Updated Post 7:45 PM
How’s this for an update? According to a report by Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York, Darryl Strawberry has predicted that Wally Backman will be the next manager of the Mets.
“Wally will be the next manager of the Mets, in my opinion,” Strawberry said. “I don’t have much say, but I thought he would’ve been the right choice for them. Not taking anything away from Terry [Collins]. He’s a great man and I think he’ll probably do a great job turning these guys around. But I think Wally’s in the future, as far as the manager, and I think he’ll be a super manager.
You just know this is not the end of this story.
Original Post 12:35 PM
Wally Backman was officially named the manager of the Double-A Binghamton Mets yesterday. It was a move that had been expected and comes only a day after Tim Teufel was officially named the manager of the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
“It’s exciting to be with the Mets,” Backman said in the Press Release. “It was almost like a homecoming coming back to the Mets last year. Being traded for the first time, takes a piece of you. I would say my heart never left New York.”
The B-Mets also announced Monday that they have promoted former Class A Savannah pitching coach Marc Valdes to the same role with Binghamton, and that they will retain Luis Natera as hitting coach.
Here is how the staffs shape up so far for the top two affiliates in the Mets organization.
Backman managed the Brooklyn Cyclones to a 51-24 record in 2010 and his success there made him one of the leading contenders to manage the Mets in 2011. Ultimately, the Mets went with Terry Collins, but it’s good to see Wally sticking with the organization and managing at a higher level this season.
Congrats and best wishes to both Backman and Teufel.
