Management, whether of a business or a professional sports team, means having to make the tough decisions!
In the case of the New York Mets, what happens when an employee (Matt Harvey) tells a manager (Terry Collins) what to do, and that action or inaction goes against the managers best instincts?
Does the manager listen or pull the trigger on the decision that makes the most sense to him?
Terry Collins listened to Matt Harvey and the result was a defeat that was snatched from the jaws of victory!
In this case a 2-0 Mets lead in Game 5 becomes a 2-2 tie, the game goes to extra innings and the team loses not only that game, but the World Series.
And while over the course of five games there were many other plays and misplays that contributed to the overall loss, the decision to leave Matt Harvey in the game will be second-guessed by fans, Monday morning quarterbacks and pundits for a long, long time!
Making last nights 9th inning decision to leave the starting pitcher in the game, manager Terry Collins may have been conflicted for any number of reasons, not the least of which are loyalty and trust.
Another, potentially even more compelling reason, may have been some modicum of concern that the alternatives that he had for replacements were not as strong as he would have liked. In other words, a weak bench!
Then, to further compound the problem, after the pitcher walks the first batter he faced presenting a solid indication and validation that the initial instinct to make a change was correct, the manager hesitated once again to make what he knew was the right decision in the first place.
The result, as they say, was there for all to see! In a business the result may not be as immediate or visible but will be there nonetheless.
Of course for the Mets there’s always next year.
For a small business owner or the management of a larger one? The ramifications could prove to be much worse!
Michael Haltman is President of Hallmark Abstract Service in New York.
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