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Looking Backman

Edgy DC Nov 01 2010 08:39 AM

Mike Silva of Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digestis supporting Wally Backmanas Mets manager (I am not, but I won't go ape if they hire him), and is posting excerpts from an interview he did with Backs in 2008. On the DUI: There was a DUI in 99, everyone said it was 2001, it was actually in 99. I was very embarrassed over it, took full responsibility. Apologized to the fans over the speaker. Apologized to the fans on TV. Was not happy with myself at the time when that happened. It’s almost ten years old. Probably the biggest thing that bothered me, more so than any, was that they tried to make me into a drunken wife beater and I have never hit a women. On the restraining order: What bothered me more than anything was when I did an article with Jeff Pearlman with ESPN this last winter, and I did one with Carl Green with Sports Illustrated. I know that Carl Green had seen the papers, and they tried to make it out, from my first wife, that there was a restraining order put on me, and the reason that it was thrown out was that she didn’t show up to court. That is totally inaccurate it still makes me look guilty. The fact was she was held in contempt of court twice, and she was in court and they threw it out. In reality if you read the stories they wrote it makes me look somewhat guilty, which I wasn’t at all, and it bothers me because you try to be honest with the people and a lot of the people that wrote the stories that they wrote with it not being accurate. To me the rapport I have with the media in New York, and I am not blaming anybody in New York, but the people I would blame are the Arizona people that started the articles without telling the whole truth. On the domestic incident. I am not the only person who’s had a DUI, and believe me I took full responsibility for it. I had this domestic dispute that was with my wife’s girlfriend and I got my arm broken. I never laid a hand on anybody and she hit me with a baseball bat, but yet I had to settle for a harassment charge. And yet, you were hardly vindicated... The judge in my town kept trying to tell me, without being able to tell me, I should have taken it all the way to trial. I never could have lost. Probably looking back at it now I wish that I would have because I really believe the domestic part is the biggest reason I lost my job (with Arizona).

metirish Nov 01 2010 08:48 AM Re: Looking Backman

I'm more worried about his lack of managerial experience than his family matters, but yeah, he's taken the hits and the responsibility for his actions. I would think Alderson would go on his record as a baseball man.

Edgy DC Nov 01 2010 09:00 AM Re: Looking Backman

I'm more worried about his behavior in the ballpark --- which hasn't always been stable --- than in the household. The problem with Backman is the question is too frequently entertained as an either-or, up-down, black-white prospect. I think it's perfectly consistent with good management to reward his success in the New York-Penn League with a raise and a promotion to the Eastern League.

Lefty Specialist Nov 01 2010 09:05 AM Re: Looking Backman

Even if all this is true, I'd like to know if he's still drinking. Because even if he's on the right side of all this stuff, it's messy. Messy stuff tends to happen when you drink to excess. You're in the wrong place with a few in you when some blowhard gets on your case. Or you step behind the wheel when you shouldn't. It should be about what you do between the lines. But realistically, this is New York and you're under a microscope.

HahnSolo Nov 01 2010 10:18 AM Re: Looking Backman

Edgy DC wrote: I think it's perfectly consistent with good management to reward his success in the New York-Penn League with a raise and a promotion to the Eastern League. I agree. I think his overall minors experience both with the Mets and other organizations would call for a promotion within the system. And I think its better for Wally to take another job in the minors than be a bench coach with the big club. I'm also not opposed to him getting an opportunity to interview with the big club, and even get the job if Sandy thinks he's the best guy.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 01 2010 10:37 AM Re: Looking Backman

I'm all for Wally managing a big league team like the Pirates or Brewers in fact.