Brenly to be fired today

[schillingfan]

Inside information from a Phillies phan.

Of course he's not the problem. When does Joe Jr. go? He's the one who created this mess of a team.

But I think it may at least help the team play better short term. The agony of a manager on death watch is no good for a team

 

[IndyDevil]

Bickley's article from today's AZ Central:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/0702bickley0702.html

I remember Wally Backman from his playing days with the Mets, but does anybody know how he is as a manager?

 

[BC867]

Bickley's article from today's AZ Central:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/0702bickley0702.html

I remember Wally Backman from his playing days with the Mets, but does anybody know how he is as a manager?

I was wondering about that, too.

Oh well, if it can't be Al Pedrique (who I thought was ahead of Wally on the growth chart), at least it will be a Manager managing.

It would have been a mistake to choose a Manager as a public relations move, such as Robin Yount or Mark Grace.

 

[AZZenny]

Wally Backman is WONDERFUL as a manager. His Jethawks have the second best record in all professional baseball after the NY Yankees. I started listening to their games nightly to follow our top three draftees from 2003 - all serious prospects - but fell in love with Backman's style. He is all hustle, no-nonsense, but plays the game like its fun.

He's had his roster robbed a couple times of the best batters and pitchers and still keeps winning. Even after the Three Amigos were promoted to El Paso I've kept following the Jethawks because I enjoy the way he plays the games so much. None of this "grind" garbage - play with hustle or get off the field. He'll be good with youngsters, and I think will kick some veteran butt - His initial squad was defensively just horrendous, but he made that a focus and within 2-3 weeks the error rate dropped dramatically. AND - his batters have discipline at the plate!!

I wish BB well if/when he goes - the other day I was talking with an 87-year-old lady who informed me firmly, "Brenly isn't the problem. Whoever put this team together needs a good swat!" LOL.

 

[NavyVet]

Being stationed in Norfolk during the early 80's, I was able to get to quite a few of the Tidewater Tides (Mets AAA) games. A Navy friend of mine was a childhood friend of Sid Fernandez and I got to meet him, Billy Beane (my wife has his autograph on a glove), Wally Backman, Darryl Strawberry, Ron Darling, Kevin Mitchell and a few other of the future Mets stars. I remember well that Billy Beane and Wally Backman stood out as two very astute ballplayers, and it's no surprise to me that Beane has done an outstanding job as GM and I'd expect no less from Backman should he become the manager. Although I like Pedrique, he's a part of the current staff and I think a so-called "outsider" needs to come in. Only thing I have a problem with is if he is not allowed to make some changes, i.e. pitching coach.

 

[BC867]

Although I like Pedrique, he's a part of the current staff and I think a so-called "outsider" needs to come in. Only thing I have a problem with is if he is not allowed to make some changes, i.e. pitching coach.

I am so glad that Al was brought up as 3B Coach rather than Bench Coach.

As 3B Coach, his job was to pass on the signs and decide when to send the runners. He was clearly independent of the D'backs managerial problems.

I'm sure it took alot of restraint for him to not intercede, seeing how insecure his BabyBacks were. Now he can build them back up.

The days of having to trade a Lyle Overbay to allow him to play his game are over. The days of each player going up, trying to pull every pitch, are over. The days of players not settling into a role are over. The days of misusing its pitching staff are over. Yesss.

So I don't think that Al Pedrique is, in any way, part of the problem.

Go Diamondbacks.