Fatalism

[Irrelevant Dude]

fa·tal·ism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ftl-zm)

n.

1. The doctrine that all events are predetermined by fate and are therefore unalterable.

2. Acceptance of the belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable.

This is the word that Boers & Bernstein use to describe Dusty Baker's attitude toward the outcome of games. I think this perfectly describes one of the major flaws in the current coaching staff. They have the players believing that games are won or lost based on luck, magic, and the baseball gods, rather than by the actions of the players themselves. It is the belief that everything is happening to the Cubs and they can't control the "breaks." Anyway, I just wanted to post this because I think it sums the coaching staff (and the team) up perfectly. A team adopts the style of its coach, and unfortunately this is Dusty Baker's style.

[Fro]

That's a great attitude to have with a supposedly "cursed" franchise. :lol:

[Caryatid]

This is not unique to the coaching staff. Everyone, from the President down to the majority of (uninformed) fans have this belief that things outside the team's control (luck/breaks/"curses") are causing the team to be this inept.

 

What makes this worse is that by believing things are happening "to" this team, it implicitly absolves anyone in a decision-making position within the organization from responsibility for this mess.

 

The more fans, the press, etc. buy into this, the longer this garbage is going to go on without real organizational change.

[CubinNY]

Three great posts in a row.

 

Just jugding from the qoutes of Dusty, he seems to have a mystical approach to life. When he left SF it was because it was meant to be. Perhaps he and some of the Cubs believe the injuries, poor approach to batting, and repeated mental errors are just the way things are. In certian respects they are. But it is not the gods shining disfavor on a cursed franchise or charma for a previous life. It is what it is; really bad pitching, really bad hitting, and really bad defense. Maybe a change of philosophy is in order. Or better yet, a change in management

 

As the Tuna says, at some point you are what your record says you are.

Edited May 31, 2006 by CubinNY

[BigbadB]

Interesting thread. I'm sure there's a lot of truth in this.

[A New Era]

Dusty sucks.

 

sorry. Had to get that in there by atleast post #5.

[da bears]

Yeah I heard Boers and Bernstein talking about that. Gotta say Bernstein makes some really good points about this.

[CubsBullsBears]

:Looks at qoute in sig:

[Scott G. F.]

IMO I disagree. I believe Dusty says what he says to satisfy the media but doesn't really believe that garbage. I mean he uses the dialog from "Bull Durham" to a tee. I see it as almost sarcastic and most fans take it literal. The quote about "clogging the bases" is so taken out of context that it sounds like Dusty is crazy. If you honesty believe he sits in the dugout and trys to get his batters to, strikeout, not take walks, and baiscally not try and get on then your crazy.

 

The mysterious thinking about Dusty has lead people to the wrong conclusion. If he's such a "let the player play" type then why blame him for a Neifi bunt in the 9th? Why blame him for Cedano swinging at the first pitch all the time? Why credit him for Murtons plate approach. Can you credit him for the better defense see by T Walker? What about JP's 2005 carry over OBP slump?

 

You blame the manager for things he cannot control and don't give him credit for things that he can control.

 

Dusty is not perfect no manager is, but don't write and tell me that he's all for losing. That he enjoys the long nasty month of May 2006. I have been critcal of Dusty because he sit on his arse too much IMO. He should interviene sooner aka pitching etc., but I bellieve a pitching coach is sitting right next to him.

 

Dusty allow players to play the game. I blame the players for not holding up there end of the bargin. I blame the players as a whole for not being accountable to the fans, the manager and the organization and playing to their highest level.

 

Dusty treats players like men and they should act accordingly. I don't believe they are holding up their end of the deal.

[Caryatid]

 

Dusty treats players like men and they should act accordingly. I don't believe they are holding up their end of the deal.

 

 

If that is Dusty's strength, then the Cubs could get the exact same manager for about 4.5 million cheaper.

[Scott G. F.]

 

Dusty treats players like men and they should act accordingly. I don't believe they are holding up their end of the deal.

 

 

If that is Dusty's strength, then the Cubs could get the exact same manager for about 4.5 million cheaper.

 

agree