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At New York Baseball Digest, Mike Silva argues that the Mets should hire Wally Backman to run their player development system. As I just wrote to Mike, Backman is entirely unqualified both in terms of actual experience and professional demeanor.
Backman’s post-baseball career peaked in 2004 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Managing an extraordinarily talented advanced-A roster that included the triplets as they were then known in the AZ system- Carlos Quentin, Connor Jackson and Jamie D’Antona – along with catcher Miguel Montero, Backman earned “Minor League Manager of the Year” honors after an 86-54 campaign. That November, the Diamondbacks named him to be their MLB manager, but fired him just days later after learning of his history of alcohol fueled problems including a DUI, domestic disturbances and personal bankruptcy.
Backman then turned to independent ball, picking up a job with the Georgia Peanuts in the start-up South Coast League in 2006 and 2007. The league was in serious financial turmoil the entire time. Backman’s tenure was marked by this tirade, and a failed resignation attempt in 2007 and constant bickering with the league which folded before the 2008 season.
More recently, the Joliet Jackhammers fired Backman this season just days after hiring on the old CEO of the South Coast League who Backman fought with nearly constantly during his term in Georgia.
So, just to summarize, Backman has little relevant experience in managing ballplayers and running a major league development system. He’s shown a total inability to get along with bosses and fellow employees and is known for profanity-filled tirades. The fact that he was a beloved member of the Mets 1986 World Champion team does not qualify him to be the next man in charge of the team’s player development operation.
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I totally agree, but can we really expect the Mets to be rational about this? Hiring Backman would hardly be the first instance of competence and qualifications taking a back seat to “Mets family nepotism”. Personally, I think the Mets need to mix a healthy dose of young Harvard nerd in with their old boys network.
How about a cage match between Bernazard and Backman, possibly in Buffalo to please the fans for once!!!
I’d take the heavier Backman, but this would be an excellent event.
LOL metsrule LOL …… IF Bernazard is shirtless Backman is done !
I commented at the article but this just doesn’t seem like a reasonable fit even if Backman didn’t have the history of legal issues and tirades. He’s not someone who’s worked his way up to this job, nor does he seem like a PD guy over being a manager. I realize there isn’t a whole lot of difference in the minors, but still he has a long way to go professionally. And the personality is completely wrong when you are following what just happened in the organization.
I get the feeling that the Mets would now like to replace Omar, but they had not been thinking much about it as a real option for this offseason so they are in the very early stages of considering who to go after. Or maybe that’s just a hope…
It’s hard to know what they are looking for given the strange track record, but I’ll agree with the above comment that a bit more Harvard nerd is needed to balance out the FO.
Firing Tony Bernazard for a pattern of angry abusive tirades, and then hiring Wally Backman to replace him? Please. That would never happen. That would be like firing Willie Randolph for his inept in game strategy and bullpen management, and then replacing him with….well, I suppose maybe it could happen after all.