Comments on: Read: Serby’s Q&A with Wally Backman http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/ Latest Mets News, Links, Rumors and Opinion Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: cver http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613555 cver Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:35:55 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613555 When I say current legacy, I mean whatever legendary history that they have had since their inception and by that, as i wrote, the only "clean legend", I contend, is the 69 club. The rest is tainted, although there were tons of great moments. When I say current legacy, I mean whatever legendary history that they have had since their inception and by that, as i wrote, the only “clean legend”, I contend, is the 69 club. The rest is tainted, although there were tons of great moments.

]]> By: Horseman http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613466 Horseman Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:18:39 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613466 What exactly is the mets current "legacy?" 3 years of underperformance? I am not following you. What exactly is the mets current “legacy?” 3 years of underperformance? I am not following you.

]]> By: Horseman http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613463 Horseman Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:14:54 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613463 Actually, I thought Santana hit Sandoval; who was the Giants best player. Actually, I thought Santana hit Sandoval; who was the Giants best player.

]]> By: cver http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613441 cver Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:02:10 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613441 I bet Wally was on Nixon's list also for 3 people to have dinner with:) Maybe Wally wanted dinner with him to get a pardon. I know I'm not alone in having very mixed feelings about Backman. The guy seems like a real weirdo, but a great baseball guy. I don't know him - probably a nice person, too in a lot of ways. It was quite curious that they brought him right in the thick of the media action to Brooklyn, especially when you consider the Bernazard "shirtless" incident. It would be nice for the Mets to embrace their past more, except that a lot of their past has so many sordid details. This guy isn't a statue - he is a living highly flawed individual who could stain the Mets current "legacy". In other words, the Mets will always only have a sordid past as long as they don't start doing things right in their current present. They need to create something for the folks in the future to cling onto with pride. Besides 1969, that's pretty hard to do, because no matter how amazing 86 was, there are always some qualifiers. Whether it was bad behavior, lingering bad vibes or the "what might have beens". Nobody's perfect and I don't expect the entire Mets organization to be both successful and only filled with choir boys. I just think that there are a lot of very good baseball people available who are less risky. This could turn out to be a great thing, but this was more like Wally picked the Mets than the Mets picked Wally. I bet Wally was on Nixon’s list also for 3 people to have dinner with:) Maybe Wally wanted dinner with him to get a pardon.

I know I’m not alone in having very mixed feelings about Backman. The guy seems like a real weirdo, but a great baseball guy. I don’t know him – probably a nice person, too in a lot of ways. It was quite curious that they brought him right in the thick of the media action to Brooklyn, especially when you consider the Bernazard “shirtless” incident.

It would be nice for the Mets to embrace their past more, except that a lot of their past has so many sordid details. This guy isn’t a statue – he is a living highly flawed individual who could stain the Mets current “legacy”. In other words, the Mets will always only have a sordid past as long as they don’t start doing things right in their current present. They need to create something for the folks in the future to cling onto with pride. Besides 1969, that’s pretty hard to do, because no matter how amazing 86 was, there are always some qualifiers. Whether it was bad behavior, lingering bad vibes or the “what might have beens”. Nobody’s perfect and I don’t expect the entire Mets organization to be both successful and only filled with choir boys. I just think that there are a lot of very good baseball people available who are less risky. This could turn out to be a great thing, but this was more like Wally picked the Mets than the Mets picked Wally.

]]> By: Nicky Noodles http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613439 Nicky Noodles Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:59:49 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613439 Backman is exactly the type of manager our organization needs and our Major Legaue team needs as well. He's the type of manager that stresses fundimentals and toughness. Basic, every day traits that you'd want your players to have. And, starz31, to your point...if he's too <i>old school</i> then we probably don't want those players on our team. Backman echos the voice of the City he coaches in. Tough, never back down and basic skills. This is what we want from our players. This is what we <i>expect</i> from our players. The past two managers have not, and are not, getting that from the team. Case in point..Was there any retaliation when Wright was hit? Nope. Nothing. Not an inside pitch. Not a beaning. Nada. I'm not suggesting people should be hit by a career ending pitch but, if my guy gets beamed in the head, suffers a concussion and is kncoked out...I'm throwing at the first batter I face. Hit him below the neck, of course, but hit him none the less. This team needs to toughen up and Backman is just the guy to get that type of play from them. And, he's a pretty good coach to boot! Backman is exactly the type of manager our organization needs and our Major Legaue team needs as well. He’s the type of manager that stresses fundimentals and toughness. Basic, every day traits that you’d want your players to have.

And, starz31, to your point…if he’s too old school then we probably don’t want those players on our team. Backman echos the voice of the City he coaches in. Tough, never back down and basic skills. This is what we want from our players. This is what we expect from our players. The past two managers have not, and are not, getting that from the team.

Case in point..Was there any retaliation when Wright was hit? Nope. Nothing. Not an inside pitch. Not a beaning. Nada. I’m not suggesting people should be hit by a career ending pitch but, if my guy gets beamed in the head, suffers a concussion and is kncoked out…I’m throwing at the first batter I face. Hit him below the neck, of course, but hit him none the less.

This team needs to toughen up and Backman is just the guy to get that type of play from them. And, he’s a pretty good coach to boot!

]]> By: starz31 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613430 starz31 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:40:48 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/11/23/read-serbys-qa-with-wally-backman/#comment-613430 I love the style of baseball that he will be bringing to our younger levels. Thats exactly where they need to learn it. My only worry is, I hope he isn't too "old-school" for today's current generation of players. Maybe thats what they need, but the 1986-team would not survive in today's world. (the baseball team would, but not the off-field team, and unfortunately, they go hand in hand) I love the style of baseball that he will be bringing to our younger levels. Thats exactly where they need to learn it. My only worry is, I hope he isn’t too “old-school” for today’s current generation of players. Maybe thats what they need, but the 1986-team would not survive in today’s world. (the baseball team would, but not the off-field team, and unfortunately, they go hand in hand)

]]>