Hendry Says Baker Stays

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

From Cubs.com.

 

The end of the article has Hendry saying that Dusty will be here at the end of the year to discuss re-signing him. :roll:

[Rusch33]

:roll:

[texascub]

Hendry would not set a time frame as to when he'll make a decision on Baker, whose contract ends after this season.

 

That's not necessarily saying that he's extending him, he's just giving him a chance to prove him self. Not that I agree with it but it's not a firm backing either. I'm hoping this is a ploy by Hendry to give Baker a false sense of security while we're working on finding a replacement so that he doesn't give up on his job and let the team go complete down the crapper but that isn't too far away at this point.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

Hendry would not set a time frame as to when he'll make a decision on Baker, whose contract ends after this season.

 

That's not necessarily saying that he's extending him, he's just giving him a chance to prove him self. Not that I agree with it but it's not a firm backing either. I'm hoping this is a ploy by Hendry to give Baker a false sense of security while we're working on finding a replacement so that he doesn't give up on his job and let the team go complete down the crapper but that isn't too far away at this point.

 

Actually I am afraid that it isnt a ploy. Hendry is going to keep Dusty here and prove to everyone how smart he is by re-signing Dusty so he can run more of his horses, (and ponies), into the ground.

[NewUserName]

Hendry was on Dan Jiggetts show on comcast and said that Dustys job is not in jeopardy. I openly weeped. He also said that most of the current Cub players are in their future plans??? So they probably are not going to clean house. So if Hendry is saying that the current players are good enough to win with and not wouldnt that be saying that Dusty is not doing a good enough job. This turned my weeping into bawling!!!

[KatJ]

I'm hoping this is a ploy by Hendry to give Baker a false sense of security while we're working on finding a replacement so that he doesn't give up on his job and let the team go complete down the crapper but that isn't too far away at this point.

 

First of all, the Cubs are stinking it up so badly that I for one am no longer associating myself with them ("we're working on finding a replacement.") :D

 

I think Baker is, or at this point should be, staying up nights not tweaking the batting order, but figuring out how to limit his liability so he can find himself a decent job next year (that is, unless Hendry is actually fool enough to re-up him). I personally don't care what happens to Baker, or a lot of the toolsy, streaky, injury-risk players Hendry has sacrificed too much money and in-house talent for. Baker could leave tomorrow, no biggie.

 

As a matter of fact, here's a fun way to guarantee playoff-caliber team attendance at home for the rest of the season: nine of the first 10,000 customers over the age of 14 who show up at the ballpark get to manage the team for an inning. Would they really do much worse?

[KatJ]

Hendry was on Dan Jiggetts show on comcast and said that Dustys job is not in jeopardy. I openly weeped. He also said that most of the current Cub players are in their future plans??? So they probably are not going to clean house. So if Hendry is saying that the current players are good enough to win with and not wouldnt that be saying that Dusty is not doing a good enough job. This turned my weeping into bawling!!!

 

Man - it's almost enough to drive you to murder for hire, isn't it? :cry:

[bhogg]

I wouldn't look into that much.

 

Seriously, did anyone expect Hendry to say "Well, as you all can see, Dusty sucks monkey gonads. There's no way in hell we keep him. I mean, the guy has the brain of a two toed sloth. I've royally screwed the pooch on this one -- my bad guys. We'll get a "do over" and see where things take us in '07. Thanks for all the money you goobs have paid to the club. So long, screwy. . . see ya in St Louie!"

 

 

 

He has to say nice things at this point.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I posted this in the game thread and I'll post it again...

 

Hendry says that Baker deserves a chance to turn this around. Can someone please ask him to define what it would be to "turn the season around"??? If he doesn't see that this season is over, then he is delusional. There is no "turning around" this season, it's a lost cause. If by some miracle the Cubs go 56-36 (a .651 winning %) for the remainder of the season, they will end up exactly at .500 and well back of 1st place and the Wild Card. Would that mean that Baker turned the season around? Not to me or any other sensible Cubs fan it wouldn't! Fire Baker already, this is ridiculous!

[Milli1306]

while I am not a Dusty fan by any means, it really would accomplish nothing to fire him now, so why wouldn't hendry give him a vote of confidence? Why not let him manage the team into the ground? if worst comes to worst, the Cubs get a better draft pick than if they fire Dusty and hire a competent manager for the interim...then you get a new manager for next year, and hope he isn't Dusty 2.0

[Irrelevant Dude]

while I am not a Dusty fan by any means, it really would accomplish nothing to fire him now, so why wouldn't hendry give him a vote of confidence?

It never benefits a team to let a lame duck manager run it into the ground. He is fighting for his job and will fall back on what he has done for his whole career, which is play the veterans every day and not let the rookies develop. He has to go so that the Cubs can clean house and let the youngsters play. It does absolutely no good for Neifi Perez to be starting on the 162nd game of the year, we already know what he can do.

[Outshined_One]

I'm convinced one of two things is going on:

 

1) The entire coaching staff has already been given extensions. Absolutely no one has been fired this season, which comes as a complete and total surprise considering how putrid the offense and pitching have been. Typically teams will axe coaches as scapegoats, then hope things somehow turn around. So far, none of that.

 

2) Jim Hendry secretly has a grudge against Dusty Baker and is setting him up to fail. All of the comments he's been making so far seem almost tongue-in-cheek regarding this team and the coaching. How can anyone seriously be this convinced that the team still could contend? It's like Hendry is saying these comments, then probably goes back into his office and laughs his rear end off.

 

That's the only rationalization I can do with this junk without getting to the point of me wanting to completely give up on sports altogether.

[erik316wttn]

I'm all for what the Knicks did.

 

This is Hendry's bed, he should have to lie in it. Give him one year to fix his mess, and if there isn't significant improvement, he's gone.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

Because Murton and Cedeno and the younger pitchers need to learn that this is not the way it will be all the time. Zambrano needs to be protected. Prior will need protecteing as the season goes on.

 

The message needs to be sent that half-way play isnt going to be tolerated, at anytime, in any measure.

 

Thats why Dusty needs to go now.

[Soul]

I wouldn't look into that much.

 

Seriously, did anyone expect Hendry to say "Well, as you all can see, Dusty sucks monkey gonads. There's no way in hell we keep him. I mean, the guy has the brain of a two toed sloth. I've royally screwed the pooch on this one -- my bad guys. We'll get a "do over" and see where things take us in '07. Thanks for all the money you goobs have paid to the club. So long, screwy. . . see ya in St Louie!"

 

 

 

He has to say nice things at this point.

 

 

Ahhhh, but silence can say so much.

 

Instead though, Hendry chooses to publicly endorse Baker again and again. And let's not forget it's way past time when most other managers would have gotten the axe.

 

My vote is: Hendry means every word of it. And we're stuck with Baker for the rest of the season, and perhaps beyond.

[Irrelevant Dude]

1) The entire coaching staff has already been given extensions. Absolutely no one has been fired this season, which comes as a complete and total surprise considering how putrid the offense and pitching have been. Typically teams will axe coaches as scapegoats, then hope things somehow turn around. So far, none of that.

This could definitely be the case and it would make sense. It's possible that Hendry has a "gentleman's agreement" with Baker from early in the season that they would get the extension done and now he doesn't want to back out on his promise.

[bhogg]

I wouldn't look into that much.

 

Seriously, did anyone expect Hendry to say "Well, as you all can see, Dusty sucks monkey gonads. There's no way in hell we keep him. I mean, the guy has the brain of a two toed sloth. I've royally screwed the pooch on this one -- my bad guys. We'll get a "do over" and see where things take us in '07. Thanks for all the money you goobs have paid to the club. So long, screwy. . . see ya in St Louie!"

 

 

 

He has to say nice things at this point.

 

 

Ahhhh, but silence can say so much.

 

Instead though, Hendry chooses to publicly endorse Baker again and again. And let's not forget it's way past time when most other managers would have gotten the axe.

 

My vote is: Hendry means every word of it. And we're stuck with Baker for the rest of the season, and perhaps beyond.

 

 

If the media asks and hendry says "no comment," then all hell would break lose --- if they don't want to fire Baker during the season, this would not be a good situation.

 

I doubt Hendry is going out of his way to give baker a vote of confidence.

 

Historically, the vote of confidence has been the kiss of death for pro coaches / managers.

 

Then again, this organization is so bass-ackwards that this vote of confidence is just that. . . baker stays. . . . . grrrrrrr.

[Balsa]

This is just to quiet the newspapers.

 

Don't look for Dusty to be extended at all. My guess is that he "gets a great offer" at another team somewhere and they "decide to part ways".

[CUBZ99]

The Chicago Tribune article seems to say the exact opposite. Hendry seems to take offense to Baker's excuses and implies that Baker is not doing a good enough job with the youth.

[rocket]

until baker's ties with the cubs are completely severed i'm never going to be convinced that hendry doesn't think baker is the absolute right man for the job, and that baker is perfectly capable of managing through this.

[Pinktermite]

Dusty will get axed. Just give it some time. It'll happen...

[srbin84]

I'm all for what the Knicks did.

 

This is Hendry's bed, he should have to lie in it. Give him one year to fix his mess, and if there isn't significant improvement, he's gone.

 

I proposed this exact scenerio about two months ago. Why not?....other than having to see Hendry in uniform.

[Andy]

How is it that our players are good enough to win with, and yet Dusty is doing a good job guiding them to 28-48?

[NCCubFan]

The Cubs are winless since Lee's return. They could easily get swept again at home. They're playing like Little Leaguers on the field (my apologies to Little Leaguers for comparing them to the Cubs). Baker MUST go NOW.

[soccer10k]

At this point, I'll be content if Baker isn't extended. Obviously I would just like Hendry to fire Baker but since I doubt that is going to happen, I have to hope for the next best thing which is no extention.