Wally Backman To Manage Marlins?
With the surprise resignation of manager Edwin Rodriguez, the sinking Marlins are searching for a replacement. Last night, several sources indicated that the Marlins asked the Mets for permission to speak with Binghamton manager Wally Backman.
I know what you’re about to say: “but Joe, the Marlins already decided on 80-year-old Jack McKeon to take over as the interim manager, so that rumor is bunk!”
Well consider this: if McKeon is hired, that doesn’t mean the Fish didn’t make a phone call to Flushing before making that decision. Moreover, McKeon almost certainly will be carrying the “interim” tag — meaning, the Marlins are still hunting for a long-term replacement.
That said, isn’t it still possible that the Marlins could hire Wally Backman to manage their ballclub?
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Florida brain trust was considering Backman as a possible replacement. After all, he was on their list of candidates last fall — along with Larry Bowa, Bobby Valentine, Rich Renteria, Tony Pena, the now-resigned Rodriguez, and a few others. Ultimately, of course, they went with the mild-mannered, easygoing Rodriguez. Since that choice didn’t work out so well, and considering that the brash McKeon is supposedly tabbed to be the temporary field manager, it appears that the Florida front office is looking to change the attitude and culture of the ballclub — by inserting a leader who is unlike the last one.
Oftentimes, teams like to switch personalities in the manager’s seat almost as a rule. You know how the cycle goes: fiery manager is replaced by easygoing; then, easygoing is replaced by fiery; and so on. So the “take-no-bs” McKeon comes in after the “player’s manager” Rodriguez. But McKeon, at 80 years old, cannot be considered the long-term solution.
The Fish may also look back to the last time their team maintained a pulse through an entire 162-game season — back in 2006, when drill sergeant Joe Girardi was in charge. Girardi focused on fundamentals, preparation, and a positive mental attitude, and was a very strong presence in the clubhouse. The Marlins would seem to be looking for that same type of leadership again, and if so, one would think they’d go back to their list from last autumn and consider Wally Backman, Larry Bowa, and Tony Pena again (among others).
I do hope it doesn’t happen though, I think Wally might rip hanley’s throat out at the first sign of dogging it.
And BTW, those two sources were double the amount of sources that said Jack McKeon would be the next Marlins manager. This is what baseball is all about, especially on off days — rumors. If there was something more interesting to write about, I missed it.
What in the world is that supposed to mean?
Usually I’m the one with the conspiracy theories.
So, if I, Matt Cerrone, and Eric Simon all write positive posts about, say, Justin Turner, does that make the three of us the “Turner online circle jerk” ?
Perez did his job in ’06, pitched well in ’07 and started to show his true colors in ’08. Heilman not being in the starting rotation did not the Mets to give Perez a simply moronic contract.
I’m also absolutely, positively certain he would’ve been better than Tim Redding. And he likely would’ve been better than Steve Trachsel in ’06.
Oh but this post is about Wally. For those who are “tired” of hearing about him, my apologies. It’s a slow news day and Wally evokes passionate responses — both positive and negative. And that’s what this site is about: passionate discussion.
I think it is because there is a faction of the fan base that remembers Bobby V’s tenure gloriously, and there is another faction that is pining for Wally to get an opportunity, and beyond those two, there isn’t much passion for anyone else. Probably, it’s because there aren’t many personalities who manage these days, so it’s hard for any particular manager to strike a chord with the fan base. I mean, who is going to get excited about Bob Melvin or Clint Hurdle? They are perfectly nice people but have no story behind them; they’re boring. Love or hate Bobby V and/or Wally, but you have to admit they are not boring.
Why is this and other sites obsessed with Wally Backman? What exactly is so great about a guy that has a DUI, bankruptcy, and domestic violence incident on his record? Yes, he’s been a good minor league manager, but so have a lot of other guys. Give someone a chance with a record of achievement but also CHARACTER.
If we never see Backman in Flushing, I’m more than okay with that…for others, it would seem to be devastating.
Character is subjective. Wins and losses are not.
The last three Presidents of the USA were dope smokers and/or coke addicts, so what about their character?
I would argue that someone who has put himself into difficult situations, overcome them, and fought back to return to doing the thing that he loves has more character than someone who is squeaky clean and never had to handle adversity. Is anyone in this world perfect? Are you? If so then may ye cast the first stone.
Plenty of people who have done far worse than Wally have gone much further in life and attained much more powerful and lucrative leadership positions. If the guy can do something well why is it a problem to let him do it? The job Wally wants is managing grown men to play baseball — something that is far less important or potentially damaging than, say, teaching kindergarten or running General Motors. If some GM somewhere thinks Wally can do a great job managing a MLB team then why should his past history matter one bit?
Last season’s Cyclones & Sand Gnats, who both either won a first half Title or went to the postseason are now Sand Gnats & Lucie Mets. And both teams won again this season.
That said, by the end of next year, the talented prospects on both teams will have played for Wally. As these kids move up, will Wally move with them like Davey Johnson did back in the early 80s?
Would be a heck of a story and a pretty damn cool coincidence.
I wish Strawberry had punched that little redneck in the face as he said he was going to do.
I agree with you — I also wish Strawberry punched that little redneck in the face. It would have been glorious to see a 6’6″ drug-abusing slacker get his butt kicked by a 5’7″ redneck.
Let go of ’86, Joe – the world doesn’t revolve around Wally Backman:
http://aeryssports.com/curious-case-of-sidd-finch/86-obsessed-mets-fans-need-to-let-go-of-backman/