Wally Backman’s Message to the Naysayers
By Mike Silva ~ July 29th, 2010. Filed under: Mike Silva, New York Mets.
Via Bob Klapisch’s column yesterday:
“All I’m looking for is an opportunity – give me a team that can compete and I’ll make them better. I know what I can do. I know what I do on the field is right. You can question me on anything, on any move I make, and I’ll have a stat that shows I’m right.”
I have talked endlessly why Backman should be the manager. If you need to hear from him firsthand about why he is the perfect guy to replace Jerry Manuel (at the end of the year) just read the entire column. One other nugget that should make Mets fans happy:
“You know, at this (Class-A) level, it’s supposed to be about player development, but to me, development is winning,” Backman said. “I’m teaching my players how to get into the habit of winning. Because that’s what it is. Once you get used to it, you never want to stop.”
That’s exactly the type of culture that is missing at Citi Field.
July 29th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Recently there has been much discussion about Bret Meyers and whether fans would root for him should the Mets acquire him, given the fact that he beat his wife in public. I am one who opposes Myers because of this inexcusable behavior. I realize everyone deserves a second chance, which I believe that his wife has given him and there seems to have been no problems since. Good for them. But as a professional athlete Myers has to set an example and I feel that baseball needs to take a harder stance against such behavior. If they’re going to hold player accountable for cheating by using steroids or being a poor example by using illegal narcotics, then they should also hold players, and coaches, accountable for this kind of behavior as well.
I said all that to say this, if Bret Myers is unacceptable to Mets fans, so should Wally Backman since he also has a charge of domestic violence. Again, I’m all for second chances in life, but being in the public spotlight means having greater personal responsibility. MLB needs to develop some policy on this. They need to hold anyone in the employ accountable for poor off-field behavior. Especially, if it is criminal (i.e., domestic violence, DUI, assault, etc., etc.). They suspend for steroids, but not for domestic violence or DUI. To me, that sends a very poor message. A good recent example is the former Rangers pitcher Josh Lueke who was part of the Cliff Lee trade. He was charged with, and pleaded no-contest to, illegal imprisonment with violence against a woman. He pleaded that down from a charge of rape and sodomy. He served 40 days in prison and that’s it. What, if anything, did the Rangers or MLB do to him? Nothing that I have been able to determine. Yet he’s been able to continue his career while his victim has to live with the physical and emotional scars of his actions. What’s wrong with that picture?
The bottom line is that, while I appreciate all that Backman was during his days with the Mets and his style of play, I’m not sure I want him to be the next manager. I really don’t want Bret Myers, so it would be hypocritical to accept Backman. Of course, no fan has a say in that. That is purely an organizational decision. I just hope that the Mets think long and hard about this if they do fire Manuel at some point.
July 29th, 2010 at 10:54 am
the domestic violence was an incident where Wally had his arm broken by a crazed neighbor in his own home, so forget it. there was no assault. if a DUI is a hurdle Tony Larussa and many others should be fired. Jerry is a joke, just watch him laugh every night after each loss. Backman is the best manager in baseball, not in the major leagues and better than most there. He is the only manager in the Met system in 1st place, his team is 13 games over 500 and it is not because the mets draft so well. his players at every level believe in him and play like it.