Dusty Baker: Could he possibly be this dumb?

[Bgbird68]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-dusty08.html

 

This is good for a few laughs.

 

"What are you going to do? I'm not a detective. What are you going to do as a manager?"

 

He cannot possibly think that people will buy this.

[cjbucks]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-dusty08.html

 

This is good for a few laughs.

 

"What are you going to do? I'm not a detective. What are you going to do as a manager?"

 

He cannot possibly think that people will buy this.

 

What's he supposed to say?

[kylescubs23]

What do you want him to do, throw Bonds under the bus?

[goonys evil twin]

I was reading Bruce Miles' version of that interview, and could only laugh at what I viewed as obviously contradicting statements. Dusty talks about not knowing what's in the book or article, then says he read it. He talks about not knowing anything about steroids other than using them to combat allergies, then talks about the death of his friend Lyle Alzado. I can't help but think Dusty is just a complete BSer on this topic.

[goonys evil twin]

What do you want him to do, throw Bonds under the bus?

 

As the manager, he could confront a player. He should know what is going on. I don't believe for a second that he was ignorant of what was happening.

[kylescubs23]

Have you not heard Bonds before? What would that conversation be like,

 

Dusty: Hey Barry, you should get off that stuff.

Bonds: Go f&%* yourself!

 

Now, I'm sure Bonds would never say that to dusty, but Bonds beats to his own drum. He is going to do what he wants to do. Dusty is not at fault for any of this, he is too loyal to say anything about the whole situation.

[USSoccer]

I'm not sure that Baker can be "blamed" for any of this. It's a tough spot for him to be in: He can either turn a blind eye, and get bashed when it comes out, or he can call his megastar LF out, without actual proof, and lose his team, and probably get fired when Bonds goes to Macgowan and complains.

 

Dusty did what 99% of the people in baseball would have done.

 

God, I feel dirty defending Baker...

[BeerHere]

Steroids? Again? IMO, this is not news anymore and the fact that a "new" book has come out that details the use simply reeks of opportunism.

 

We need to move on.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not sure that Baker can be "blamed" for any of this. It's a tough spot for him to be in: He can either turn a blind eye, and get bashed when it comes out, or he can call his megastar LF out, without actual proof, and lose his team, and probably get fired when Bonds goes to Macgowan and complains.

 

Dusty did what 99% of the people in baseball would have done.

 

God, I feel dirty defending Baker...

 

You have an obligation to confront the player. You don't have to walk up to him out of the blue and say get off this stuff. Dusty cried about his buddy Alzado dying, and then completely ignored Barry doing the same stuff. Dusty had a chance to say something while this was going on, just like every other manager/coach who had a player in this situation.

 

Don't go crying to the media about how you had no idea what steroids even were.

[Mizzou]

Steroids? Again? IMO, this is not news anymore and the fact that a "new" book has come out that details the use simply reeks of opportunism.

 

We need to move on.

I agree. I'm sick of hearing about this crap. We have the WBC and Spring Training going on, with Opening Day not too far off. Yet we're still hearing about Bonds and his freaking roids. Everyone knows he juiced, just shut up about it already!

[goonys evil twin]

Steroids? Again? IMO, this is not news anymore and the fact that a "new" book has come out that details the use simply reeks of opportunism.

 

We need to move on.

 

I don't like this attitude about steroids. What needs to be done is find out the truth, not cover it up, or allow others to cover it up. Move on = ignore the problem. These guys worked their butts off to find detailed accounts of the story. They should be applauded for having some integrity and searching for the truth, not lambasted for opportunism. This "shoot the messenger" stuff is getting more and more frequent in this country.

[biittner77]

I'm not sure that Baker can be "blamed" for any of this. It's a tough spot for him to be in: He can either turn a blind eye, and get bashed when it comes out, or he can call his megastar LF out, without actual proof, and lose his team, and probably get fired when Bonds goes to Macgowan and complains.

 

Dusty did what 99% of the people in baseball would have done.

 

God, I feel dirty defending Baker...

 

Who was the 1% that didn't look the other way? I can't think of even one person that called anyone out on steroid use until very recently.

 

Supposedly in the '70s, lots of players used amphetamines and no one talked about it. Why would steroids be any different?

[goonys evil twin]

Everyone knows he juiced, just shut up about it already!

 

There's an enormous amount of people who apparantly think he didn't, or who think it's perfectly fine for him to have done it. And it's quite possible that crimes were committed, possibly even lying to feds/grand jury. You don't have to read the book or the article, or the threads that talk about either. But don't tell people not to talk about a relevent topic. The head in the sand mentality is what got baseball in the problem in the first place. Simply moving on from here while ignoring the past will only add to the problem.

[goonys evil twin]

Who was the 1% that didn't look the other way? I can't think of even one person that called anyone out on steroid use until very recently.

 

Supposedly in the '70s, lots of players used amphetamines and no one talked about it. Why would steroids be any different?

 

I know a kid who got called on it by his coach in college.

 

Why is it suddenly perfectly fine to do the wrong thing just because so many others are doing it?

[Mizzou]

Everyone knows he juiced, just shut up about it already!

 

There's an enormous amount of people who apparantly think he didn't, or who think it's perfectly fine for him to have done it. And it's quite possible that crimes were committed, possibly even lying to feds/grand jury. You don't have to read the book or the article, or the threads that talk about either. But don't tell people not to talk about a relevent topic. The head in the sand mentality is what got baseball in the problem in the first place. Simply moving on from here while ignoring the past will only add to the problem.

So you'd rather hear about this than the WBC or Spring Training? That was my whole point - that I'm sick of this Bonds crap taking headlines from the game on the field.

[Chocolate Milk]

Dusty cried about his buddy Alzado dying, and then completely ignored Barry doing the same stuff.

 

The only explanation is that Dusty wants Barry to die.

[biittner77]

Who was the 1% that didn't look the other way? I can't think of even one person that called anyone out on steroid use until very recently.

 

Supposedly in the '70s, lots of players used amphetamines and no one talked about it. Why would steroids be any different?

 

I know a kid who got called on it by his coach in college.

 

Why is it suddenly perfectly fine to do the wrong thing just because so many others are doing it?

 

In college or High school it's a different story. Adults are supposed to know better.

 

Also, I never said it was fine. I was pointing out that if you're going to hold Baker's feet to the fire on this issue just about every other person in baseball is just as guilty.

 

I don't need any more reasons to dislike Dusty Baker.

[goonys evil twin]

Also, I never said it was fine. I was pointing out that if you're going to hold Baker's feet to the fire on this issue just about every other person in baseball is just as guilty.

 

I'm not holding his feet to the fire for not confronting Barry, but I still contend he had an obligation to do it. What I really don't like is his BS hemming and hawing when talking about the steroids scandal.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I'm not sure what Baker was supposed to do in that situation. Calling Barry out wouldn't have been the best thing for the team or that organization. It's arguable that it would have been good for baseball.

 

There's lots of sordid stuff that goes on in the clubhouse that we never hear about. That's baseball, for better or worse.

[goonys evil twin]

Dusty cried about his buddy Alzado dying, and then completely ignored Barry doing the same stuff.

 

The only explanation is that Dusty wants Barry to die.

 

That's obviously true.

[goonys evil twin]

So you'd rather hear about this than the WBC or Spring Training? That was my whole point - that I'm sick of this Bonds crap taking headlines from the game on the field.

 

Why is it an either/or proposition. There's still plenty of headlines on the WBC and spring training if that's what you want to read. And it's very easy to ignore this story.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not sure what Baker was supposed to do in that situation.

 

First thing he could have done is say, "Barry, I'm hearing a lot about your Anderson and steroids. Are you using them?"

 

Worrying about whether or not that was the best thing for the team is completely ridiculous when your consider that way of thinking is exactly why so many people ignored it during the 90's. People like to rag on MLB for ignoring the situation, well, Dusty was part of the MLB, he was part of the ignorance. Everybody likes to pin it all on Bud. He's not dictator, Barry is guilty, Dusty is guilty, lots of people are guilty of contributing to the problem and/or doing nothing to solve the problem.

[frostwyrm]

I'm not sure that Baker can be "blamed" for any of this. It's a tough spot for him to be in: He can either turn a blind eye, and get bashed when it comes out, or he can call his megastar LF out, without actual proof, and lose his team, and probably get fired when Bonds goes to Macgowan and complains.

 

Dusty did what 99% of the people in baseball would have done.

 

God, I feel dirty defending Baker...

 

That's how I feel too. Other managers were turning a blind eye too, the whole sport was. It isn't fair to single out any particular manager as being more sleazy than others, unless perhaps that manager was involved in the actual procurement/distributing of drugs.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I'm not sure what Baker was supposed to do in that situation.

 

First thing he could have done is say, "Barry, I'm hearing a lot about your Anderson and steroids. Are you using them?"

 

Worrying about whether or not that was the best thing for the team is completely ridiculous when your consider that way of thinking is exactly why so many people ignored it during the 90's. People like to rag on MLB for ignoring the situation, well, Dusty was part of the MLB, he was part of the ignorance. Everybody likes to pin it all on Bud. He's not dictator, Barry is guilty, Dusty is guilty, lots of people are guilty of contributing to the problem and/or doing nothing to solve the problem.

 

Just about everyone was guilty then. Either they turned a blind eye, actively participated, or were so stupid that the warning signs didn't wake them up. Why single Dusty out?

 

Hey, let's blame Harry Caray while we're at it. he must have known and as a man with a public voice he could have stopped this!!!one1

[goonys evil twin]

Why single Dusty out?

 

Where is Dusty being singled out? He's one of many, because of that should we never mention his name in the discussion?