MVN: Most Valuable Network

I am uploading a massive amount of video clips to the web - new clips are available every week at PlayingforPeanuts.com and SouthGeorgiaPeanuts.net.

South Coast League CEO Jamie Toole

South Coast League CEO Jamie Toole sat down for an interview with us during the first week of the season. The interview was conducted at Paul Eames Sports Complex in Albany, GA. Toole discusses the history of pro baseball in Albany, the goals of the South Coast League and the process of hiring Peanuts manager Wally Backman.

If you click the PLAY button, each of the 10+ clips will play automatically. Just sit back and relax.

Alternatively, you can use the left and right arrow buttons to skip through different clips:

Quick note: I just did a Q&A with Bus Leagues Baseball. Check it out and be sure to take a look around the Bus Leagues site. It's one of the more interesting minor league sites out there.... Read more

I am uploading a massive amount of video clips to the web - new clips are available every weekday at PlayingforPeanuts.com and SouthGeorgiaPeanuts.net. Jeff Pearlman on Wally Backman, Arizona Diamondbacks & the '86 MetsFollowing the insanity of the 2007 South Coast League season, I sat down with author Jeff Pearlman for an extensive interview about Wally Backman. Over the course of the interview, Pearlman gave his opinions on Backman's temper (short), managerial abilities (major league caliber), his future as a manager (limited) as well as the handling of Backman's hiring and firing by the Arizona Diamondbacks (amateurish) and the 1986 Mets (gritty, dirty and out-of-control). Pearlman is the author of several books on baseball, including "The Bad Guys Won," which tells the inside story of the 1986 Mets. You can read more about Jeff and his new projects at JeffPearlman.com. These interviews were shot in front of a blue screen at a local public access TV station. For the purposes of releasing the clips on the web, I haven't replaced the blue screen with the background you see in the actual TV showIf you click the PLAY button, each of the 10+ clips will play automatically. Just sit back and relax.Alternatively, you can use the left and right arrow buttons to skip through different clips:... Read more

I am uploading a massive amount of video clips to the web - new clips are available every weekday at PlayingforPeanuts.com and SouthGeorgiaPeanuts.net. Peanuts Home Opener (May 24, 2007)The clips below came from the South Georgia Peanuts home opener at Paul Eames Sports Complex in Albany, GA. As general manager Keith Michlig and manager Wally Backman explained in previous interviews, Albany has had trouble keeping pro baseball teams in the city. For many reasons, the Peanuts' return to Albany presented an interesting challenge for the South Coast League and the city of Albany. The clips begin with former major league slugger Cecil Fielder watching batting practice. If you click the PLAY button, each of the 20+ clips will play automatically. Just sit back and relax.Alternatively, you can use the left and right arrow buttons to skip through different clips: Game SummaryThe Peanuts (6-0) entered the game fresh off an undefeated road trip to start the season. They would be facing the winless Charlotte County Redfish (0-6). The Peanuts had swept the Redfish to start the season.When Wally Backman removes starting pitcher Dustin Taylor, he brings in Jared Sutton. It would be Sutton's final appearance with the Peanuts - he would be picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers two days later.Over the course of the game, the Peanuts missed several signs and butchered a squeeze play, much to the chagrin of manager Wally Backman. Despite his impatience with his own team, Backman seemed to have a great deal of patience with the opposing manager and home plate umpire - both of whom required help to understand the National League-style rules  that the South Coast League was using. The league was the only independent league to play without a designated hitter.The Peanuts lost the game by a score of 6-5.Notes: Postgame Speech: Following the team's first loss, manager Wally Backman ripped his team in a postgame speech. We decided not to bring our cameras into the locker room because it was early in the season and we hadn't built up enough of a rapport with the team. Instead, we left Backman's microphone on so we could capture the audio of his speech without intruding on the players. Here is Backman's postgame speech (caution: Explicit Language):... Read more

I am uploading a massive amount of video clips to the web - new clips are available every weekday at PlayingforPeanuts.com and SouthGeorgiaPeanuts.net. This is an entire interview that we did with South Georgia Peanuts manager - and former major league infielder - Wally Backman. The interview was done at the RV park where Backman spent the 2007 season. That's Wally's RV in the background: During the interview, he discusses everything from the '86 Mets to his theories on managing.Notes: If you click the PLAY button, each of the 20+ clips will play automatically. Just sit back and relax.Alternatively, you can use the left and right arrow buttons to skip through different clips.... Read more

Baseball season is right around the corner and this is a big week for "Playing for Peanuts." At a cost of $300, I have purchased a half-hour block of airtime to broadcast one episode of the show in Albany, GA. The broadcast takes place this Sunday at 1pm, right before the NASCAR Sprint Cup.Basically, I have to sell 14 DVDs to break even. I made several unsuccessful attempts to get the DVD sold in local stores in exchange for giving free TV commercial time to the stores. Long story short, the economy and the perception of the South Coast League by local businesses isn't the greatest. But if I can sell 14 DVDs through the show's website, it will justify buying more airtime in the future... And of course, I am still releasing new video clips to the web - new clips are available every weekday at PlayingforPeanuts.com and SouthGeorgiaPeanuts.net.  This week's clips include the TV commercial that is promoting this Sunday's broadcast and several more interview clips with Peanuts manager Wally Backman. Dig in:"The Peanuts Are Back" - Fox-31 TV CommercialThis commercial is airing all week on Albany's Fox-31. Thanks to Fox-31 for promoting the hell out of a show that is essentially paid programming - granted, it is a special case, but it is still much appreciated. You may remember the song and some of the clips from last year's commercials that aired on Comcast Sportsnet. This is essentially the same commercial that SNY refused to air because they were afraid Wally Backman would become the fan favorite to manage the Mets.Note: The music in the commercial is "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" by Whiskey on a Sunday (click here to download for 99 cents) and also an organ version of the same song from the StadiumSounds CD.Wally Backman Didn't Want to Return to Independent BaseballA clip from the Wally Backman RV Interview. In this clip, Wally discusses how he didn't want to return to independent baseball. Backman managed in independent ball from 1997-2001 and affiliated baseball from 2002-2004. In 2004, he was named manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was fired four days later after the team was threatened by a sponsor of the minor league Birmingham Barons (White Sox AA affiliate). For more on that story, click here.Note: For those of you that like watching Wally battle the bugs of Albany, GA (and who doesn't?) watch the whole video. Wally Backman Explains How He Wound Up with the PeanutsA clip from the Wally Backman RV Interview. In this clip, Wally explains how he was hired by the South Coast League to manage the South Georgia Peanuts.Wally Backman Discusses Albany, GAA clip from the Wally Backman RV Interview. In this clip, Wally discusses the response of the city council and fans in Albany, GA. The city council was initially resistant to the return of pro baseball, while the fans were more receptive. Wally Backman Explains How He Built the Peanuts RosterA clip from the Wally... Read more