed two earned runs or less in 22 of his 26 starts this season including all 13 outings with the Savannah Sand Gnats. The 2010 South Atlantic League All-Star was also tied for fifth among all Mets minor leaguers in strikeouts.

BUFFALO (AAA) OF THE INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE: DILLON GEE (RHP)
Gee was previously honored in 2008 as the Sterling Award winner for St. Lucie before his record setting season with Buffalo in 2010. The righthander struck out a Buffalo franchise record and International League leading 165 batters while going 13-8 with a 4.96 (89 earned runs / 161.1 innings pitched) ERA . The 24-year-old also ranked second in the IL in Wins.

BINGHAMTON (AA) OF THE EASTERN LEAGUE: KIRK NIEUWENHUIS (OF)
Nieuwenhuis hit .289 (114-394) with 81 runs scored, 35 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs and 60 RBI in 94 games with the B-Mets before being promoted to Buffalo on August 5th. The 2009 Sterling Award winner for St. Lucie led Binghamton in runs scored, doubles, RBI and total bases. The 23-year-old was named to the Eastern League’s Eastern Division All-Star team before moving on to Buffalo and hitting .225 (27-120) over his final 30 games of the year.

ST. LUCIE (A) OF THE FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE: WILMER FLORES (INF)
The 19-year-old shortstop began the season with Savannah before moving to St. Lucie during the final month of June. In 67 games in the Florida State League he hit .300 (83-277) with 18 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 40 RBI. The 2008 Sterling Award winner for Kingsport hit an astounding .508 (32-63) against lefthanded pitching with St. Lucie while combining to drive in 84 over his two stops in the organization, which ranked second among all Mets minor leaguers.

SAVANNAH (A) OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE: CESAR PUELLO (OF)
Rightfielder Cesar Puello hit .292 (118-404) with 80 runs scored, 22 doubles, 34 RBI and 45 stolen bases for Savannah. The 19-year-old speedster ranked fifth in the SAL, and first in the Mets organization, in stolen bases and led Savannah in hits, runs scored, doubles, and total bases.

BROOKLYN (A) OF THE NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE: DARRELL CECILIANI (OF)
At 20 years of age, Darrell Ceciliani was the youngest player on the Brooklyn roster and one of the youngest in all of the New York-Penn League. By the end of the season, the centerfielder was also the NYPL’s leading hitter with his .351 (95-271) average. He also established a franchise record with 95 hits, 56 runs, and 12 triples this season, which lead the organization, while being named to the NYPL All-Star team.

KINGSPORT (R) OF THE APPALACHIAN LEAGUE: ADERLIN RODRIGUEZ (INF)
Third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez was the offensive leader of the Kingsport Mets, hitting .312 (78-250), 44 runs, 22 doubles, 13 home runs and 48 RBI in 61 games with the K-Mets. The 18-year-old slugger ranked fifth in the Appalachian League in average, third in home runs, hits, and RBI, while also ranking second in doubles and fourth in runs scored.

GULF COAST METS (R) OF THE GULF COAST LEAGUE: DOMINGO TAPIA (RHP)
Righthanded pitcher Domingo Tapia went 4-3 with a 3.45 ERA in 10 games, all starts, allowing 25 runs, 18 earned, and 49 hits over 47.0 innings while walking 10 and striking out 29. The 18-year-old hurler did not allow more than two earned runs over his final seven starts of the season, pitching to a 1.96 ERA (eight earned runs / 36.2 innings) over this span dating to July 15th.

DSL METS # 1 (R) OF THE DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE: EUDY PINA (OF)
Centerfielder Eudy Pina was an offensive force for the DSL Mets #1 all season long. The 19-year-old led the team in average (.310), runs scored (42), hits (77), doubles (14), triples (four), home runs (three), RBI (45), and stolen bases (29).

DSL METS # 2 (R) OF THE DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE: HECTOR ALVAREZ (C)
Catcher Hector Alvarez hit .249 (50-201) with 31 runs scored, 19, doubles, one home run and 28 RBI for the Boca Chica North Division Champion DSL Mets # 2. The backstop guided the pitching staff to a 2.77 ERA and threw out 31 of 67 (46.3%) would-be base stealers.

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