southsider2k5 Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 If White Sox general manager Ken Williams truly is looking to stock his team with so-called grinders, perhaps he will peer into his own minor-league system for a managerial candidate. As a player, Wally Backman had the all the qualities Williams says he wants. The 5-foot-9-inch second baseman survived 14 years in the major leagues despite hitting just 10 home runs. Despite that, Backman said he never heard himself referred to as a "grinder." "I've heard dirt-bag before," he said Wednesday. "That's what they called me and Lenny [Dykstra]." And that, believe it or not, was a compliment. "We did whatever we could to help the team," he said, referring to the Mets of the mid- to late-1980s. "If we came into the clubhouse and our uniforms weren't dirty, we didn't feel like we had done our jobs." Backman has brought those qualities to Double-A Birmingham, where he was named Southern League Manager of the Year in 2002 and guided his team back to the playoffs this season. Although well regarded within the organization, Backman said Williams has not contacted him about the Sox's managerial vacancy. "Hopefully they're thinking of me as one of the guys to be interviewed," Backman said from his home in Prineville, Ore. "When I was hired three years ago, I told them that my goal was to manage." Backman's team won the Southern League's second-half title this season but lost in the playoffs to Huntsville. His 2002 team earned some acclaim for finishing eighth in the league in home runs but third in runs scored. Part of that was attributed to the Barons' spacious home ballpark and part was credited to Backman's aggressive style of play, which features the classic ways of manufacturing runs—steals, bunts and sacrifices. "I think you have to fight for everything you get," Backman said. Backman said he turned down offers after the 2002 season from organizations that wanted him for their big-league coaching staff. "I'm very confident in what I can do on the field, but you have to get the opportunity," he said. As for now, Backman is waiting for his phone to ring. "The biggest thing for me," he said, "is to be able to get to know Kenny and [club Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf] more on a personal basis." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Gleason Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I missed whatever it was that happened to make the team hate him so much. Why have they said there would be a mutiny if he was hired? What is the deal with the guy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted October 2, 2003 Author Share Posted October 2, 2003 I missed whatever it was that happened to make the team hate him so much. Why have they said there would be a mutiny if he was hired? What is the deal with the guy? When the Sox were at a low point early in the season, Backman made statements about wanting and being ready to take the managerial job in Chicago. It came off as he was trying too hard to steal JM's job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winninguglyin83 Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Yep, I think politically he killed himself with those comments, if he indeed made them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 He said he'd be very interested in the job if it opened up. Evidently, that was the wrong thing to say, and his chances on becoming the next White Sox manager-they gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I just read that Backman played for Torre, Leyland, Davey Johnson, and Piniella. He probably picked up a few things from those guys. It would really be a shame if he isn't considered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winninguglyin83 Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Like Pena, he'll go to another organization and excel I believe Tony worked in the Sox system for a year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 He said he'd be very interested in the job if it opened up. Evidently, that was the wrong thing to say, and his chances on becoming the next White Sox manager-they gone. He was asked if he was interested in the job and answered that if it was available he would love it, that he wanted to manage in the Big Leagues. He also said that would come when the time is right and he didn't want Manuel to lose his job to make that happen. Guess that got lost in the "selectivity of the quote". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Lopez Ghost (old) Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Like Pena, he'll go to another organization and excel I believe Tony worked in the Sox system for a year Well, sort of. He hit .164 in 31 games for the 1997 White Sox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 He was asked if he was interested in the job and answered that if it was available he would love it, that he wanted to manage in the Big Leagues. He also said that would come when the time is right and he didn't want Manuel to lose his job to make that happen. Guess that got lost in the "selectivity of the quote". And if he said he wasn't interested, they would have held THAT against him. He couldn't win answering that question. Its really too bad, but someone will give him a chance, and in a few years everyone will be hoping the White Sox hire a big name, and his will be at the top of the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hotsoxchick1 Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 ya would have thought that he wouldnt need to sit by a phone waiting for it to ring since he(backman) was just up here on the 19-21 of september.......they could have asked him then since the decision to cut jm was already made by then...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supernuke Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Like Pena, he'll go to another organization and excel I believe Tony worked in the Sox system for a year I think his first coaching job was with the Sox wasn't it? Can anyone confirm this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted October 3, 2003 Share Posted October 3, 2003 Like Pena, he'll go to another organization and excel I believe Tony worked in the Sox system for a year I think his first coaching job was with the Sox wasn't it? Can anyone confirm this? Yes, Pena was a roving instructor and then I believe he managed the rookie club in Tucson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.