Have the players quit on Dusty?

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Do you believe the players who most claim love to play for our current manager have "shut it down" for the time being? Or is this club currently as bad as they have been playing?

[minnesotacubsfan]

Do you believe the players who most claim love to play for our current manager have "shut it down" for the time being? Or is this club currently as bad as they have been playing?

 

something is up. thye have more talent then to go 1-13

[YearofDaCubs]

I think even the players want a change to be made.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think there was an emotional let down when Lee got hurt. That coupled with inconsistent pitching, an inept offense, a long grueling road trip, and a bad approach at the plate have all led to the demise. I don't know that the players quit, but I think it is getting to that point.

[stitchface]

I think the players are actually pressing. that and they aren't good.

[CubinNY]

I think there was an emotional let down when Lee got hurt. That coupled with inconsistent pitching, an inept offense, a long grueling road trip, and a bad approach at the plate have all led to the demise. I don't know that the players quit, but I think it is getting to that point.

 

I agree. When the Cubs got home from LA they played a three game serise against the Marlins. After the Marlins serise in which they had 14 or 15 hits in three games and still won two out of three, I made thread "Dark Cloud or Good Sign".

 

This slide started there and they haven't had an off day since.

 

In retrospect, it wasn't a dark cloud but a Category 5 hurricane.

[snoodmonger]

Problems:

 

1. Mediocre team to begin with.

2. Several key injuries.

3. Playing horribly, even for them.

4. Idiot manager.

 

It's the Perfect Storm.

[Sammy Sofa]

While I'm sure the absence of Lee is something the players couldn't ignore, if him not being there was such a crippling blow, why didn't they just bottom out right away? Instead they manage to hang around for a few victories or close games...they played like a team that had to play harder. Mind you, they didn't often play "good," but they didn't topple off the map until well after Lee was gone. Him being injured is clearly a factor, but more must have contributed to the basically team-wide slump that hit. Maybe Aramis still struggling and making it all too obvious that they have essentially zero power in their lineup?

[Soul]

Without Prior, Wood, and Lee? And with discombobulated position players being thrown in every which way such as Walker & Mabry & Neifi? And with Dempster feeling like the man that time forgot? And with Dusty being as terrible a manager as he is?

 

 

We might not be 1-13 bad. But we're bad, make no mistake.

 

I pegged us for 3rd or 4th place. As it turns out, that was probably optimistic.

[Caryatid]

The Cubs went down in the ninth inning on three pitches. Three. Pitches.

 

 

If that doesn't say they've given up, I don't know what does.

[stitchface]

While I'm sure the absence of Lee is something the players couldn't ignore, if him not being there was such a crippling blow, why didn't they just bottom out right away? Instead they manage to hang around for a few victories or close games...they played like a team that had to play harder. Mind you, they didn't often play "good," but they didn't topple off the map until well after Lee was gone. Him being injured is clearly a factor, but more must have contributed to the basically team-wide slump that hit. Maybe Aramis still struggling and making it all too obvious that they have essentially zero power in their lineup?

 

well, they came back and won the game lee got hurt in - then they lost 2 of 3 in st. louis but won sunday night and the first two games against florida for a three game winning streak. they lost a winnable game in the series finale against florida and then maddux shut down the brewers. The following day, rusch took them right out of the game and the slide began with two blowouts against milwaukee. Still they won the first game against pittsburgh before being shut down by zach duke in game two. then the trip from hell began.

 

When I look back at that, I think the players got nervous and started pressing after the brewers series. things have just gotten worse and worse. in summary, its all rusch's fault.

[minnesotacubsfan]

its all rusch's fault.

 

 

amen.

 

:P

[Sosa21MVP]

The way the Cubs have been playing, they should replace the team bus with a clown car. :(

[snoodmonger]

in summary, its all rusch's fault.

 

excellent.

[mul21]

While I'm sure the absence of Lee is something the players couldn't ignore, if him not being there was such a crippling blow, why didn't they just bottom out right away? Instead they manage to hang around for a few victories or close games...they played like a team that had to play harder. Mind you, they didn't often play "good," but they didn't topple off the map until well after Lee was gone. Him being injured is clearly a factor, but more must have contributed to the basically team-wide slump that hit. Maybe Aramis still struggling and making it all too obvious that they have essentially zero power in their lineup?

 

This is an effect most often seen in basketball teams because one player can have so much more of an effect. The remaining players up their level of play for a short time but run out of gas after a few weeks, maybe a month. With the Cubs, the pitching held them in there for a couple of weeks with the offense getting an occasional timely hit. Now the pitching is crap, there is no hitting and you get what we're seeing. When Lee comes back, you'll most likely see a couple of week surge and then the fall back to reality. This team wasn't good enough to begin with and to expect them to sustain the pace they were on without Lee, Wood, and Prior and the leadership those guys provide is just false hope. I'll get off my soapbox now.

[ConstableRabbit]

My second loss ever at Wrigley Field today.

 

I don't know if they're quitting, but as was said, it's just really irritating to see the first two hitters in the inning get outs on 2-3 total pitches, and then see the thirs hitter try and take a few and end up in an 0-1, 0-2 hole right off.

 

I honestly don't know how it got THIS bad...

[mul21]

My second loss ever at Wrigley Field today.

 

I don't know if they're quitting, but as was said, it's just really irritating to see the first two hitters in the inning get outs on 2-3 total pitches, and then see the thirs hitter try and take a few and end up in an 0-1, 0-2 hole right off.

 

I honestly don't know how it got THIS bad...

 

Here's how: Dusty is an enabling, excuse-making, buffoon of a manager and has no idea what the heck he's doing in the dugout. No to harp on things, but he literally cost the Cubs a chance to go extra inning yesterday with his ridiculous bunt calls.

[biittner77]

Dusty Baker's teams never quit*

 

* except when they get down early

* or when they lose a lead late

* or when they are playing a team from the NL West

* or when they're playing a team in the NL Central

* or when they're playing a team with an "S" in their name

* or when their 3 best players are hurt

* or when a rookie pitcher is the starter

[RynoRules]

They have quit.

[Balsa]

According to the new headline at Cubs.com the players haven't quit on Dusty.

 

I can just see Carrie Muskat asking for quotes on this article. "Say some nice things about Dusty, he could be in the hot seat."

 

At the same time, the article kinda works on me. I mean, if the players are that insistent upon Dusty being such a good manager...

[Banedon]

According to the new headline at Cubs.com the players haven't quit on Dusty.

 

I can just see Carrie Muskat asking for quotes on this article. "Say some nice things about Dusty, he could be in the hot seat."

 

At the same time, the article kinda works on me. I mean, if the players are that insistent upon Dusty being such a good manager...

 

If all of a stores employees love the store manager, but the store is poorly run and not competing with the other stores, do you think he'd keep his job? Do you think he should??

 

EDIT: Reading that article, only Williamson appears to actually defend Baker. Barrett even goes so far as to say they shouldn't blame anyone else, but that kind of skirts the issue of whether Baker is actually doing a good job.

Edited May 15, 2006 by Banedon

[RynoRules]

According to the new headline at Cubs.com the players haven't quit on Dusty.

 

I can just see Carrie Muskat asking for quotes on this article. "Say some nice things about Dusty, he could be in the hot seat."

 

At the same time, the article kinda works on me. I mean, if the players are that insistent upon Dusty being such a good manager...

 

Then they haven't been paying attention or are loyal to their own detriment.

[Caryatid]

Why wouldn't they love Baker? Its like having a substitute teacher every day-a guy who isn't going to ask you to do anything, isn't going to hold you to any standards, a guy you can just walk all over whenever you want. Baker is a great protector of his players, but that doesn't mean he's a leader.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

They are doing what is expected of them. Watch for the first guy to say he dosent like Baker. He will be in AAA so fast it will seem like gale force winds or traded if they dont have options. The only players who might get away with it are the guys who are too popular to do that too.

 

What is being said internally is another matter entirely. But right now the players are being professional and supporting the skipper, because that is what you do. There is no other way around it. Dont hate them because the system demands it of them, hate the system.

 

IMO when you have a player skirt an answer carefully read deep between the lines.

[srbin84]

I don't believe players "shut it down".......way too much money at stake. Would you do a bad job at work to get your boss in trouble?