The Official Dusty Excuse Thread

[BeerHere]

I was thinking this morning about all of the excuses Dusty has thrown out over the past four years and think I have a pretty thorough list. Let me know if I've missed any:

 

- You can't win without your horses (2005 referring to the multitude of injuries)

- The team is too young (2006 referring to left, short and the rotation)

- We don't have lefty to throw BP (2006 when answering why the team struggles against lefties)

- Players from warm weather countries don't play well in cold weather (2004 referrnig to the offensive struggles early in the season)

- Day games are harder to play because you have to get up early (2004 referring the team attempts to secure more night games)

- Pitching injuries are difficult to diagnose (2005 referring to the ambiguity surrounding Prior's return from the DL)

- Guys try to be overly-aggressive (2004 referring to the teams poor baserunning, specifically Moises Alou)

- He saved us last year (2006 referring to his over use of Perez over better options)

 

 

What makes the above more frustrating is that every team has to deal with most of these issues. Good teams (specifically good managers) find ways to win despite these issues. This is the critical aspect that Dusty just doesn't seem to understand. No accountability, no objective assessment, just pathetic excuses from a man that played the game and doesn't want to rock the boat or upset players.

 

Simply awful.

Edited June 21, 2006 by BeerHere

[gflore34]

I don't remember the exact verbiage but, blaming the inept base running of Jacque Jones on the "light air" in Arizona is thus far, my favorite excuse this season.

[woodchip2153]

tall grass at wrigley for Pierre.

[goonys evil twin]

I like the trying too hard excuse.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Sorry, I see his lips moving but all I hear is "blah, blah, blah".

[Caryatid]

"I want my team back"-2006 (another injury excuse)

"Its a society problem"

"This is a hitter's time of year. The ball just flies out of the park." (after Prior gives up 4 HRs, the Cubs give up 12...and score 2)

[soccer10k]

Doesn't he always give credit to the other team and make it seem like the Cubs were powerless to do anything?

[BeerHere]

"This is a hitter's time of year. The ball just flies out of the park." (after Prior gives up 4 HRs, the Cubs give up 12...and score 2)

 

I forgot about this one. Apparently he feels that his team doesn't have "hitters". Or maybe the wind was always blowing in during the bottom half of innings.

[BeerHere]

Doesn't he always give credit to the other team and make it seem like the Cubs were powerless to do anything?

 

Yes because he's a dreadful motivator.

[goonys evil twin]

My teams don't have poor fundamentals.

My teams don't make baserunning mistakes.

My teams always play deep into October.

 

Not exactly excuses, but he's used them as a way to deflect blame from him for poor play by his Cubs teams.

[JGalt73]

The real excuse, other teams have gotten the book -

 

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0940279738.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1126778353_.jpg

 

You Can Teach Hitting

by Dusty Baker

[soapy]

blaming announcers for distracting his players by pointing out their actual weaknesses.

[thedaymen]

- He saved us last year (2006 referring to his over use of Perez over better options)

 

What makes the above more frustrating is that every team has to deal with most of these issues.

 

Unfortunately, only one team has to deal with Neifi Perez :D

[CubsBullsBears]

"Walks clog the bases for guys who can run."

[soapy]

Was it last year when the pitchers were having trouble remembering to cover first base multiple times on grounders to the right side and Dusty just said, "Talk to Rothchild. That's his department."

[soapy]

My teams don't have poor fundamentals.

My teams don't make baserunning mistakes.

My teams always play deep into October.

 

Not exactly excuses, but he's used them as a way to deflect blame from him for poor play by his Cubs teams.

 

Yeah, those aren't excuses, they're just plain lies.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

Here's one of his gems on day games:

 

“Our greatest cause of concern would be day-after-night games”

[Careless]

"We have poor fundamentals because so many of our players are from other teams"

But I'm not absolutely sure if it was Dusty who said that

[Derwood]

Having or not having "the book" on players

Gotta tip your cap

[Outshined_One]

"I've always managed winning teams."

 

And of course, the ultimate deflection tool that's like a shiny object for stupid reporters:

 

"I was on deck when Hank Aaron hit 715."

[CubsBullsBears]

Didn't he say some crap last year about why he was going to play veterens over young kids for some reason we were facing playoff teams? I can't find the qoute

[bobbyd20]

Didn't he say some crap last year about why he was going to play veterens over young kids for some reason we were facing playoff teams? I can't find the qoute

 

I think it was something along the lines of he had to play veterans even though the Cubs were out of the race to maintain the integrity of the post-season chase for other teams.

 

The other teams probably were happy to see this since they already "have the book" on guys like Neifi, Macias, etc. and don't "have the book" on young players like Murton, Cedeno, etc.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Remember when he said the criticism he never plays young players is unfounded because he always plays them during spring training?

[CubsBullsBears]

Didn't he say some crap last year about why he was going to play veterens over young kids for some reason we were facing playoff teams? I can't find the qoute

 

I think it was something along the lines of he had to play veterans even though the Cubs were out of the race to maintain the integrity of the post-season chase for other teams.

 

The other teams probably were happy to see this since they already "have the book" on guys like Neifi, Macias, etc. and don't "have the book" on young players like Murton, Cedeno, etc.

Yeah, it was. I can't find the qoute, though. :(

[n l doormat]

- He saved us last year (2006 referring to his over use of Perez over better options)

I suppose he did save them last year - from having to wait a month to start their vacations.