Major League Baseball

Mets Triple-A manager Wally Backman leaves organization

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Backman was a manger for the Mets in the minors since 2010

Triple-A Las Vegas manager Wally Backman has left the organization, Mets GM Sandy Alderson said on Monday.

Backman, 56, had been a manager in the organization since 2010, starting with Low-A Brooklyn and advancing to Triple-A, where he spent the last five seasons.

Alderson noted it was Backman’s decision to leave the organization and wished him well, though Adam Rubin of ESPN said reports indicated Backman was pushed by Alderson.

Alderson added the Mets would begin searching for Backman’s replacement within the next few weeks.

Backman was a managerial candidate for the Mets before they hired Terry Collins, and was passed over for spots on the major league coaching staff each time there was an opening.

It never seemed that Backman had a shot to join the Mets’ big league coaching staff, so it makes sense for him to want to explore other opportunities.

It’s been reported that Backman is a favorite of Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, but he’s the kind of manager who is the opposite of what Alderson ordinarily favors — so it’s also valid to think Alderson wanted him out of the organization.

With his 1986 Mets pedigree and fiery personality, Backman is someone many fans — including yours truly a few years ago — wanted to manage in Flushing one day.

However, his outspoken nature and somewhat checkered past likely meant that he never had an actual shot while Alderson remained at the helm.

In addition, his overuse of Jack Leathersich — who needed Tommy John surgery soon after and is now out of the organization — was glaring.

It would’ve been interesting to see Backman added on as the Mets’ bench coach before this season or perhaps after, but that job went to Dick Scott.

And at the time of Scott’s hire, it was reported that he was a likely heir apparent to Terry Collins, whose contract expires after next season.

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Backman was a manger for the Mets in the minors since 2010

Triple-A Las Vegas manager Wally Backman has left the organization, Mets GM Sandy Alderson said on Monday.

Backman, 56, had been a manager in the organization since 2010, starting with Low-A Brooklyn and advancing to Triple-A, where he spent the last five seasons.

Alderson noted it was Backman’s decision to leave the organization and wished him well, though Adam Rubin of ESPN said reports indicated Backman was pushed by Alderson.

Alderson added the Mets would begin searching for Backman’s replacement within the next few weeks.

Backman was a managerial candidate for the Mets before they hired Terry Collins, and was passed over for spots on the major league coaching staff each time there was an opening.

It never seemed that Backman had a shot to join the Mets’ big league coaching staff, so it makes sense for him to want to explore other opportunities.

It’s been reported that Backman is a favorite of Mets COO Jeff Wilpon, but he’s the kind of manager who is the opposite of what Alderson ordinarily favors — so it’s also valid to think Alderson wanted him out of the organization.

With his 1986 Mets pedigree and fiery personality, Backman is someone many fans — including yours truly a few years ago — wanted to manage in Flushing one day.

However, his outspoken nature and somewhat checkered past likely meant that he never had an actual shot while Alderson remained at the helm.

In addition, his overuse of Jack Leathersich — who needed Tommy John surgery soon after and is now out of the organization — was glaring.

It would’ve been interesting to see Backman added on as the Mets’ bench coach before this season or perhaps after, but that job went to Dick Scott.

And at the time of Scott’s hire, it was reported that he was a likely heir apparent to Terry Collins, whose contract expires after next season.

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