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Collins cites lack of fire for quitting

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Collins cites lack of fire for quitting

by Jim Allen (May 23, 2008)

It was all about intensity. Without it, Terry Collins said he no longer had any business remaining as manager of the Orix Buffaloes.

A day after announcing his resignation, Collins said Thursday that without his trademark intensity, it was time for him to leave.

"The one trait I've always had as a player, a coach, as a manager is that intensity," Collins told The Daily Yomiuri by telephone. "I started to lose that."

The skipper said he could no longer give the effort the players and organization deserved and decided it would be better to go rather than just go through the motions.

"I take this job, this game serious," he said. "I owe the game that respect. The team deserves it, the organization deserves it."

Collins joined Orix in the autumn of 2006 but was frustrated by his inability to persuade the organization to change more.

"I spoke to [former Minnesota Twins general manager] Terry Ryan and he said that when the losses are just as hard but the wins get less and less fun, it's time for a change," said Collins, who leaves with the club playing its best ball all year.

"It's a good time, we're playing OK. And sometimes change is good. I will take some time off and energize myself."

Orix announced that head coach Daijiro Oishi would take over as interim manager until the end of the season.

Collins, who led the Buffaloes to a last place finish in 2007, previously managed the Houston Astros and Anaheim Angels. He posted an 83-105-5 record with Orix.

Although things did not work out as he hoped, Collins said he had no regrets about his decision to come.

"I'm glad I got the opportunity to come here, to experience this," he said. "I wish people in the States could all see how much the people in Japan love and respect the game."

Pitching coach Mike Brown and batting coach John Debus also resigned.


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