Would Dusty Be Dumb Enough...

[BigbadB]

Want more depression?

 

Neifi Perez as a #8 hitter in 2005: .318 AVG/.375 OBP

Jose Macias as a #8 hitter in 2005: .364/.375

 

Neifi Perez as a #7 hitter in 2005: .305/.341

Jose Macias as a #7 hitter in 2005: .345/.367

 

Jose Macias as a lead off hitter in 2005: .229/.270

Neifi Perez as a lead off hitter in 2005: .254/.263

 

Macias had just as many at bats in the top two spots as he had in the bottom 2 spots (7-8). Neifi Perez had more than twice as many at bats in the top two spots than he had in the bottom two spots.

 

The numbers say hit those guys at the bottom of the order if they are going to play at all. What would Dusty do? The exact opposite. Kind of reminds of you of Mike Remlinger a little bit. He was good at getting righties out, so what does Dusty do? Bring him in to face 1 lefty.

 

Matt Murton compiled 11 at bats in the top 2 spots in 2005: .300/.364

Ronny Cedeno compiled 24 at bats in the top 2 spots in '05: .292/.346

 

Cool, huh?

[BigbadB]

Derrek Lee hit 6th in the order 38 times last year. That's 37 more times than Albert Pujols has hit 6th in the last 3 seasons combined.

 

Cool, huh?

[dalgreen]

Everyone does a particularly good job of criticizing Baker so I won't chime in on him, but, to me, it's crazy for Hendry to not add any more thunder in the middle of the lineup. It seems that Hendry is under the impression that ARam's injuries over the last two seasons were a fluke. I can't believe we have no one capable of being the "rbi" guy when ARam is out for a groin, quad, hamstring, etc. injury. Lee will be pitched around so who does that leave? Baker makes a lot of dumb decisions, but, sometimes, Hendry makes Baker have to make even dumber decisions.

[dalgreen]

Oh, by the way, yes, Baker would be dumb enough to hit Jones fourth.

[USSoccer]

Everyone does a particularly good job of criticizing Baker so I won't chime in on him, but, to me, it's crazy for Hendry to not add any more thunder in the middle of the lineup. It seems that Hendry is under the impression that ARam's injuries over the last two seasons were a fluke. I can't believe we have no one capable of being the "rbi" guy when ARam is out for a groin, quad, hamstring, etc. injury. Lee will be pitched around so who does that leave? Baker makes a lot of dumb decisions, but, sometimes, Hendry makes Baker have to make even dumber decisions.

 

I dunno, Dal. I personally believe that ARam's injuries last year in particular were flukish, and given the lengths the CUbs have gone to make sure his conditioning is where it needs to be this winter, I have to believe that he won't suffer the nagging groin injuries again.

[dalgreen]

Everyone does a particularly good job of criticizing Baker so I won't chime in on him, but, to me, it's crazy for Hendry to not add any more thunder in the middle of the lineup. It seems that Hendry is under the impression that ARam's injuries over the last two seasons were a fluke. I can't believe we have no one capable of being the "rbi" guy when ARam is out for a groin, quad, hamstring, etc. injury. Lee will be pitched around so who does that leave? Baker makes a lot of dumb decisions, but, sometimes, Hendry makes Baker have to make even dumber decisions.

 

I dunno, Dal. I personally believe that ARam's injuries last year in particular were flukish, and given the lengths the CUbs have gone to make sure his conditioning is where it needs to be this winter, I have to believe that he won't suffer the nagging groin injuries again.

 

I guess I've become more of a pessimist. Being hurt one year I can see, but two straight years to me and I start believing it's a trend. I could be wrong, but there's no way I'm taking any chances on believing he'll be healthy. Just as I no longer would take chances believing Wood and Prior will remain healthy. Am I wrong, but hasn't Nomar been on some kind of conditioning program the last three off-seasons?

[USSoccer]

Everyone does a particularly good job of criticizing Baker so I won't chime in on him, but, to me, it's crazy for Hendry to not add any more thunder in the middle of the lineup. It seems that Hendry is under the impression that ARam's injuries over the last two seasons were a fluke. I can't believe we have no one capable of being the "rbi" guy when ARam is out for a groin, quad, hamstring, etc. injury. Lee will be pitched around so who does that leave? Baker makes a lot of dumb decisions, but, sometimes, Hendry makes Baker have to make even dumber decisions.

 

I dunno, Dal. I personally believe that ARam's injuries last year in particular were flukish, and given the lengths the CUbs have gone to make sure his conditioning is where it needs to be this winter, I have to believe that he won't suffer the nagging groin injuries again.

 

I guess I've become more of a pessimist. Being hurt one year I can see, but two straight years to me and I start believing it's a trend. I could be wrong, but there's no way I'm taking any chances on believing he'll be healthy. Just as I no longer would take chances believing Wood and Prior will remain healthy. Am I wrong, but hasn't Nomar been on some kind of conditioning program the last three off-seasons?

 

Yeah, but Aramis only missed about 10 games due to injury in 2004, and it was only the blowout that kept him out the last month and a half of 2005. Plus, it's muscular and not structural, like with Wood and Prior. It's easier to learn to stretch and be more flexible.

[dalgreen]

Everyone does a particularly good job of criticizing Baker so I won't chime in on him, but, to me, it's crazy for Hendry to not add any more thunder in the middle of the lineup. It seems that Hendry is under the impression that ARam's injuries over the last two seasons were a fluke. I can't believe we have no one capable of being the "rbi" guy when ARam is out for a groin, quad, hamstring, etc. injury. Lee will be pitched around so who does that leave? Baker makes a lot of dumb decisions, but, sometimes, Hendry makes Baker have to make even dumber decisions.

 

I dunno, Dal. I personally believe that ARam's injuries last year in particular were flukish, and given the lengths the CUbs have gone to make sure his conditioning is where it needs to be this winter, I have to believe that he won't suffer the nagging groin injuries again.

 

I guess I've become more of a pessimist. Being hurt one year I can see, but two straight years to me and I start believing it's a trend. I could be wrong, but there's no way I'm taking any chances on believing he'll be healthy. Just as I no longer would take chances believing Wood and Prior will remain healthy. Am I wrong, but hasn't Nomar been on some kind of conditioning program the last three off-seasons?

 

Yeah, but Aramis only missed about 10 games due to injury in 2004, and it was only the blowout that kept him out the last month and a half of 2005. Plus, it's muscular and not structural, like with Wood and Prior. It's easier to learn to stretch and be more flexible.

 

Unlike 2004, ARam is our "rbi guy". In 2004, at least someone could argue, "Well you still have Sosa and Alou." This year, I don't know what to say since Lee would/should get pitched around every at-bat, especially if ARam is not hitting fourth or not in the lineup. I'm just going to have to see a full healthy year from ARam before I pencil him in for a full season. As I said going into the offseason, I wanted to see one more high OPS guy in the lineup in case ARam had to miss time. We haven't seen that yet.

[USSoccer]

Everyone does a particularly good job of criticizing Baker so I won't chime in on him, but, to me, it's crazy for Hendry to not add any more thunder in the middle of the lineup. It seems that Hendry is under the impression that ARam's injuries over the last two seasons were a fluke. I can't believe we have no one capable of being the "rbi" guy when ARam is out for a groin, quad, hamstring, etc. injury. Lee will be pitched around so who does that leave? Baker makes a lot of dumb decisions, but, sometimes, Hendry makes Baker have to make even dumber decisions.

 

I dunno, Dal. I personally believe that ARam's injuries last year in particular were flukish, and given the lengths the CUbs have gone to make sure his conditioning is where it needs to be this winter, I have to believe that he won't suffer the nagging groin injuries again.

 

I guess I've become more of a pessimist. Being hurt one year I can see, but two straight years to me and I start believing it's a trend. I could be wrong, but there's no way I'm taking any chances on believing he'll be healthy. Just as I no longer would take chances believing Wood and Prior will remain healthy. Am I wrong, but hasn't Nomar been on some kind of conditioning program the last three off-seasons?

 

Yeah, but Aramis only missed about 10 games due to injury in 2004, and it was only the blowout that kept him out the last month and a half of 2005. Plus, it's muscular and not structural, like with Wood and Prior. It's easier to learn to stretch and be more flexible.

 

Unlike 2004, ARam is our "rbi guy". In 2004, at least someone could argue, "Well you still have Sosa and Alou." This year, I don't know what to say since Lee would/should get pitched around every at-bat, especially if ARam is not hitting fourth or not in the lineup. I'm just going to have to see a full healthy year from ARam before I pencil him in for a full season. As I said going into the offseason, I wanted to see one more high OPS guy in the lineup in case ARam had to miss time. We haven't seen that yet.

 

I completely agree with your last point. Our entire offense relies on Lee and Ramirez being a great 1-2 punch.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Hendry: Dusty, I got you another OFer?

Baker: Who?

Hendry: Jones.....

Baker: Andru?

Hendry: Uh...no.

Baker: Chipper? (with an eyebrow raising)

Hendry: Spin again.

Baker: Grace Jones?

Hendry: sorry, I got you Jacque Jones?

Baker: The French Underwater explorer, dude?

Hendry: No, that's Jacques Costeau (sp?). Jacques Jones.

Baker: Hmm.....Oh....the Sprinter.

Hendry: No that's MARION Jones.

Baker: Man, that dude can run.

Hendry: Uh...Marion's a woman, Dusty.

Baker: Then who's the backup RB for Dallas?

Hendry: That's Marion Barber, III. I got you Jacques Jones from the Minnesota Twins..

Baker: Sorry, never heard of the dude. Is he fast?

Hendry: Somewhat, but most importantly he can catch the ball.

Baker: Dude, we just found our cleanup hitter.

[GlassCow]

Hendry: Dusty, I got you another OFer?

Baker: Who?

Hendry: Jones.....

Baker: Andru?

Hendry: Uh...no.

Baker: Chipper? (with an eyebrow raising)

Hendry: Spin again.

Baker: Grace Jones?

Hendry: sorry, I got you Jacque Jones?

Baker: The French Underwater explorer, dude?

Hendry: No, that's Jacques Costeau (sp?). Jacques Jones.

Baker: Hmm.....Oh....the Sprinter.

Hendry: No that's MARION Jones.

Baker: Man, that dude can run.

Hendry: Uh...Marion's a woman, Dusty.

Baker: Then who's the backup RB for Dallas?

Hendry: That's Marion Barber, III. I got you Jacques Jones from the Minnesota Twins..

Baker: Sorry, never heard of the dude. Is he fast?

Hendry: Somewhat, but most importantly he can catch the ball.

Baker: Dude, we just found our cleanup hitter.

 

That absolutely hillarious, in the most depressing kind of way.

[TB_11]

I'm going to list 15 different players that never should have had any business batting in the top two spots in the batting order that DID bat in those spots during Dusty Baker's tenure. I left out the one's who were deserving of being there, like Walker, Hairston, Grudz, Lawton and even a guy like Jody Gerut or Ramon Martinez. The guys I'm listing have always featured horrible OBP's, and in parentisis is their number of at bats in those top two spots under Dusty:

 

Alex Gonzalez (315) .303

Tony Womack (42) .316

Lenny Harris (17) .318

Corey Patterson (675) .293

Jose Hernandez (6) .312

Trenidad Hubbard (6) .333

Doug Glanville (32) .315

Tom Goodwin (146) .332

Augie Ojeda (1) .294

Jose Macias (146) .298

Damian Jackson (12) .325

Calvin Murray (3) .315

Neifi Perez (435) .301

Rey Ordonez (21) .289

Enrique Wilson (6) .288

 

Edited to add career OBP of each player.

 

All totaled, that's 1863 at bats (the equivilent of 3 full seasons) from .320 or worse (mostly worse) hitters at the top of the order.

 

Cool, huh?

 

How often do you think Dusty asks Hendry to find out if Trenidad Hubbard or Tony Womack is available?

[UK1679666180]

How often do you think Dusty asks Hendry to find out if Trenidad Hubbard or Tony Womack is available?

 

Everytime Walker is at 1B and is unable to steal 2B, then Dusty forgets that they have to get on 1B 1st. :)

[wastra]

I didn't bother to read the actual message that started this thread. I read the thread title, and the answer is always "yes."

[Billy_Buck]

Next question.

[wekse]

Hendry: Dusty, I got you another OFer?

Baker: Who?

Hendry: Jones.....

Baker: Andru?

Hendry: Uh...no.

Baker: Chipper? (with an eyebrow raising)

Hendry: Spin again.

Baker: Grace Jones?

Hendry: sorry, I got you Jacque Jones?

Baker: The French Underwater explorer, dude?

Hendry: No, that's Jacques Costeau (sp?). Jacques Jones.

Baker: Hmm.....Oh....the Sprinter.

Hendry: No that's MARION Jones.

Baker: Man, that dude can run.

Hendry: Uh...Marion's a woman, Dusty.

Baker: Then who's the backup RB for Dallas?

Hendry: That's Marion Barber, III. I got you Jacques Jones from the Minnesota Twins..

Baker: Sorry, never heard of the dude. Is he fast?

Hendry: Somewhat, but most importantly he can catch the ball.

Baker: Dude, we just found our cleanup hitter.

 

oh man...i just never get tired of these fake phone conversations.

[Roast]

Derrek Lee hit 6th in the order 38 times last year. That's 37 more times than Albert Pujols has hit 6th in the last 3 seasons combined.

 

Cool, huh?

 

You are a sick sick sick man.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Hendry: Dusty, I got you another OFer?

Baker: Who?

Hendry: Jones.....

Baker: Andru?

Hendry: Uh...no.

Baker: Chipper? (with an eyebrow raising)

Hendry: Spin again.

Baker: Grace Jones?

Hendry: sorry, I got you Jacque Jones?

Baker: The French Underwater explorer, dude?

Hendry: No, that's Jacques Costeau (sp?). Jacques Jones.

Baker: Hmm.....Oh....the Sprinter.

Hendry: No that's MARION Jones.

Baker: Man, that dude can run.

Hendry: Uh...Marion's a woman, Dusty.

Baker: Then who's the backup RB for Dallas?

Hendry: That's Marion Barber, III. I got you Jacques Jones from the Minnesota Twins..

Baker: Sorry, never heard of the dude. Is he fast?

Hendry: Somewhat, but most importantly he can catch the ball.

Baker: Dude, we just found our cleanup hitter.

 

oh man...i just never get tired of these fake phone conversations.

 

Who say's this is fake? 8) :wink:

[erik316wttn]

Any time you have to ask "Is Dusty dumb enough", the answer is almost always "yes".

[YearofDaCubs]

I feel like everybody in the world knows Baker is incompetent aside from Hendry and MacPhail who have the most say on the Cubs future.

[Bote McBoteface]

Derrek Lee hit 6th in the order 38 times last year. That's 37 more times than Albert Pujols has hit 6th in the last 3 seasons combined.

 

Cool, huh?

 

Now you are stretching it. Nobody expected Derrek to have the season he had. He hit 6th the first week or so of the season, and nobody complained. He was soon moved to 3rd-4th and stayed there the rest of the season.

[ChiblueTNT]

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/szymborski/cubs11.JPG

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/szymborski/cubs12.JPG

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/szymborski/CUBS2.JPG

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/szymborski/CUBS3.JPG

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/szymborski/CUBS4.JPG

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/szymborski/CUBS6.JPG

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/szymborski/CUBS7.JPG

[Diffusion]

Derrek Lee hit 6th in the order 38 times last year. That's 37 more times than Albert Pujols has hit 6th in the last 3 seasons combined.

 

Cool, huh?

 

Now you are stretching it. Nobody expected Derrek to have the season he had. He hit 6th the first week or so of the season, and nobody complained. He was soon moved to 3rd-4th and stayed there the rest of the season.

 

Not only that, but Lee, at the start of 2005 a career .266/.353/.474 hitter (.276/.365/.497 for 2000-04), had made it publicly known that he preferred to hit sixth. Indeed, going into 2005, in a career totalling 4002 plate appearances, Lee had amassed 1957 of them batting sixth, relative to just 22 batting third and 452 batting fourth (the rest, for the record, are 3 batting leadoff, 294 batting second, 833 batting fifth, 367 batting seventh, 24 batting eighth and 50 batting ninth).