Darryl: Backman will be Mets' next manager
Former Mets right fielder Darryl Strawberry speaks during the 2010 New York Mets Hall of Fame induction ceremony prior to the game against the Diamondbacks, Sunday. (August 1, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
Wally Backman canceled his appearance Tuesday at last night's Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) dinner.
No matter. An old friend spoke up for Backman, who was named on Monday as the manager at Double-A Binghamton after finishing behind Terry Collins for the big club's job.
"Wally will be the next manager of the Mets, in my opinion," Darryl Strawberry said. "I don't have much to say, but I thought he would've been the right choice for them. Not taking anything away from Terry. 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.
"I was surprised [Backman didn't get the job]. Because when you're talking about the fan base, I think that would've been a big lift for the fans. And I think a lot of fans were disappointed he didn't get the position."
HoJo waiting. The new Mets management team has had to do a lot since taking over, and a few items have fallen through the cracks.
One of those is former hitting coach Howard Johnson, who is still under contract but does not have an assignment for 2011. Johnson, who was not given a chance to interview to retain his position, is waiting for the Mets to decide what role, if any, he will play in the organization.
"They want me back so it's just a matter of figuring out where I fit," Johnson said. "As of right now, nothing's been decided. We haven't had a lot of contact because they've been busy with other things."
Two of those other things were just recently decided when Tim Teufel was named manager of Triple-A Buffalo and Backman got the job at Binghamton. Johnson could end up as a roving minor-league hitting instructor.
With spring training right around the corner, Johnson would like to know what's next.
"It'd be nice to know at some point, but I can't control everything," he said. "There's still some things that we have to discuss because everything's in transition with the organization. They've got a lot of things they have to do. I wouldn't think I'm the first thing on their agenda."
Johnson would have liked to have gotten a chance to interview for the job that went to Dave Hudgens. But he said he's not bitter. "That happens in baseball, so I just have to deal with it," he said. "It's one of those things where when you take these jobs, you expect that at some point you're not always going to have that job. That's part of it."
Is he concerned about the lack of certainty? "No," he said. Later, he added with a smile, "I'm still on the payroll."
