Sandy Alderson — who was scheduled to talk with Clint Hurdle and Don Wakamatsu today — is still conducting his first round of managerial interviews. (He’s said he wants to have a manager in place by the time the Winter Meetings begin on December 6.) But at least one candidate has reportedly already advanced to the next round: Wally Backman — “things” be damned, apparently. [NYP, Bergen Record]