According to Sandy Alderson, Wally Backman has made the decision to leave his position as manager of Triple-A Las Vegas. Backman, 56, spent four seasons at the helm for the 51s, going 309-267 (.536). He led the team to the Pacific Coast League semifinals in 2013 and 2014, but missed the playoffs in 2015 and 2016. Backman was also named as the PCL’s top manager in 2014.
Marc Carig of Newsday said Backman and Mets brass frequently clashed when discussing lineups and other player development items. Specifically, Backman’s refusal to bat Brandon Nimmo in the leadoff spot and play Michael Conforto against left-handed pitchers irked the front office, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Puma also states that Backman would have been fired three years ago, but COO Jeff Wilpon prevented that from happening.
Backman spent three years managing in the Mets’ system before joining the 51s. He finished 67-76 with the then Triple-A affiliate of the Mets, the Buffalo Bisons, and managed the Double-A Binghamton Mets in 2011, and the Short Season-A Brooklyn Cyclones in 2010. In his minor league managing career with the Mets, Backman finished 494-441 (.528).
Backman played 14 years in the major leagues, where he spent time with the Mets, Twins, Pirates, Phillies, and Mariners from 1980-1993. He hit .275 with 240 runs batted in for his career, which saw him win a World Series ring with the Mets in 1986.
There is no word on a potential replacement for Backman.
Backman got fired today for being too honest. It’s a shame the Mets never got a chance to find out why his players love him so much and his teams seem to win with borderline talent, and a major league team constantly taking his players. We have never heard him cry about that or injuties.
The #1 priority of a minor league manager is not winning but player development. It seems like Backman did not understand that. Not sure there is a single AAA manager that cries when one of his players get called up to the majors. That is the goal of player development; producing talent for the major league team.
That is pretty far from what he got fired for. How about batting AAAA guys in front of real prospects, the whole Leathersich situation, putting win as the priority over making major league players. As the read said below, winning is secondary in the minor leagues. Wally wouldn’t have still been in the Mets organization if it wasn’t for Jeff Wilpons obsession with him.