Wally Backman’s stock could be on the rise, after he led the Mets’ Triple-A team in Las Vegas to the Pacific Coast League playoffs for the second straight year.
On Friday, the 54-year-old Backman was named PCL Manager of the Year.
“Well-deserved,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said before the Mets beat the Phillies 4-1. “He’s got a nice club there, they score a lot of runs, but he’s had to manage additions and subtractions in personnel there. He’s obviously had to deal with pitching challenges that come with Las Vegas. [The award] reflects the work he’s done this year.”
Las Vegas is 80-62 with two games remaining and will begin the playoffs on Sept. 3.
Backman, a fan favorite for his gritty play with the Mets in the 1980s, spoke with the Reds and Mariners last offseason about coaching vacancies, according to an industry source, but wasn’t offered a position. He was among the finalists for the Mets managerial job before the 2011 season, when Terry Collins was hired.
Collins has come to consider Backman a confidant.
“I’m very happy for Wally — he deserves a lot of accolades,” Collins said. “Wally does an outstanding job and certainly I rely a lot on his opinions of players and what goes on and I’m happy for him. With all the player moves we’ve made, he’s kept that club steady moving forward and congratulations to him.”
Alderson quashed a report that indicated Travis d’Arnaud’s future could be in left field.
“There hasn’t been a discussion with me,” Alderson said. “It’s not something we’ve talked about, not something we’ve considered, not something we’ve contemplated.”
Is it a possibility d’Arnaud will be considered for left field?
“No, not really,” Alderson said.
Las Vegas (80 wins), Double-A Binghamton (83 wins) and Single-A Savannah (84 wins) give the Mets three minor league affiliates with at least 80 victories for the first time since 1984.