A Step In The Right Direction

It’s official! Wally Backman has been hired to manage the Mets A Minor League Team, The Brooklyn Cyclones.

On Tuesday, the Mets will announce Backman’s hiring in a press conference. Let’s hope it doesn’t turn out like his “stint” in Arizona did.

This warms the cockles of metsfan73’s heart. As you might well be aware, I have been clamoring for Backman’s hire since before the 2005 season (24 Hours...Aug. 11, 2009, 24 Hours...Sept. 28, 2008). Although 24 Hours From Suicide…A Day In The Life Of A Met Fan was nothing more than a dream then, my Backman campaigning his been on-going.

From our post of August 11, 2009: “Backman has passion, is a proven winner wherever he has gone, and is itching for the chance to get a "FAIR" shot. Backman, having played with the Mets from 1980 - 1988, knows NY, and loved his time here. He would whip this team into shape, and I am fully confident would have them playing better. He would be able to relate to the pressure, and how to handle it coming down the stretch. Two things this regime has failed at. Sometimes when the answer is right in front of you, it is so hard to see. It's time for the Wilpon's to open their eyes.”

I want to thank the Mets for finally seeing the light, and not only hiring a man who I expect to rise through the Mets ranks, but also acknowledging that 1986 wasn’t only Mookie Wilson, Tim Teufel, and Howard Johnson. There were other parts to that great team, and no, they weren’t saints.

Backman's Managerial Record:

Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1997	Catskill Cougars	Northeast League	3-23	8th	Independent Leagues		replaced Edgar Perez (18-39)
1998	Bend Bandits	Western Baseball League	43-46	5th	Independent Leagues
1999	Tri-City Posse	Western Baseball League	48-42	2nd	Independent Leagues	League Champs
2000	Tri-City Posse	Western Baseball League	40-50	6th	Independent Leagues
2001	Winston-Salem Warthogs	Carolina League	54-86	8th	Chicago White Sox
2002	Birmingham Barons	Southern League	79-61	1st	Chicago White Sox	League Champs
2003	Birmingham Barons	Southern League	73-64	3rd	Chicago White Sox	Lost in 1st round
2004	Lancaster JetHawks	California League	86-54	2nd	Arizona Diamondbacks	Lost League Finals
2007	South Georgia Peanuts	South Coast League	59-28	1st	Independent Leagues	League Champs
2008	Joliet JackHammers	Northern League	43-53	5th	Independent Leagues

Thanks to Joe Demayo - NY Baseball Digest for the information.