Daily Wally Video: Wally Backman on the DH

Today's Wally Video focuses on the DH. Wally says here that he prefers the National League-style of play, and he points out how the DH influenced the strategic decisions of Lou Pinella and Tom Kelly.

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Interview: Gotham Sports Radio

Quick update: I'm going to be interviewed LIVE on Gotham Sports Radio tonight at 6:10pm with host Mark Healy.

Fun fact: I'm practically in a coma with allergies and allergy meds. I may pass out during the interview... so that could be interesting, huh?

Click here to listen.

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Daily Wally Video: Wally on MLB Players

I will be releasing clips from our first interview at Wally Backman's RV... it was a great interview that lasted nearly 2 hours and touched on a wide range of topics.

This is the first clip. Wally discusses some of the current MLB players that he managed in the minors: Dan Uggla, Miguel Olivo and Aaron Rowand.

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Open Thread: Playing for Peanuts Episode 1 (Encore Presentation)

Playing for Peanuts
Episode 1 - "Meet the Peanuts"
Encore Presentation - Open Thread
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For various reasons, the networks and I have decided to re-air the first episode of "Playing for Peanuts" this weekend. Call it a re-run, encore presentation or whatever suits you... the point is, if you missed the first episode you can catch it this Sunday night. The channels and times are below, but check your local listings just to be sure.

SportsNet NY (SNY) (DISH: 438, DIRECT: 625)- Sunday (5/25) @ 6pm.
Sportsnet Chicago (DISH: 429, DIRECT: 640)- Sunday (5/25) @ 7pm.
Sportsnet Philadelphia - Sunday (5/25) @ 7pm.
Sportsnet Bay Area (DISH: 419, DIRECT: 654)- Sunday (5/25) @ 8pm
Sportsnet New England (DISH:435, DIRECT: 620) - Sunday (5/25) @ 8:30pm
Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS) - Friday (5/30) @ 5:30pm

This will serve as an open thread to discuss and ask questions about the episode. Feel free to criticize, complement, etc.

A few thoughts on the episode:

-The intro slideshow is based on the opening to the Sarah Silverman show.

-The show intro that follows the slideshow is loosely based on 1980s TV show opening sequences. The show was fun to make and the Peanuts were a fun team to watch. I wanted to hammer that home in the intro.

-The first sequence deals exclusively with Wally Backman's recent history - he was hired and fired by the Diamondbacks in 2004 and his comeback from that firing began with the South Georgia Peanuts. In order to properly set the stage for the rest of the show, I felt it necessary to explain Wally's situation in the first six minutes.

-I tried to use organ music wherever possible. I found it worked best as the intro to certain segments. The organ music is from the Stadium Sounds CD from Jonathan Swift Productions. Check out their website and tell 'em I sent ya.

-The music playing over the end credits is "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as interpreted by Irish band Jameson's Revenge (aka Whiskey on a Sunday). The song is also heard over the credits to "The Emerald Diamond" and is available at iTunes for 99 cents.

There you go... leave your questions/comments below.

Thanks,

John

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Random Update: Look Ma, No Allergies/Pulse!

I just mixed 3 types of hardcore allergy medications. It was a very risky thing to do but I'm sick of editing with bloated hands, watery eyes and a monitor covered in sneezes. I'm not quite sure what was in the medications I mixed, but they claimed to be homeopathic (does that make me gay?) and it does feel like my heart is on fire... See the video to the left for a ridiculous Youtube/80s reference.

If I'm not dead by 8am, I will be back at the old edit machine, doing my thing.

Random Update on one. Ready, break!

1.) Mets Today Likes Playing for Peanuts - Joe over at MetsToday.com did a Q&A with me about the show.

2.) Golden Richards on Deadspin - Deadspin is always a good read, but they have a new segment called "The Dark Side of the Locker Room" where they tackle stories that are real and somewhat painful to read. This one is a classic and it may be the best sports story I've ever read.

3.) Hire Wally Backman - Someone (and it's definitely NOT me) has started a blog to petition the Mets to hire Wally Backman. No comment!

4.) Jim Leyland Swears Alot - A competent manager who is using salty language to motivate his team? That's so old school. Little known fun fact: Wally Backman played for Leyland on the Pittsburgh Pirates and considers him one of the most influential managers on his style of managing. That last sentence was clunky, but you get the point. And in case you didn't, watch this NSFW video:






There will be more coolness on the way soon. But for now, check out the Punchline Machine:


[Hat tip: AfroJacks and GorillaMask]

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Open Thread: Episode 2 - "Wally's Back"

This is an open thread for Episode 2 of "Playing for Peanuts." The episode is called "Wally's Back" and it premieres Sunday night on Sportsnet affiliates in several cities.

"Playing for Peanuts"
Episode 2 - "Wally's Back"
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In this episode, the lights go out during Opening Day... the Peanuts sing karaoke and attempt to catch a live lobster... Manager Wally Backman returns to the team... the Peanuts go on a long bus trip to South Carolina, with fireworks and fast food.

SportsNet NY (SNY) (DISH: 438, DIRECT: 625)- May 18 @ 6pm.

Sportsnet Chicago (DISH: 429, DIRECT: 640)- May 18 @ 7pm.

Sportsnet Philadelphia - May 18 @ 7pm.

Sportsnet New England (DISH:435, DIRECT: 620) - May 18 @ 8:30pm

Sportsnet Bay Area (DISH: 419, DIRECT: 654)- May 18 @ 8pm

UPDATE (MONDAY MORNING): I've just been informed that Episode 2 of "Playing for Peanuts" did a .56* rating yesterday, up from .37 last week. Very cool. The rating was helped because the show followed a White Sox game, but it was able to maintain the .56 through both 15-minute segments.

* A .37 rating in Chicago is approximately 19,500 households.

UPDATE (TUESDAY AFTERNOON): The show did a .2 rating in Philadelphia, down from .6 for Episode 1.

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Random Update: My Brother's Band at MSG

This has nothing to do with Playing for Peanuts, but for those of you who know my brother Dan, you might be interested. Also, anyone who likes music... Dan's band DRIVEBY played MSG a couple of weeks ago. They opened for My Chemical Romance and Taking Back Sunday. It was the last show of the tour so it was pretty cool that the tour ended in NY, since 3/4 of the band is from Westchester. Anyway, check them out on their website and you can read Dan's Tour Blog here.

So yeah... here are the first two photos I've seen from the show:

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