Former 1986 New York Mets fan favorite Wally Backman will not return to the organization as the Triple-A Las Vegas manager.
In a stunning twist of events, former New York Mets player Wally Backman is now on the outside looking in when it comes to the organization.
Backman, the Mets Triple-A manager at Las Vegas, was fired today by general manager Sandy Alderson, via Mike Puma of the New York Post.
Wally Backman will not return to Mets organization. Source says he was fired today by Sandy Alderson.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) September 12, 2016
There was also news that Backman has been a source of tension regarding player development. One unnamed person described Backman as “doing his own thing.”
Some examples include not placing Brandom Nimmo in the leadoff spot and not starting Michael Conforto against lefties.
Backman has been a long-simmering source of tension regarding player development. One person in org described him as "doing his own thing."
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) September 12, 2016
This has got to be shocking news for fans, as Backman was always known as a manager who players would run into a brick wall for.
He was one of the names considered for the next Mets managerial job until current manager Terry Collins was chosen instead. He was also a constant in terms of fan suggestion over the New York City airwaves.
He is a member of the last World Series champion Mets team in 1986 and is a fan favorite. So this is a pretty sad day for him and the Mets organization.
Didn’t see this one coming.