It's not Dusty's fault, but

[Backtobanks]

Only Dusty can make 2 double switches and end up with a lineup including Perez, Blanco, and Bynum. Strategically he took out the correct players (who made the last out in the previous inning), but taking out Walker and Murton when Lee is injured, Ramirez is slumping, and Barrett isn't playing doesn't leave much hope of coming back from a 3-run deficit.

[Guest]

Only Dusty can make 2 double switches and end up with a lineup including Perez, Blanco, and Bynum. Strategically he took out the correct players (who made the last out in the previous inning), but taking out Walker and Murton when Lee is injured, Ramirez is slumping, and Barrett isn't playing doesn't leave much hope of coming back from a 3-run deficit.

You don't make double switches to take out your best offensive players when you're losing. You just don't do it. Dusty's not the reason we lost that game, but it was still lousy managing.

[stitchface]

making double switches in the 5th inning is just plain stupid. the lineup that ended the game was an abomination

[abuck1220]

not to mention the fact that when walker was double switched out, the pitcher's spot wasn't due up until 5th the next inning.

[Jehrico]

Only Dusty can make 2 double switches and end up with a lineup including Perez, Blanco, and Bynum. Strategically he took out the correct players (who made the last out in the previous inning), but taking out Walker and Murton when Lee is injured, Ramirez is slumping, and Barrett isn't playing doesn't leave much hope of coming back from a 3-run deficit.

 

Aramis made the last out before the first double switch, but Walker got pulled instead. The way Aramis and Walker have been hitting the ball, I would have rather seen Aramis pulled than Walker. That said, a double switch in the 5th pulling either of them was just flat out stupid.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Whenever Dusty comes out to make one of his frequent (and often unnecessary) double switches, I just hear Mr. Burns saying "It's called playing the percentages. It's what smart managers do to win ballgames."

[nilodnayr]

not to mention the fact that when walker was double switched out, the pitcher's spot wasn't due up until 5th the next inning.

 

If you are going to score runs in an inning, most likely you are going to have to get to the 5th batter.

[SouthSideRyan]

not to mention the fact that when walker was double switched out, the pitcher's spot wasn't due up until 5th the next inning.

 

If you are going to score runs in an inning, most likely you are going to have to get to the 5th batter.

 

If you are going to score runs, it's most likely an idea to neither have the pitcher, nor Freddy Bynum batting 3rd to break up the actual hitters on the team.

[Guest]

making double switches in the 5th inning is just plain stupid. the lineup that ended the game was an abomination

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the real purpose of a double switch supposed to be letting the pitcher work more than one inning? That way you don't have to PH for the pitcher when the spot comes up? Isn't it more likely that you're going to use a reliever for more than one inning in the middle innings than in the late innings?

 

I don't mind double switching in the fifth. I just mind that Dusty double switched when he put in a pitcher who wasn't likely to go very long anyway. In fact, Williamson was out of the game before the pitcher spot came up (since it was still five hitters away when he was put into the game). Which meant that when he took out Williamson, he had to double switch again to fix the first stupid move.

 

I'm just not certain that Dusty knows you can take out the pitcher without making a double switch.

[Big Z 38]

This is why the NL needs the DH, for morons like Johnnie B. Baker Jr.

[abuck1220]

not to mention the fact that when walker was double switched out, the pitcher's spot wasn't due up until 5th the next inning.

 

If you are going to score runs in an inning, most likely you are going to have to get to the 5th batter.

 

let's worry about that problem when we get to it.

 

and if you do get down to the 5th batter of the inning, it's likely that you're either back in the game or have guys on base...wouldn't you like to be able to pick your hitter for the situation instead of being locked into having neifi bat?

[tinkers1]

"It is what it is, Dude" Dusty Baker

 

"walks are overrated" Dusty Baker

 

And we expect brilliance from a guy who uses quotes like those?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

You just can't walk hitters in front of Pujols. That's what it boils down to.

[Big Z 38]

"It is what it is, Dude" Dusty Baker

 

"walks are overrated" Dusty Baker

 

And we expect brilliance from a guy who uses quotes like those?

The only intelligent thing he's ever said is the qoute in my sig

[abuck1220]

Todd Walker came out of the lineup on a double switch in the bottom of the fifth inning Saturday, a move manager Dusty Baker was asked to explain afterward.

 

"I didn't have any choice because I had a short bullpen," Baker said, referring to his use of four relievers in Friday night's 9-3 loss.

 

Walker, who came in third in the league with a .378 average, didn't seem pleased but tried to be diplomatic when asked about it after the game.

 

"I'm not going to answer," he said. "It was a double switch. It was not my decision."

[Andy]

"It is what it is, Dude" Dusty Baker

 

"walks are overrated" Dusty Baker

 

And we expect brilliance from a guy who uses quotes like those?

By no means do we expect brilliance or even competence. It just continues to amaze us that he has a job.

 

And Walker should want out. I wouldn't blame him. This organization is like a tomb for intelligence right now.

[Big Z 38]

Dusty Baker and Jim Hendry: Experts at Stupidity

[RynoRules]

You just can't walk hitters in front of Pujols. That's what it boils down to.

 

Agreed, but that double switch in the 5th was not a brilliant move. Moreover, Cedeno appeared to be out of position on Pujols' single; he did not hit it that hard. I kept waiting for Ronny to appear in the middle of my screen to scoop the ball.

[RynoRules]

Dusty Baker and Jim Hendry: Experts at Stupidity

 

Very insightful.

[FergieJ31]

You just can't walk hitters in front of Pujols. That's what it boils down to.

 

Agreed, but that double switch in the 5th was not a brilliant move. Moreover, Cedeno appeared to be out of position on Pujols' single; he did not hit it that hard. I kept waiting for Ronny to appear in the middle of my screen to scoop the ball.

 

My thought exactly. Ronny definitely cheated a bit toward 3B.

[cubfan1955]

My guess is the coaching staff positions the defense and Cedeno was playing where he was told to play. Quite obviously they were playing Pujols to pull the ball.

[RynoRules]

My guess is the coaching staff positions the defense and Cedeno was playing where he was told to play. Quite obviously they were playing Pujols to pull the ball.

 

Well then, if Cedeno was so "obviously" playing him to pull in such a sever manner, shouldn't Walker have been playing virtually up the middle?

[cubfan1955]

With our coaching staff...probably not.

[Danny82]

My guess is the coaching staff positions the defense and Cedeno was playing where he was told to play. Quite obviously they were playing Pujols to pull the ball.

 

Well then, if Cedeno was so "obviously" playing him to pull in such a sever manner, shouldn't Walker have been playing virtually up the middle?

 

I guess that depends on what the spray charts say.

 

Also, I don't remember Baker ever saying "walks are overrated". Does anyone have a link? Maybe I missed it.

[cubfan1955]

My guess is the coaching staff positions the defense and Cedeno was playing where he was told to play. Quite obviously they were playing Pujols to pull the ball.

 

Well then, if Cedeno was so "obviously" playing him to pull in such a sever manner, shouldn't Walker have been playing virtually up the middle?

 

I guess that depends on what the spray charts say.

 

Also, I don't remember Baker ever saying "walks are overrated". Does anyone have a link? Maybe I missed it.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2669