Wilpon should make Mets Wally's world

Wally Backman, circa 1986, was an Organized Grime member. He and Lenny Dykstra hit the ground running and never let up. If their uniforms were clean it was because they didn’t play that day.

More than Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, Darryl Strawberry or Dwight Gooden, Backman and Dykstra epitomized the attitude, the conceit of the ’86 Mets. Backman had manager written all over him even at that time.

That is why, as the Mets approach the 25th anniversary of their last World Series title, they need to turn toward Backman to fill the manager’s seat.

Backman the player needed no prompting from manager Davey Johnson. Backman had the demeanor of Peter Rose with an ounce of his talent. That still made him a better player on most days than most players on other days.

Backman did not take to losing, albeit the little that took place in that championship season. He lashed at poor performances, especially sub-par ones from Strawberry. It would later cause some heated words, but Backman would never back down.

Part of that is his charm, part of it his curse.

Backman will always be rough around the edges and he doesn’t have a resume as a major league manager to absorb any transgressions in the manner of Billy Martin or even Lou Piniella. The era of throwing bases or kicking dirt on umpires has passed in Major League Baseball. Umpires have the shortest of fuses and the sport backs them up. As it should.  

Owner Fred Wilpon is conservative by nature, but he wanted Pineilla to manage the team and was willing to put up with all that would have entailed. Backman has the same traits.  If the Youth Movement Mets can’t be exciting on the field next season, at least Backman would be in the dugout.   

Wilpon did not bring Backman to Brooklyn to be a minor league manager forever. He and his son, Jeff, have to decide if this is Backman’s time.  

There are other in-house choices, but none of them palatable.  Ken Oberkfell is at Buffalo and, while respected, has no sizzle for New York. Binghamton manager Tim Teufel, another former Met, is milquetoast in personality.

Outside the organization? Know that  Wilpon will never hire Bobby Valentine. Joe Torre? No, the Mets do not need a 70-year-old manager. 

Fred Wilpon was a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He saw a bit of the fiery Leo Durocher, more of the egoless, but highly respected Walter Alston.

Backman is all of Durocher, none of Alston.

If the Wilpons can put their trepidation aside, they will determine that Backman is the right fit.

The only fit.