Minor league says it has reinstated Backman as manager of Peanuts

<p>Wally Backman is back.</p><p>Three days after resigning as manager of the South Georgia Peanuts, the former major leaguer was reinstated by the South Coast League.</p><p>He had all his goods loaded in his pickup truck, with his RV hitched to the back, and was ready to head to his home in Oregon. He then made a phone call that changed all.</p><p>"The South Coast League of professional baseball has announced that they have reinstated South Georgia Peanuts Manager Wally Backman for the remainder of the 2007 season," league CEO Jamie Toole said at a news conference.</p><p>"Three days ago, we were firm on our stance of accepting Wally Backman's resignation as manager of the South Georgia Peanuts. (But Thursday) afternoon, we received a phone call from Wally during which he expressed genuine regret and remorse with his separation from the South Coast League."</p><p>As a condition of his rehiring, Backman also agreed to manage the Peanuts through the 2008 season and can opt out of his contract only should he receive an offer to once again coach with a major league-affiliated organization.</p><p>Backman led the Peanuts to the SCL's first-half title, and the team currently sits in first place for the second half with a 1 1/2-game lead over the Macon Music.</p><p>Backman said he had a few days to think about things that happened and admitted he made some serious mistakes.</p><p>"I think we've fixed all the problems in the past," he said. "And from that, we're going to start over, a new slate."</p><p>Backman and the SCL have been at odds over several issues this season _ resulting in three separate suspensions totaling 14 games.</p><p>Backman, who helped the New York Mets win the 1986 World Series, resigned Tuesday after numerous run-ins with umpires, a press box argument with another team's radio announcer and a forfeited game when his team refused to return to the field after a brawl with rival Macon.</p><p>"The way he expressed interest to help the league grow and him making a commitment for 2008, says a lot," Toole said. "There still are a lot of people out there who doubt our league and Web sites that wonder if we're playing in 2008. But we're not only playing, we're excited."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2dec280)</p>

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