To me, the Mets being irrelevant in August is no laughing matter. Being an afterthought while the Yankees are thriving across town isn’t a joke. Being laughed at by Phillies fans instead of respected and hated isn’t a knee slapping good time for me, or any Mets fan that I know who cares about the team.

In my opinion, it’s time for sweeping changes. But no change should or will be more important this offseason than the seemingly inevitable managerial change. This team needs to hear a new voice, listen to a new message, look at a new face. Jerry Manuel is a holdover from the collapses of 2007 and 2008. It’s time for that era to go, and he must go with it.

I dare to dream, but if I were given the responsibility of hand picking Manuel’s replacement, I’d look no further than Coney Island.

At one time I sat at the front of the Bobby Valentine bandwagon, hoping against hope that the narrow minded Wilpons would look past personal issues and rehire one of the best baseball minds to ever wear a Mets uniform. I’ve changed my mind. I love Bobby V, but I don’t think he’s the right man to lead what looks to be a youth movement of sorts.

The right man is Wally Backman, and as far as I’m concerned there isn’t even a close second.

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