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Report: Mets To Give Backman Second Interview

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Wally Backman will be granted a follow-up interview with new GM Sandy Alderson for the Mets' managerial opening, according to Steve Popper and Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record.

Backman, the second baseman for the Mets' 1986 World Series championship club, was the manager of New York's Class-A team in Brooklyn this year.

Alderson plans to hire a new manager by the winter meetings in early December. "It would probably be helpful for us to have a manager by end of the month. Another sort of logical deadline is Thanksgiving. I'm not sure we're going to make that," Alderson said Tuesday.

Rangers hitting coach Clint Hurdle and new Toronto bench coach Don Wakamatsu are scheduled for Wednesday.

Ken Oberkfell, the Mets Triple-A manager for the past six years, will be interviewed Thursday or Friday in the Dominican Republic, where he is managing in the winter league. One or two more candidates may be added.

"I think we've got some excellent candidates," Alderson said. "I've been very pleased with those conversations."

Alderson hopes to complete initial interviews this week and hold second interviews next week around the business, general managers and owners meetings in Orlando, Fla.

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