But in all the discussion surrounding Torre this morning I made the flip comment that if it was Torre or Backman I can think of five managers I would prefer over Backman and Torre isn't even in the top ten. This of course, lead to a conversation as to who I would pick over Backman.
For me it's easier to example why I'd be against Backman then it is to give a list of who I'd choose over Wally. I did a complete post on Backman, here.
Briefly I simply don't think he's qualified for the position based on a 1999 Independent league championship, 2002-2003 double A championship, first round playoff appearance and mgr of the year, 2004 single A playoff finals with mgr. of the year, then winning a championship in Independent ball in 2007 with the Peanuts and finally this year in Brooklyn.
But if never coaching above AA ( and that last being in 2003), not knowing this league at all and six playoff seasons ( three championships) since 1997 in the lower minors is what you call winning everywhere he goes and that is enough, then I ask what about the baggage he carries.
Which includes DWI, a domestic incident, despite having back-to-back winning seasons with the White Sox being let go the same year they hired volatile Jose Guillen. He was court order to anger mgt. in 2001 but in 2007 showed, in front of cameras he still has over the top melt downs in front of entry level players and during that winning season quit because he accused the doctors in regards to testing practices when two of his players tested positive. Oh and in his last job before returning to the Mets he was fired for a 3-23 record in the Independent league. So either way; I don't feel Wally has the resume to manage at the major league level nor have I seen enough to not be concerned that he wont implode at some point and turn this into a complete circus.
Bobby Valentine would be my first choice to manage this team, two years ago when this was a veteran team that resisted leadership from management ( see Delgado's comments when Willie benched him) I would have said no way but the last of that group is Beltran and he maybe gone this off-season.
Now mid-season I thought Bob Melvin would have been a good in-house replacement and made my case here, moving forward he doesn't excite me.
I still really like Terry Collins who has the same personality as Valentine and Backman but wouldn't cost as much as Bobby and has more of a resume then Wally. Terry also has a full knowledge of the our minors much like Davey did when he took over, I could see Collins being like Coughlin a task master who over time learns to dial it down. I did a full post on him, here.
This post is more about another in-house candidate who I feel has a much more proven resume then Wally Backman and that's Chip Hale. For those who are beating the drum for Wally I ask you; have you looked at Hale's resume or just attached him to this failing manager.
After his playing career ended Hale's coaching career started in 1999 with Team USA both the National and Intercontinental Cup teams. By 2000 he lead Arizona's rookie ball team to the best record in the league and in 2001 lead them to a second half championship which resulted in him being named Manager of the Year by the Pioneer League and Baseball America's rookie-level Manager of the Year. Then in 2002 he lead a AA team to the best record in the league. From 2004-2006 he managed the D-Backs AAA team in which he lead them to an incredible season in 2006 including PCL championship, minor league team of the year and league best record, he was also named manager of the year and his overall 220 wins ( .542% ) was a franchise best. He's spent the last four years as a third base coach with Arizona and the Mets. To view his full managerial bio go here.
The Minor League Team of the Year Trophy joins numerous other honors the club received in 2006, including the Triple-A Championship Trophy, Pacific Coast League Championship Trophy, the PCL Southern Division title, the Manager of the Year Award (Chip Hale), the Bricktown Showdown Most Valuable Pitcher (Micah Owings) and the Bricktown Showdown Most Valuable Player (Scott Hairston). source Entertainment Magazine
Hale has been considered for major league managerial positions, in 2008 he was in the running for the Mariners job. Many felt that he was going to be made the interim D-Backs manager when Melvin was let go and when that didn't happen he was again a candidate for the Nationals after the 2009 season (source NBC Sports).
So those of us who say ok I admit that's an impressive resume but the Mets need a specific type of coach and standing at third base I haven't seen that in him, the few descriptions of his managerial style I could find we should like. Just this year he was in a managerial prospect list by Baseball Prospectus ( subscription required) he made the list and was described as a Ozzie Guillen type.
You can convince me that this team needed a new voice, a new leader. Many fans in the Valley are extremely disgusted with this group and envisioned a new manager who would flip tables, throw coolers and light a fire under listless players struggling to hit their own weights. They would have gladly embraced a Mark Grace, a Kirk Gibson, and maybe even the volatile Chip Hale. source AZ central Dan BickleyFinally when Hale was one of the last seven candidates for the Seattle job here is how he described himself.
Hale, during a spotty Twins career that saw him play 319 games from 1989 to 1996, soaked up the wisdom of Kelly, who won World Series titles in 1987 and '91.
"My biggest thing is play the game the right way," Hale said. "I played under Tom Kelly in Minnesota, and the one thing he preached from day one was 'respect the game.' We just did things the right way, whether it was working on bunt defenses, taking infield, outfield. If we didn't do it the right way, we'd keep on doing it again." source Seattle Times
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