Diamondbacks Hire Wally Backman then proceed to fire him
- Thread starter new2AMD
- Start date
spanky
Lifer
- Jun 19, 2001
- 25,716
- 4
- 81
?
link would have been nice in the OP
Wally Backman was manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks for less than a week.
The Arizona Republic reported on its Web site Friday that Backman had been fired.
"I'm stunned, so is my family, so is everybody," Backman told the Republic." "I'm not prepared to say anything today but I will definitely have a statement [soon]."
The East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune reported Friday that Bob Melvin would replace Backman, who was fired after public revelations about previous legal troubles.
The team scheduled a 1 p.m. ET news conference.
Melvin, along with Manny Acta and Backman, were the finalists for the job.
Melvin was Arizona's bench coach before he left to manage the Mariners, and Backman managed Arizona's Class A team in Lancaster, Calif., this season.
A Tuesday apology by Backman apparently wasn't enough for the team, which acknowledged that it had not done a thorough background check and didn't know about the brushes with the law.
Backman acknowledged that he was arrested in 2001 after an altercation with a female family friend at his home in Prineville, Ore. He said he agreed to plead guilty to fourth-degree assault. He was placed on 12 months' probation, ordered to undergo an anger management evaluation and donated $1,000 to the local Boys and Girls Club.
Backman was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence in Kennewick, Wash., in 1999, when he was manager of the Tri-City franchise of the independent Western League. He said he fought the charge for two years before pleading guilty.
He also has had financial problems, and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last year, The Arizona Republic reported. Backman said many of the financial problems, including several tax liens he said he has paid, were caused by dealings of his then-wife that he was unaware of.
The Diamondbacks fired manager Bob Brenly on July 2 and replaced him with Al Pedrique, the former third base coach.
link would have been nice in the OP
Wally Backman was manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks for less than a week.
The Arizona Republic reported on its Web site Friday that Backman had been fired.
"I'm stunned, so is my family, so is everybody," Backman told the Republic." "I'm not prepared to say anything today but I will definitely have a statement [soon]."
The East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune reported Friday that Bob Melvin would replace Backman, who was fired after public revelations about previous legal troubles.
The team scheduled a 1 p.m. ET news conference.
Melvin, along with Manny Acta and Backman, were the finalists for the job.
Melvin was Arizona's bench coach before he left to manage the Mariners, and Backman managed Arizona's Class A team in Lancaster, Calif., this season.
A Tuesday apology by Backman apparently wasn't enough for the team, which acknowledged that it had not done a thorough background check and didn't know about the brushes with the law.
Backman acknowledged that he was arrested in 2001 after an altercation with a female family friend at his home in Prineville, Ore. He said he agreed to plead guilty to fourth-degree assault. He was placed on 12 months' probation, ordered to undergo an anger management evaluation and donated $1,000 to the local Boys and Girls Club.
Backman was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence in Kennewick, Wash., in 1999, when he was manager of the Tri-City franchise of the independent Western League. He said he fought the charge for two years before pleading guilty.
He also has had financial problems, and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last year, The Arizona Republic reported. Backman said many of the financial problems, including several tax liens he said he has paid, were caused by dealings of his then-wife that he was unaware of.
The Diamondbacks fired manager Bob Brenly on July 2 and replaced him with Al Pedrique, the former third base coach.
There was no link when I posted it. I checked espn front page and it wasnt there. sorry to upset you
raystorm
Diamond Member
- Apr 24, 2001
- 4,712
- 2
- 0
Holy cow! That was so fast! All because of those reports of his past. Amazing.. guess all the bad things you did before will somehow come back and bite you right in the ass. I think this is a stupid job by the Diamondbacks. I mean..he was minor league manager of the year right?? Might as well give him one season and see how things pan out.
PHOENIX (Sports Network) - The Arizona Diamondbacks have
fired newly-hired manager Wally Backman and are expected to
replace him with Bob Melvin, according to a published report.
The Arizona Republic reported Friday that the move was made
after a series of off-field incidents were revealed, including
a DUI conviction and a guilty plea to harassment charges. The
team has scheduled a news conference for Friday afternoon to
announce the move.
Backman was named manager on Monday and even after reports
surfaced of legal troubles surrounding his past, the club was
expected to stick with their new skipper.
"There have been things that have happened in my past I'm
not proud of, but I'm confident in the job that I'm going to do
for the Diamondbacks," Backman told the newspaper early
Thursday.
Backman, who managed at Class A Lancaster for the
Diamondbacks this past season, had spent the last eight years
as a minor league skipper. He had replaced interim manager Al
Pedrique on Monday. Pedrique was moved into that position after
the team fired Bob Brenly on July 2.
Backman came to Lancaster after three seasons as a manager
in the Chicago White Sox organization, the last two with the
Double-A Birmingham Barons. He was a first-round pick of the
Mets and during his 14-year playing career, Backman hit .275
with 240 RBI in 1,102 games.
The 45-year-old Backman had also been mentioned as a
candidate for the managerial job of the Mets, who hired Willie
Randolph on Thursday.
Backman, who was a key figure in New York's 1986 World
Series championship team, never signed his contract with the
Diamondbacks. Other allegations that have been revealed include
spousal abuse, a bankruptcy filing and numerous tax liens.
The Diamondbacks' 2004 season was one for the record books.
Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons. Three years
after winning the World Series, the team set a franchise record
for losses, going 51-111, the most defeats for a National
League team since the New York Mets went 50-112 in 1965.
The team was 29-50 at the time of Brenly's firing, but
things would get worse before they got better. The Diamondbacks
lost a franchise-record 11 straight games just before Brenly
was let go. Shortly after Pedrique was hired, Arizona endured a
14-game losing streak.
Melvin, who interviewed for the job with the Diamondbacks
before the club decided on Backman, was fired by Seattle in
early October after just completing his second season as
manager of the Mariners. The club finished last in the AL West
this year with a 63-99 record after posting a 93-69 mark in
2003.
The 43-year-old Melvin was hired by Seattle prior to the
2003 campaign and signed a two-year contract with a club option
for 2005, which was exercised by the team in May. He replaced
long-time skipper Lou Piniella, who left the Mariners to manage
the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Prior to joining the Mariners, Melvin spent four seasons as
a bench coach with the Milwaukee Brewers (1999), Detroit Tigers
(2000) and Diamondbacks (2001-2002).
Copyright 2004, The Sports Network
fired newly-hired manager Wally Backman and are expected to
replace him with Bob Melvin, according to a published report.
The Arizona Republic reported Friday that the move was made
after a series of off-field incidents were revealed, including
a DUI conviction and a guilty plea to harassment charges. The
team has scheduled a news conference for Friday afternoon to
announce the move.
Backman was named manager on Monday and even after reports
surfaced of legal troubles surrounding his past, the club was
expected to stick with their new skipper.
"There have been things that have happened in my past I'm
not proud of, but I'm confident in the job that I'm going to do
for the Diamondbacks," Backman told the newspaper early
Thursday.
Backman, who managed at Class A Lancaster for the
Diamondbacks this past season, had spent the last eight years
as a minor league skipper. He had replaced interim manager Al
Pedrique on Monday. Pedrique was moved into that position after
the team fired Bob Brenly on July 2.
Backman came to Lancaster after three seasons as a manager
in the Chicago White Sox organization, the last two with the
Double-A Birmingham Barons. He was a first-round pick of the
Mets and during his 14-year playing career, Backman hit .275
with 240 RBI in 1,102 games.
The 45-year-old Backman had also been mentioned as a
candidate for the managerial job of the Mets, who hired Willie
Randolph on Thursday.
Backman, who was a key figure in New York's 1986 World
Series championship team, never signed his contract with the
Diamondbacks. Other allegations that have been revealed include
spousal abuse, a bankruptcy filing and numerous tax liens.
The Diamondbacks' 2004 season was one for the record books.
Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons. Three years
after winning the World Series, the team set a franchise record
for losses, going 51-111, the most defeats for a National
League team since the New York Mets went 50-112 in 1965.
The team was 29-50 at the time of Brenly's firing, but
things would get worse before they got better. The Diamondbacks
lost a franchise-record 11 straight games just before Brenly
was let go. Shortly after Pedrique was hired, Arizona endured a
14-game losing streak.
Melvin, who interviewed for the job with the Diamondbacks
before the club decided on Backman, was fired by Seattle in
early October after just completing his second season as
manager of the Mariners. The club finished last in the AL West
this year with a 63-99 record after posting a 93-69 mark in
2003.
The 43-year-old Melvin was hired by Seattle prior to the
2003 campaign and signed a two-year contract with a club option
for 2005, which was exercised by the team in May. He replaced
long-time skipper Lou Piniella, who left the Mariners to manage
the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Prior to joining the Mariners, Melvin spent four seasons as
a bench coach with the Milwaukee Brewers (1999), Detroit Tigers
(2000) and Diamondbacks (2001-2002).
Copyright 2004, The Sports Network
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