WASHINGTON — Wally Backman’s tenure in the Mets organization is officially finished, with general manager Sandy Alderson’s announcement Monday that the popular figure from the 1986 World Championship club has resigned to pursue other opportunities.
But a club source indicated Backman was fired.
Backman spent the last seven seasons managing in the minors for the Mets. He guided the organization’s Triple-A team at Buffalo and Las Vegas for the last five years. In 2015 he was named Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year.
According to a source, Backman was told he was out because he didn’t use Brandon Nimmo in the leadoff spot and kept Michael Conforto on the bench against lefties — defying the club’s instructions.