Backman, Teufel, and Thole
By Jed Weisberger ~ November 18th, 2009. Filed under: Mets Minors.
In announcing Wally Backman would manage Short Season Class A Brooklyn and Tim Teufel Double-A Binghamton, the Mets simply confirmed what was known Tuesday.
Yet, in putting these two into place, the club took steps toward strengthening a farm system that has fallen below par.
“I thank the Mets organization for giving me a chance to start over, if that’s what it takes,’’ said Backman Tuesday. “This was my first organization, and a piece of it always stays with you.’’
Backman also mentioned “my mistakes’’of the past – and there is no reason to further dwell on them here – and is happy “to be in Brooklyn, in a great city in which I played.’’
Brooklyn and KeySpan Park are different from any other venue in Minor League Baseball. The contrast in what is taking place is striking.
Inside the ballpark, with young prospects, fan games, tickets priced right and 7,500 seats, the culture is a lot like any other minor-league operation. Some fans root for their neighborhood team, others – no deference to them – have no idea who the Cyclones are playing if it’s not the Staten Island Yankees,
Outside, however, there are high-rise apartments, the smell, sounds and traffic of Surf Avenue and the attractions of Coney Island. Is there another minor-league park which you can take the subway to? No other has the Brooklyn Baseball Gallery.
A bustling borough outside. A small-town baseball atmosphere inside. Actually, it’s a treasure.
“You come into the ballpark and it all changes,’’ said Howard Johnson, a past Cyclones manager. “It is New York City out there, but we keep the distractions to a minimum in here. It’s good that we’re close to the big league team, but inside these walls, it’s all about development.’’
Backman plans to use “an aggressive style’’ with the Cyclones. Chances are he will continue the team’s usual success.
HoJo is right. The story in KeySpan Park next summer needs to center on development, with a mix of Backman –not the other way around.
As for Teufel, the B-Mets get a skipper who has worked with players at Brooklyn, Savannah and St. Lucie. He will also have more prospects to work with than the Eastern League club has had the past few years.
“We’re thrilled to have a manager of Tim Teufel’s caliber lead our ballclub,’’ said Binghamton general manager Scott Brown. “He is familiar with the Northeast, and, more importantly, the players we expect to have in Binghamton during the 2010 season.
THOLE SWINGING WELL: Information is not always easy obtainable as far as the Venezuelan Winter League is concerned, but Josh Thole is making his mark with the Leones de Caracas.
He is batting .398 (35-for-88) with a homer and 14 RBIs in 29 games. He’s also walked 20 times and struck out just eight.
Granted he’s not the prospect with the most ability, but he makes the most of what he has.
There has to be a spot for him somewhere in the 2010 Mets. In a 17-game, 2009 cup-of-coffee appearance, he hit .321 (17-for-53).
