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June 11, 2008 News Notes Rumors Joe Janish

Petition for Wally Backman

While I still don’t think the Mets’ woes are the fault of Willie Randolph, and am certain the Wilpons will never open their arms to Wally Backman, I do find it intriguing that a Backman backer has created a petition for Wally.

Here is the text of the petition:

To: New York Mets
We, the undersigned fans of the New York Mets, request that the management of Sterling Mets LP make every effort to hire Wally Backman to coach in the Mets organization.

Wally Backman is a 1986 World Champion NY Met and has been a succesful manager in the minor leagues, having won 3 league championships and been named manager of the year 3 times. He has also had a hand in developing quality young MLB players, including Dan Uggla, Aaron Rowand, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin and Miguel Olivo.

Backman’s legal problems are well-known and he has paid the price for them. Moreover, those issues are no worse than several other former and current coaches and managers at the MLB and minor league levels. Since his legal problems are nearly a decade old, it is time to give him another chance in affiliated baseball.

We believe his history as a New York Met coupled with his outstanding minor league track record would make him a great fit for a coaching job somewhere in the Mets organization. Do the right thing and give Wally Backman a second chance in affiliated baseball.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

As of this writing, there were 21 signatures. However I have a feeling that number will multiply as the Mets continue to falter and word gets around about its existence.

You can view (and sign) the Wally Backman Petition HERE.

Hat tip to John Fitgerald of “Playing for Peanuts” for the link.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. help-a-rascal June 11, 2008 at 12:15 pm
    thank you for finding this. i couldn’t wait to sign. not that it will matter much, but at least those of us who support wally (and think it’s lunacy that he isn’t already a member of the mets organization in some capacity) have some sort of opportunity to express ourselves.

    aside from that, i have to tell you that i think your blog is the best i’ve read (faith and fear and the metropolitans closely tied for second). your analysis, particularly about pitchers’ mechanics and other baseball fundamentals, should be required reading for the mets decision-makers. they obviously need a great deal of help.

  2. debmc June 11, 2008 at 12:29 pm
    It’s really funny, Joe, because today on my blog I make the case for Buck Showalter’s triumphant return to New York as Mets Executive in Charge of Everything….lol.

    I think Wally might fit in very nicely with the type of organization and personnel I’d like to see running the team.

  3. joe June 11, 2008 at 1:06 pm
    Thanks for the props, Rascal — glad you enjoy visiting.

    Deb, I think you’re on to something … Showalter as GM, Wally as manager … and maybe we can coax someone like George Brett out of retirement to play some hard-nosed baseball.

  4. RockStar78 June 11, 2008 at 2:11 pm
    If and when Willie goes, it’s pretty obvious the next manager will be the opposite of Willie in terms of personality and managerial style. Wally would certainly fit that bill. He would break his golf clubs off over people’s knees who don’t hustle. I would love to see it.
  5. julie June 11, 2008 at 3:37 pm
    debmc…where is your blog?
  6. sincekindergarten June 11, 2008 at 4:39 pm
    Does MetsBlog know about this? They’d load the petition with signatures.
  7. debmc June 12, 2008 at 8:02 am
    Julie, just click on my name where it appears in blue, and you will be taken there. 🙂
  8. Ashton August 27, 2010 at 6:23 pm
    Plz new york mets get wally i think he could be a very good manager.