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Mets Prepping for Backman Hire?
*** UPDATE - It has been brought to BMF’s attention by people in the know that SNY was in fact resistant to air this series and word is Backman is no where near the top of the list of potential future managers. So I guess I’m way off base with the post below. Oh well it sure was a good theory while it lasted!***
BMF was shocked when I flipped on SNY friday afternoon only to find "Playing For Peanuts" a half hour documentary series on Wally Backman’s return to managing in the independent league for the South Georgia Peanuts.
I’m not sure how long this has been running on SNY but the way I see it the Mets had an ulterior motive in mind when they chose to broadcast the show. In other words they’re looking to soften Backman’s image as a rabble-rouser and more specifically a domestic abuser so that his being hired to manage the Mets goes as smoothly as possible.
The show is quick to explain away that Backman’s domestic dispute charges were a result of an argument with his wife’s friend. Apparently the female friend went ballistic during an argument at the Backman home and went so far as to pick up a bat and swing at Wally’s head. Backman sez he defended himself from getting hit but never laid a hand on anyone.
Unfortunately that didn’t prevent him from getting arrested on domestic abuse charges in his own home.
I’m glad I finally heard this side of the story. I know domestic abuse charges can sometimes be levied in situations that are less than the traditional husband beats wife situations and this seems to be one of them.
The show is also peppered with players, past and present singing Backman’s praises as a great manager.
Let’s be honest here - the MetNet’s broadcasting of what essentially amounts to a Wally Backman infomercial is a GREAT sign for all Met fans because to BMF it sez Willie is on his way out and BMF’s choice for Met manager is currently in the on deck circle!!!
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Mojo Kitty rocks the batting helmet for luck!
May 16th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I sure hope where there’s smoke there’s fire.
FIRE WILLIE!
HIRE WALLY!
LET’S GO METS!
May 16th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Don’t read anything into this all. The timing is coincidental, nothing more.
“Playing For Peanuts” is a 10 episode series that is airing on all the regional Comcast SportsNets (SNY is a partnership between Comcast, Time Warner, and Sterling Equities).
http://www.playingforpeanuts.com/
May 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
CoreyNYC, thanks for throwing a bucket of cold water on me. Couldn’t you have at least waited 5 minutes before crushing my hopes and dreams?
USMF and others, thanks for the update on the contact play. Just another sign that BIC Willie doesn’t understand managing. But hey, that’s not news to any of us.
The Lip, did you really go after another poster? REALLY? Um, somebody please get The Lip a refill, he’s obviously off his meds.
FIRE WILLIE!
HIRE WALLY!
IT’S A NO-LOSE WEEKEND… EITHER BEAT THE YANKEES OR SAY GOODBYE TO WILLIE!
May 16th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I’m sure SNY had veto power over airing the series on their network
it may be simply a case of “good timing” but who’s to say the Mets didn’t have the foresight to be involved in green lighting the series from the get go
doing so allows them to spin backman as a good guy and a real NY Met before they hire him
May 16th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Sanchez,
It is airing in Chicago. Does that mean he might replace Lou or Ozzie?
The show has nothing to do with getting rid of Willie.
The show is about the entire team, including the players.
I watched “Zen of Bobby V” the other day, thats the guy I want to see managing the Mets.
“”Playing for Peanuts” gives viewers an inside look at the lives of players and coaches of the minor league South Georgia Peanuts during the 2007 season. Cameras followed players in the clubhouse, dugout and on the field during a tumultuous season that included financial problems, drug suspensions, resignations and a bench clearing brawl.
The South Georgia Peanuts won the South Coast League Championship in the league’s inaugural season. Following the end of the season, the league announced it was suspending operations.
“The show is about a bunch of guys from all over the country who wind up together at the lowest level of pro baseball,” explains producer/director John Fitzgerald. “None of the players wanted to be stuck there - they all wanted to get back into affiliated baseball as soon as possible. But at the same time, there is a bond that grows out of their shared experience during a crazy season. It was the personal nature of the story that convinced me to keep going even after I had run out of money.”
Filming began in April 2007 and concluded at the end of the 2007 season. Staying true to his independent roots, Fitzgerald produced the show with the help of a small crew of friends and a wallet full of credit cards.
“The plan was to start filming with a small amount of cash until the show got picked up by a major TV producer,” explains Fitzgerald. “Unfortunately, that never happened and I was left with a choice - give up on the project or continue to film by using my credit cards. I chose the credit cards.”
“I set out to make a TV show that celebrated independent minor league baseball, but I ended up with an incredible story about a championship team in a failing baseball league,” explains producer/director John Fitzgerald. “It was sad to see the league suspend operations, but if it had to happen, I’m glad I was able to witness the only season of the South Coast League. And now baseball fans across the country can see it too.”
May 16th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Dream on, dream on
Dream yourself a dream come true
Dream on, dream on
Dream until your dream come true
Dream on, dream on, dream on…
May 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Pigs will fly before Backman gets the Mets gig. The only way it could possibly happen would be after an apprenticeship on the bench or in the minors. They are not handing over the reins to as colorful and controversial a character as WB at this moment.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Why are the Marlins playing the Royals this weekend? Why aren’t they playing Tampa? And haven’t the Braves been matched up with the Red Sox the past few seasons?
May 16th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Guiseppe you don’t know how Procede works and you don’t know how the schedule works either.
The Braves & Sox are no longer matched up but the Rays & Marlins will have 2 series later on this season.
The interleague schedule is completely screwed up ans should be trashed.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Hey, man, I don’t own it. I don’t own anything about it. I’m not supposed to know how it works.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Hey,
As the guy who made “Playing for Peanuts” I just want to say a few things:
1.) Thanks for mentioning the show. I’ve got no money to promote it and SNY hasn’t given the show any promotional support.
2.) I can assure you that SNY is not airing this as part of a “Fire Willie, Hire Wally” campaign. As an earlier commenter said, this is just coincidental. See #1.
3.) Granted, the first 6 minutes of the show deal with Backman’s past, but that is largely because you can’t make a show about Wally’s team without addressing the past. I needed to get it out of the way before I could focus on baseball. There is plenty of Wally in the show and he is a tremendous manager, but to call it a Wally Infomercial isn’t accurate. I can see where you are coming from though… 6 minutes of episode 1 are devoted to Wally’s past as a player and minor league manager.
4.) Thanks again. Seriously.
John Fitzgerald
Playing for Peanuts
May 16th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Is anyone going to watch the game in Brooklyn tonight or tomorrow? Thinking of watching at a bar in Ft Greene or Park Slope if anyone is interested. . .
Remember: we suck but the Skankees TRULY suck and are in LAST PLACE. We should be getting way more pleasure out of this.
LAST PLACE, people. Say it. It could be your new mantra. . .