Rex Hudler Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 To set the record straight, I am not a "friend" of Wally's. I know Wally, have had a drink with him on a couple of occasions at the neighborhood bar. I know people in the Barons office that know him well and know much of what goes on and what he says. They still talk to him on occasion. I feel like the information I have on him is fair and accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JimH Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 Irish, If the guy was a columnist, he can always spin it to say, "hey, that's what I heard, but you know what ... my memory is a little fuzzy, I'm not quite sure exactly who said it, or let's see, was it that Monday, or was it Wednesday?" etc. etc. etc. And he's up there in Minny, his editors don't care. And if Backman made a big deal out of it, it could blow up in his face. Some people would say he's protesting too much and making too big a deal out of things. I think he handled his rebuttal to the whole thing as best he could. He spit a little fire, but maintained his composure and defended his professionalism. He's been around baseball, and life, long enough to know some people will believe him and some won't. Plus I think he's got 7 children if I'm not mistaken, so he's probably used to hearing a lot of hot air and he figures it is best just to move on and prove himself in another organization. These things happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsideirish Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 To set the record straight, I am not a "friend" of Wally's. I know Wally, have had a drink with him on a couple of occasions at the neighborhood bar. I know people in the Barons office that know him well and know much of what goes on and what he says. They still talk to him on occasion. I feel like the information I have on him is fair and accurate. Care to share the information? I mean I know you shared a bit of it. But what really happened and how did it get all changed around? I would love to hear the truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsideirish Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 Irish, If the guy was a columnist, he can always spin it to say, "hey, that's what I heard, but you know what ... my memory is a little fuzzy, I'm not quite sure exactly who said it, or let's see, was it that Monday, or was it Wednesday?" etc. etc. etc. And he's up there in Minny, his editors don't care. And if Backman made a big deal out of it, it could blow up in his face. Some people would say he's protesting too much and making too big a deal out of things. I think he handled his rebuttal to the whole thing as best he could. He spit a little fire, but maintained his composure and defended his professionalism. He's been around baseball, and life, long enough to know some people will believe him and some won't. Plus I think he's got 7 children if I'm not mistaken, so he's probably used to hearing a lot of hot air and he figures it is best just to move on and prove himself in another organization. These things happen. Wow 7 children! That really sucks that a writer has that much control over someone's career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 It's in Wally (and everyone's) best interest to let sleeping dogs lie. That comment was appropriate last week as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 It's in Wally (and everyone's) best interest to let sleeping dogs lie. That comment was appropriate last week as well. Rex from one hoosier to another, don't bother wasting your time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsideirish Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 Rex from one hoosier to another, don't bother wasting your time. Why? Damn!!!!!!! I wanna know!!!!!!! Son of a!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Showtime Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 When it comes to the White Sox (to steal a quote from Barry Rozner) everyone undermines everyone until they need someone on their side to help undermine someone else. This whole outfit stinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 Care to share the information? I mean I know you shared a bit of it. But what really happened and how did it get all changed around? I would love to hear the truth. I meant just that what I hear about Wally is true. I don't know specifically what led to his non-renewal. I do know that he was offered a contract during the season and chose not to sign it at that time. I do know that he did not want to come back to AA and made it known to the Sox. I also know that he wanted the Sox manager's job. I have a very strong impression that he was led to believe that it was going to happen during the season and that although never promised a date, there were Sox personnel telling him that Manuel was about to be fired. I have heard from various sources that Wally talked about getting the job openly. It is what he wanted from the moment he signed a contract with the Sox. All of that and a little common sense based on knowing a little of the inner workings of baseball and I can comfortably conclude the following (my speculation here): 1. When you talk about something in front of others, you better know who the friends are of the people who are in your listening range. If Wally said something to his assisstant coaches, a trainer or a roving instructor, there is a very good possibility those comments made it out of that room. A pitching coach could be good friends with Cooper. A trainer could communicate often with the MLB trainer or the Minor League coordinator. A hitting coach could have friends throughout the organization. My best guess is that Wally was too agressive in his thinking the job would be his and made comments that didn't sit well with some people in Chicago or Tucson or wherever. Piss off the wrong people who are tight with the wrong people and the next thing you know you have a house divided. My guess is some of this went on and Wally rubbed some people the wrong way. 2. I don't for a second think that Wally tried to undermine Manuel in any way. If they would have kept Jerry or if the Sox did well from the beginning last year, I have no doubt that he would have been willing to stay with the Sox, but he got caught up in a whilrwind, so to speak. I don't doubt that Wally wanted the job, but it just doesn't make sense for me that he would have openly rooted against his organization. Hell, in minor league baseball there are guys that aren't starters that rooting for the starter to fail so they can play. That happens in a competitive environment. I trule believe that any comment Wally made to Gardenhire in that light was meant as a way of showing that he wanted the job, if such a comment was made at all. I also don't see Gardenhire, a former teammate of Wally's, to tell his assistants in a serious way "Hey, their guy is rooting for us". I think the type of scenario JimH painted was much more realistic. I don't think he really wanted the Sox to lose or told Gardenhire in a peptalk sort of way to "go beat em". That is grade school fodder. That help or cloud the issue more? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 When it comes to the White Sox (to steal a quote from Barry Rozner) everyone undermines everyone until they need someone on their side to help undermine someone else. This whole outfit stinks. That actually could be said about a lot of environments, not just sports. But especially in sports, people have their own agendas. Many times those butt heads. I could see a sports organization like the Sox being very clickish with the He Said-She Said crap going on daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 But help me, my friend, you know I have the greatest respect for you and listen to you and I am trying to sort this out - if he did joke about this in confidence, then what was it he denied? Vince, may I call you Vince?, I don't know the answer to that question but can only speculate. First of all, I don't know if he said anything at all. If he did say something, as JimH so eloquently laid out, a joking manner makes sense. If we made the assumption that some comment was made, then Wally would naturally deny it. One, the comment in print was unlikely accurate in a literal sense and more than likely not accurate in the sense of the meaning of what was actually said. If wally said "I said no such thing" or "I did not say that", then he is likely correct in both a literal and interpretive sense. I have no idea if that made any sense whatsoever, but I guess it would be easier to deny having said what was printed rather than try to explain what was really said and what the real meaning of the comment was. You know how easy it is for words in print to have their meaning twisted. Again, all of this is pure speculation because I don't know what words were said, IF ANY and in what context the comments were made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsideirish Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 I meant just that what I hear about Wally is true. I don't know specifically what led to his non-renewal. I do know that he was offered a contract during the season and chose not to sign it at that time. I do know that he did not want to come back to AA and made it known to the Sox. I also know that he wanted the Sox manager's job. I have a very strong impression that he was led to believe that it was going to happen during the season and that although never promised a date, there were Sox personnel telling him that Manuel was about to be fired. I have heard from various sources that Wally talked about getting the job openly. It is what he wanted from the moment he signed a contract with the Sox. All of that and a little common sense based on knowing a little of the inner workings of baseball and I can comfortably conclude the following (my speculation here): 1. When you talk about something in front of others, you better know who the friends are of the people who are in your listening range. If Wally said something to his assisstant coaches, a trainer or a roving instructor, there is a very good possibility those comments made it out of that room. A pitching coach could be good friends with Cooper. A trainer could communicate often with the MLB trainer or the Minor League coordinator. A hitting coach could have friends throughout the organization. My best guess is that Wally was too agressive in his thinking the job would be his and made comments that didn't sit well with some people in Chicago or Tucson or wherever. Piss off the wrong people who are tight with the wrong people and the next thing you know you have a house divided. My guess is some of this went on and Wally rubbed some people the wrong way. 2. I don't for a second think that Wally tried to undermine Manuel in any way. If they would have kept Jerry or if the Sox did well from the beginning last year, I have no doubt that he would have been willing to stay with the Sox, but he got caught up in a whilrwind, so to speak. I don't doubt that Wally wanted the job, but it just doesn't make sense for me that he would have openly rooted against his organization. Hell, in minor league baseball there are guys that aren't starters that rooting for the starter to fail so they can play. That happens in a competitive environment. I trule believe that any comment Wally made to Gardenhire in that light was meant as a way of showing that he wanted the job, if such a comment was made at all. I also don't see Gardenhire, a former teammate of Wally's, to tell his assistants in a serious way "Hey, their guy is rooting for us". I think the type of scenario JimH painted was much more realistic. I don't think he really wanted the Sox to lose or told Gardenhire in a peptalk sort of way to "go beat em". That is grade school fodder. That help or cloud the issue more? LOL That helps clear things up a great deal. As JimH also wrote, there was no one quoted. All the columns I read at the time and from people talking about it made it seem like it was a fact that he was rooting against his own team. The picture you paint is much different. Thank you for sharing what you know Rex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 I am the only one who thinks something else must have happened for Backman to get blackballed the way he has? Absolutely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 Hey now, we finally got SSirish in an agreeable position. Let's not stoke the fire. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsideirish Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 Hey now, we finally got SSirish in an agreeable position. Let's not stoke the fire. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Does anyone else find it interesting that Backman got a job with the Diamondbacks, who just happen to share ST facilities with the White Sox?? Their Minor League teams play each other almost everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Does anyone else find it interesting that Backman got a job with the Diamondbacks, who just happen to share ST facilities with the White Sox?? Their Minor League teams play each other almost everyday. I still liked what I heard about Backman and would have liked to have seen him get an ML job, so it only lends further creedence that a familial organization would be interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pastime Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Good for Wally. Now he can live in the desert, where you can wander around and rant and rave and scream and yell and no one hears you because you are in the middle of nowhere. Good luck to Wally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 My thinkin is that Bob Brenly is on very thin ice in Arizona. They expect to win da World Series ova there now with a legiminate bat in Sexson down there with Randy Johnson. If they don't make da playoffs, Brenly will get canned, and I think Wally thought this was his best chance to start movin up in an organisation again. But Wally will neva get that oppurtunity to manage higher than what he already is but he has obviously been blackballed for his comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 My thinkin is that Bob Brenly is on very thin ice in Arizona. They expect to win da World Series ova there now with a legiminate bat in Sexson down there with Randy Johnson. If they don't make da playoffs, Brenly will get canned, and I think Wally thought this was his best chance to start movin up in an organisation again. But Wally will neva get that oppurtunity to manage higher than what he already is but he has obviously been blackballed for his comments. I seriously doubt he's been blackballed. When he found out a contact was not going to be offered by the Sox, all of the ML positions and most of the minor league positions had been filled. I expect to see Backman as a ML manager someday in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 I seriously doubt he's been blackballed. When he found out a contact was not going to be offered by the Sox, all of the ML positions and most of the minor league positions had been filled. I expect to see Backman as a ML manager someday in the near future. He wouldn't have gotten this job had he been blackballed. the job he got was already filled until about two weeks ago when the manager resigned for some reason. Wally will be fine. It may take him longer to get there or he may never even get to the Majors, but over time he will prove that he is a hell of a manager. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsox Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 He wouldn't have gotten this job had he been blackballed. the job he got was already filled until about two weeks ago when the manager resigned for some reason. Wally will be fine. It may take him longer to get there or he may never even get to the Majors, but over time he will prove that he is a hell of a manager. now that it is all over and done with and Ozzie is our manager and I still struggle with that, damn I wish Wally had gotten to be our manager Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Hudler Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 now that it is all over and done with and Ozzie is our manager and I still struggle with that, damn I wish Wally had gotten to be our manager cw, I honestly don't think Wally and KW would have mixed well together. Perhaps it is the best for both parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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