Former Rockies manager could land with Mets?

Mets GM Sandy Alderson’s thinking is that the dugout job is more like a “middle-management” position that should merely implement the front-office strategy, and that points to candidates like Bob Melvin and Ken Macha rather than Joe Torre , who already took himself out of the running. Another potential choice for manager is Chip Hale , the popular infield and third-base coach from last season. Hale, along with pitching coach Dan Warthen and bullpen coach Randy Niemann , are the only members of Jerry Manuel ‘s staff that are likely to be retained for 2011. Other than Backman, if the Wilpons nudge Alderson toward former Mets, he could look to hire Texas hitting coach Clint Hurdle , who spent eight years as the Rockies’ manager and took Colorado to the World Series in 2007.  — Newsday