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June 25, 2010 Mets 2010 Games John Fitzgerald

WWWBD: Cyclones Win Again, Backman Ejected

Time for another installment of What Would Wally Backman Do?

The Brooklyn Cyclones routed the Hudson Valley Renegades on Thursday night, by a score of 16-5. Brooklyn improved to 5-2 on the young season, good enough for first place in the New York Penn League’s McNamara Division. The game was highlighted by Brooklyn’s 18-hit offensive barrage and Wally Backman’s first ejection of the season.

Things weren’t looking so good on the night before, when Backman’s Cyclones blew a lead in the seventh inning with shoddy defense to lose Wednesday night’s game. Brooklyn’s bats were just as bad, as the team was held to three hits on the night. It’s interesting to note that Backman actually argued with an umpire following the ejection of centerfielder Darrell Ceciliani and he wasn’t ejected. You read that right – Wally Backman confronted an umpire and wasn’t ejected. You don’t see that everyday… But you can see the video below:

According to Stephen Brown at the Brooklyn Heights Courier, the team’s uninspired play on Wednesday prompted Backman to call a team meeting. The meeting seemed to have helped jumpstart the Cyclones:

“They didn’t swing the bat well yesterday, so I called a meeting. They sure came out swinging today,” Backman said after the game. (YourNabe.com)

Backman doesn’t like losing, but he absolutely hates losing because of fundamental mistakes. His postgame speech probably sounded alot like the video below, which is from 2007:

CAUTION: Video contains adult language. Not Safe For Work!! NSFW

Fast forward back to Thursday night’s contest. With his team comfortably ahead, en route to a 16-5 victory, Backman argued a home run call and – you guessed it – he was ejected:

Backman showed his intensity — or temper, depending on your perspective — in the ninth, as he was ejected from the game after challenging a questionable two-run dinger that appeared to be foul. His team may have been up by 13 runs, but Backman ripped off his cap and got nose to nose with the umpire, much to the crowd’s delight.

“I said a word he didn’t like,” Backman said. “The ump said, ‘Don’t say that again,’ — and I let him have it. If he wants to jaw, I’ll jaw.” (YourNabe.com)

Some things never change…

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John Fitzgerald is an independent film/TV producer. In 2007, he followed former Mets 2B Wally Backman and his minor league team for the TV show, "Playing for Peanuts." Click here for DVD ordering information NOTE: $5 from each sale goes to maintenance costs of MetsToday.com
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  1. TeufelFan June 25, 2010 at 5:10 pm
    So wait, Wally Backman couldn't be bothered to keep his composure while up 13 runs in the 9th inning of his team's 7th game of the season, and we're supposed to buy into the fact that this guy can one day manage in the major leagues? Um, I don't think so.
  2. gary516 June 25, 2010 at 5:21 pm
    it's called INTENSITY you dolt.
  3. Jack June 25, 2010 at 1:58 pm
    Backman stood up for his team. Whether they have a huge lead in the final inning or not, his team got a bad call and he did not lay down.
  4. TeufelFan June 25, 2010 at 6:23 pm
    No sir, it's called "this man has such poor control over his obvious rage issues that he's getting thrown out of games that have already long since been decided for absolutely no reason." He's done nothing to show that he would be anything but a liability as a manager either in the major leagues or in the minor leagues.
  5. steve keane June 25, 2010 at 6:41 pm
    There was a call early in the game where the base ump called a Cyclone out on a close play to end the inning and a Cyclones rally. As Backman made his way from the 3rd base coaches box to the dugout he looked out to the umpire who turned his bck and jogged out to short left center field knowing that Wally wouldn't go that far out to argue the call. So that 9th inning bad home run call gave Backman an opportunity to get at the umpire after all. Smart move by Wally
  6. John Fitzgerald June 25, 2010 at 6:58 pm
    Since when is an ejection an indication of a "rage issue."

    Looks like Tim Teufel (who is a fine manager in his own right, by the way) has some rage issues too. He was tossed in the seventh inning of a 10-1 blowout the night Jenrry Mejia made his first start for Binghampton – http://www.pressconnects.com/article/20100623/SPO…

  7. John Fitzgerald June 25, 2010 at 7:01 pm
    By the way, in case my sarcasm doesn't come through, here's my point:

    Backman doesn't have a rage issue. Teufel doesn't have a rage issue. There's a reason these guys are considered outstanding managers. They are tough and they defend their team.

    And in the case of Backman, look at the first video. His player had just been ejected and Wally got into the umpires face and he wasn't ejected. Everything he does is completely calculated and within the bounds of "old school" managing. The proof is staring you in the face. Get over your hatred of Backman and learn to accept old school baseball.

  8. John Fitzgerald June 25, 2010 at 7:02 pm
    Interesting. Thanks for the info, Steve.
  9. Kevin June 25, 2010 at 7:13 pm
    have u ever managed or played baseball beyond a high school level? not judging, just curious how you could say that about a manager because he got ejected
  10. metstoday June 26, 2010 at 12:13 am
    TeufelFan – sounds like you lost a card game to Wally or have some other personal issue with him, because your comments are illogical. Backman has won a championship with every team he's managed — if winning doesn't show that he deserves to be managing somewhere, what does?