Backman to get an interview

[cwsox]

1. How do you know he and Gardenhire don't talk weekly? 

2. Would you expect him to stop calling just because the Twins and Sox are fighting it out in a pennant race?

1. I don't.

2. Yes, certainly yes when the integrity of the game is on the line, certainly Backman possesses information on some of our players having managed them as well as being in the organization; and Backman knew he was a candidate for the job if/when Manuel was fired. That is when two professionals know it is time for the weekly chit chats, or any conversations, to stop, until the season is over.

[Rex Hudler]

1. How do you know he and Gardenhire don't talk weekly? 

2. Would you expect him to stop calling just because the Twins and Sox are fighting it out in a pennant race?

1. I don't.

2. Yes, certainly yes when the integrity of the game is on the line, certainly Backman possesses information on some of our players having managed them as well as being in the organization; and Backman knew he was a candidate for the job if/when Manuel was fired. That is when two professionals know it is time for the weekly chit chats, or any conversations, to stop, until the season is over.

Sorry, cw, but the baseball world doesn't work that way. People from different teams remain friends and talk to each other all the time. The don't just stop calling each other because there is a pennant race going on. Like it or not, that is reality. They also have the professionalism not to "give away secrets" or other information. It would make no sense for someone to backstab the organization he is getting a paycheck from. All that could do is come back to haunt him down the road.

 

I don't for one minute believe Wally said what was reported unless it was 100% in jest. Wally came back to Birmingham this year because he was loyal to the Sox organization. Sure he wanted the manager's job, but I guarantee you he wasn't wishing for the big club and Jerry to fail to get there.

 

The way I look at it is this..... if Gardenhire and Backman are friends, then Gardenhire now has problems with his own coaching staff because Gardenhire wasn't the leak. If I am a manager and one of my coaches talks to the press about something someone supposedly said to me, I'd be firing someone, whether it was true or not.

 

I have said all along that I don't think Wally will get the job and that hasn't changed. But I am not buying this story as it was reported. Wally denied it. Knowing Wally, that is good enough for me.