Front Page of ESPN: Dusty the Scapegoat

[Hacking Out Machine]

The "he hasn't forgotten how to manage" line sums up exactly what is wroong with baseball people. To them, once you do anything good in the game, you are always that good, and once you build up any sort of history, you have the credentials. Every single man who has spent any significant amount of time around the game of baseball (but only the professional game) is a "good baseball man". It's all about tenure. They are like a teacher's union. Where you don't have to be a good teacher, you just have to be hired back often enough. That's not to say there aren't any legitimately good baseball men, or any good teachers for that matter. But it takes so little to get praise in this sport it's amazing. Guys like Neifi and Rusch are great. In the NFL those guys would have been gone years ago. There's no ridiculous love affair with veterans or those who have been there. It's a what have you done for me lately sport. Baseball is a "hey you can't criticize him, he's been here a long time" sport.

 

 

It's questionable whether or not Dusty ever knew how to manage. He's always known how to put on a uniform and talk about baseball. But he's had trouble filling out lineup cards, making proper changes to those cards, getting guys ready to come into games in time, pulling guys out of games in time, thinking more than 15 seconds into the future, strategizing in any way shape or form, keeping a clubhouse upbeat, positive and strictly focused on the task at hand, getting the most out of players, getting his team to the postseason, winning in the postseason, stemming the tide of bad momentum and developing young players into great players. His managerial career was propped up by the greatest hitter in the game. Without him, he's been nothing special.

 

Very well put. And might I suggest that no team subscribes to these thoughts more than the Cubs.

[soccer10k]

The "he hasn't forgotten how to manage" line sums up exactly what is wroong with baseball people. To them, once you do anything good in the game, you are always that good, and once you build up any sort of history, you have the credentials. Every single man who has spent any significant amount of time around the game of baseball (but only the professional game) is a "good baseball man". It's all about tenure. They are like a teacher's union. Where you don't have to be a good teacher, you just have to be hired back often enough. That's not to say there aren't any legitimately good baseball men, or any good teachers for that matter. But it takes so little to get praise in this sport it's amazing. Guys like Neifi and Rusch are great. In the NFL those guys would have been gone years ago. There's no ridiculous love affair with veterans or those who have been there. It's a what have you done for me lately sport. Baseball is a "hey you can't criticize him, he's been here a long time" sport.

 

 

It's questionable whether or not Dusty ever knew how to manage. He's always known how to put on a uniform and talk about baseball. But he's had trouble filling out lineup cards, making proper changes to those cards, getting guys ready to come into games in time, pulling guys out of games in time, thinking more than 15 seconds into the future, strategizing in any way shape or form, keeping a clubhouse upbeat, positive and strictly focused on the task at hand, getting the most out of players, getting his team to the postseason, winning in the postseason, stemming the tide of bad momentum and developing young players into great players. His managerial career was propped up by the greatest hitter in the game. Without him, he's been nothing special.

 

But Dusty was on deck when Aaron hit #715. That has to mean something doesn't it? What...it doesn't? :shock:

[NCCubFan]

Isn't he the guy who wrote Cubs Nation?

Yes, he is.

[Andy]

Calling Gene Wojokowski a sportswriter is an insult to sportswriters.

Isn't he the guy who wrote Cubs Nation?

One of my favorite books, and yes. He's a good author, great storyteller, solid as a fan, not so much as a sportswriter.

[3Dog]

Goony, if you have not written a book yet please do! Or if you have then please tell us where we can buy them!

[3Dog]

And I'll bet the "nice" Goony twin is one of those "baseball people" lifers a la Dusty and Joe Morgan. :wink: