Interesting Dusty quote

[Section538]

Nice quote from Dusty:

 

Dusty:

I love to do things, but you don’t do things just to do them because you run into outs. You only get 27 of them. You just don’t run into outs just to be doing it.

 

Not saying the guy's had an epiphany or anything, but it beats most of the things that come out of his mouth.

 

Between that and him saying that Walk's the front runner for 2B, I don't mind what I'm hearing from him so far this spring.

[CubinNY]

Nice quote from Dusty:

 

Dusty:

I love to do things, but you don’t do things just to do them because you run into outs. You only get 27 of them. You just don’t run into outs just to be doing it.

 

Not saying the guy's had an epiphany or anything, but it beats most of the things that come out of his mouth.

 

Between that and him saying that Walk's the front runner for 2B, I don't mind what I'm hearing from him so far this spring.

 

Dusty must have seen the light while fishing for striped bass or dropping one of his girlfriends. Or maybe it was the heat that got to him, oh he is immune to the heat, I forgot.

 

In all seriousness, I don't think Dusty is stupid, he is just old school. With the right type of players he does well.

[NewUserName]

I agree. In interviews he does seem to be committed to Murton and Cedeno also. Last year he was basically saying from day 1 that Hollandsworth was the starting lf. Maybe it is a new enlightenment. Possibly Dusty is learning from past mistakes. All this being said lets wait until the season starts before we give him too much praise though.

[goonys evil twin]

Dusty doesn't seem to run his team into too many outs, and I like that about him. Although I wonder if that will change with more fast guys on the team.

 

 

A different quote I heard was his claim that leadoff hitters, ie, small fast guys, are hard to come by because they are playing other sports. What other sports are small fast guys moving to in the US that they didn't play before? Personally I think there are plenty of leadoff guys, and plenty of fast guys in baseball. It's just the filtration system of this sport has weeded out a lot of guys whose only skill is speed, and that baseball is doing a better and better job of looking for overall production instead of arbitrary skills.

[TheDude]

A thread about a Dusty quote and there isn't yet a chicken little post involving the words "Neifi", "starting", and "batting 2nd"?

 

Anyway, Dusty does make some interesting on field calls that aren't textbook and have backfired. He isn't the best manager at calling for or utilizing small ball (I think he turns to it too soon sometimes), and that can cost some games.

 

The Cubs need to improve their close-game record if they expect to improve this year, and that starts with Dusty's in-game management in close games.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

A thread about a Dusty quote and there isn't yet a chicken little post involving the words "Neifi", "starting", and "batting 2nd"?

 

Anyway, Dusty does make some interesting on field calls that aren't textbook and have backfired. He isn't the best manager at calling for or utilizing small ball (I think he turns to it too soon sometimes), and that can cost some games.

 

The Cubs need to improve their close-game record if they expect to improve this year, and that starts with Dusty's in-game management in close games.

 

Actually, IIRC we were significantly better in close games last year than in 2004(when we had a better record).

[goonys evil twin]

A thread about a Dusty quote and there isn't yet a chicken little post involving the words "Neifi", "starting", and "batting 2nd"?

 

Is this necessary?

[sethuel1]

A thread about a Dusty quote and there isn't yet a chicken little post involving the words "Neifi", "starting", and "batting 2nd"?

 

Is this necessary?

yes.

[CubDad4Ever]

Goony, im not sure if Dusty was getting after this but. Culturally baseball has gone from a sport with more african americans to one that has taken a back seat to football and basketball. Im sure as a black man who has been a player and a coach. His perspective on those athletes is fresh and in the front of his mind. As a high school track and football coach , im breaking sterotypes for white speed athletes all the time. But i think many people percieve baseball as becoming highly latinized and more of a rich guys sport in the u.s. Because of year round club type play. How that factors into how many guys they draft that can run the 60 in what ever , i would love to study. Sorry for the ramble Goony. You just triggerd some thoughts i was curious about. Thanks Coach L.

[sethuel1]

Goony, im not sure if Dusty was getting after this but. Culturally baseball has gone from a sport with more african americans to one that has taken a back seat to football and basketball. Im sure as a black man who has been a player and a coach. His perspective on those athletes is fresh and in the front of his mind. As a high school track and football coach , im breaking sterotypes for white speed athletes all the time. But i think many people percieve baseball as becoming highly latinized and more of a rich guys sport in the u.s. Because of year round club type play. How that factors into how many guys they draft that can run the 60 in what ever , i would love to study. Sorry for the ramble Goony. You just triggerd some thoughts i was curious about. Thanks Coach L.

 

I would definitely agree with you on most of those points, however I think Goony was referring specifically to the "small, fast athlete", which, in his opinion, doesn't have the ability to play basketball (Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins excepted) or football due to a lack of size.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, Goony.

[CubinNY]

A thread about a Dusty quote and there isn't yet a chicken little post involving the words "Neifi", "starting", and "batting 2nd"?

 

Anyway, Dusty does make some interesting on field calls that aren't textbook and have backfired. He isn't the best manager at calling for or utilizing small ball (I think he turns to it too soon sometimes), and that can cost some games.

 

The Cubs need to improve their close-game record if they expect to improve this year, and that starts with Dusty's in-game management in close games.

 

Actually, IIRC we were significantly better in close games last year than in 2004(when we had a better record).

 

They were very good in those situations in 2003 too. Rob Neyer wrote an article for ESPN.com about Dusty's record and the 1 run game record being a terrible predictor stat from year to year. I replied to him in defense of Dusty and he sent me back a nice email.

[CuseCubFan69]

Dusty can say whatever he wants during the off season but what I'm going to judge him on is what he actually does during the regular season. I'm behind him 100% until he goes back to doing what he always has and breaking years of habits like the ones he has is going to be very difficult IMO.

 

I also think if this is his "money" year and he wants to win to get the big bucks I'd be very surprised to see Cedeno and Murton out there very much. I hope I'm wrong.....I really do.

[cl smooth]

A different quote I heard was his claim that leadoff hitters, ie, small fast guys, are hard to come by because they are playing other sports. What other sports are small fast guys moving to in the US that they didn't play before?

 

soccer. :)

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

A different quote I heard was his claim that leadoff hitters, ie, small fast guys, are hard to come by because they are playing other sports. What other sports are small fast guys moving to in the US that they didn't play before?

 

soccer. :)

 

competitive ping pong

[Bull]

A different quote I heard was his claim that leadoff hitters, ie, small fast guys, are hard to come by because they are playing other sports. What other sports are small fast guys moving to in the US that they didn't play before?

 

soccer. :)

 

competitive ping pong

 

World Tiddley-winks Classic.

[TheDude]

A thread about a Dusty quote and there isn't yet a chicken little post involving the words "Neifi", "starting", and "batting 2nd"?

 

Anyway, Dusty does make some interesting on field calls that aren't textbook and have backfired. He isn't the best manager at calling for or utilizing small ball (I think he turns to it too soon sometimes), and that can cost some games.

 

The Cubs need to improve their close-game record if they expect to improve this year, and that starts with Dusty's in-game management in close games.

 

Actually, IIRC we were significantly better in close games last year than in 2004(when we had a better record).

 

It makes sense that losing teams have a respectable record in close games - they can't generate enough ofense to win anything but nailbiters (generally speaking). The team still has to improve its close game record. I know many folks don't put stock in it, but others do.

 

Interesting Read

 

[edited to fix link and finish thought]

[goonys evil twin]

I would definitely agree with you on most of those points, however I think Goony was referring specifically to the "small, fast athlete", which, in his opinion, doesn't have the ability to play basketball (Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins excepted) or football due to a lack of size.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, Goony.

 

That is what I meant. Small fast athletes, what Dusty considers to be prototypical leadoff men, aren't abandoning the sport en masse to another sport.

[sethuel1]

I would definitely agree with you on most of those points, however I think Goony was referring specifically to the "small, fast athlete", which, in his opinion, doesn't have the ability to play basketball (Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins excepted) or football due to a lack of size.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, Goony.

 

That is what I meant. Small fast athletes, what Dusty considers to be prototypical leadoff men, aren't abandoning the sport en masse to another sport.

 

maybe some to soccer, actually

[cl smooth]

I would definitely agree with you on most of those points, however I think Goony was referring specifically to the "small, fast athlete", which, in his opinion, doesn't have the ability to play basketball (Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins excepted) or football due to a lack of size.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, Goony.

 

That is what I meant. Small fast athletes, what Dusty considers to be prototypical leadoff men, aren't abandoning the sport en masse to another sport.

 

maybe some to soccer, actually

 

when i mentioned soccer, i was being serious. the news has been reporting for some time that younger kids are more interested in soccer leagues than they are pee-wee baseball and football. when those kids grow up, they tend to stay with the sports they were interested as kids. it seems that the juan pierre/david eckstein type of players are going by the wayside. you tend to see players of their height and athletic build in other sports.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I would definitely agree with you on most of those points, however I think Goony was referring specifically to the "small, fast athlete", which, in his opinion, doesn't have the ability to play basketball (Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins excepted) or football due to a lack of size.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, Goony.

 

That is what I meant. Small fast athletes, what Dusty considers to be prototypical leadoff men, aren't abandoning the sport en masse to another sport.

 

maybe some to soccer, actually

 

when i mentioned soccer, i was being serious. the news has been reporting for some time that younger kids are more interested in soccer leagues than they are pee-wee baseball and football. when those kids grow up, they tend to stay with the sports they were interested as kids. it seems that the juan pierre/david eckstein type of players are going by the wayside. you tend to see players of their height and athletic build in other sports.

 

Part of it is the specialization that goes on nowadays, IMO. If a kid wants to be pretty good at a sport, he has to choose a pretty young age which sport or couple sports to specialize in. Littler guys at a younger age are more likely to be better technically at soccer, and less with bat speed and arm strength in baseball. Speed is also a greater asset in Soccer than in Baseball, especially at younger ages.

Edited February 23, 2006 by Transmogrified Tiger

[goonys evil twin]

I would definitely agree with you on most of those points, however I think Goony was referring specifically to the "small, fast athlete", which, in his opinion, doesn't have the ability to play basketball (Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins excepted) or football due to a lack of size.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, Goony.

 

That is what I meant. Small fast athletes, what Dusty considers to be prototypical leadoff men, aren't abandoning the sport en masse to another sport.

 

maybe some to soccer, actually

 

when i mentioned soccer, i was being serious. the news has been reporting for some time that younger kids are more interested in soccer leagues than they are pee-wee baseball and football. when those kids grow up, they tend to stay with the sports they were interested as kids. it seems that the juan pierre/david eckstein type of players are going by the wayside. you tend to see players of their height and athletic build in other sports.

 

We've been hearing that same story for 30 years in this country. It's not happening. Today's lack of prototypical leadoff hitters isn't due to a mass exodus to futbol.

[erik316wttn]

I think Dusty is feeling the heat. He owes all that money to the IRS, and really needs a job.

 

Maybe he visited the best proctologist in the Chicagoland area to remove his head from his rear end.

[cl smooth]

We've been hearing that same story for 30 years in this country. It's not happening. Today's lack of prototypical leadoff hitters isn't due to a mass exodus to futbol.

 

i don't think it's a mass exodus to soccer, but there's been plenty of kids playing that than other sports. why do you think there's not many prototypical leadoff hitters around anymore? too much emphasis on hitting home runs will get you the big paycheck? perhaps kids in high school, college and in the minors think its better than emulate the adrian beltre's and richie sexton's of baseball than it is to emulate rickey henderson.

[UK1679666180]

I blame video games and the suburban effect, the population has spread out over the last 50 years and it's hard to play baseball when you can't round up enough people to field a game. Equipment makes it more difficult as well especially in lesser economic areas.

 

Go to Latin America, the cities are more condensed, no video games, and you're left w/sports as far as recreation.

[goonys evil twin]

We've been hearing that same story for 30 years in this country. It's not happening. Today's lack of prototypical leadoff hitters isn't due to a mass exodus to futbol.

 

i don't think it's a mass exodus to soccer, but there's been plenty of kids playing that than other sports. why do you think there's not many prototypical leadoff hitters around anymore? too much emphasis on hitting home runs will get you the big paycheck? perhaps kids in high school, college and in the minors think its better than emulate the adrian beltre's and richie sexton's of baseball than it is to emulate rickey henderson.

 

My personal belief is that the player most associated with prototypical leadoff hitter, short, skinny, fast, slappy hitter, is often weeded out in the filtration process of the game itself. That, and people have started to realize the more important value of overall production as opposed to specialized assets. I think teams have realized how much getting caught stealing can hurt you, so it's been de-emphasized (as opposed to a lack of people who can do it). If teams really wanted short, skinny, fast kids they could find them. They just don' really want many players like that anymore.