More Proof of Baker's Selfishness

[Caryatid]

We've already discussed ad nauseum the fact that this guy will make any excuse imaginable to make sure we understand that NOTHING is his fault. Well, he took it a step further today. This from the Trib:

 

 

Is it time to start bringing up prospects from Triple-A Iowa, like left-hander Rich Hill, who's 6-1 with a 1.81 earned-run average there, or second baseman Ryan Theriot, who's hitting .307?

 

"We have quite a few kids here now," Baker said, ticking off the names of Marmol, Marshall, Murton, Ronny Cedeno, Will Ohman and Roberto Novoa.

 

"Right now there's not room [for Hill or Theriot]. At the same time, if that happens and we lose even more, are you going to hold that against my record, too, when we're developing?"

 

He's more caught up in what the reporters think of his overall record than what would be best for this club.

 

He continues to make it obvious that this isn't about the Cubs for Baker-it is about him and HIS record, HIS reputation. He could care less about the team he's coaching-this is a guy in it for his own glorification. Absolutely pathetic.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Its inexcusable not to let Rich Hill finally pitch consistently for the Cubs in the second half of this pathetic season. Don't yank him between Iowa, the rotation, long relief. Let him start for 10 consecutive times through the rotation without any fear of getting sent back down. He's at the point, with his age, that this is make or break time.

 

Then again, Hendry might call him up, its a whole other thing to see if Baker wants to use him. Especially if he's protecting his overall career W-L record.

[Southpaw191679666239]

Especially if he's protecting his overall career W-L record.

 

Which is exactly why he needs to be fired next week.... whether or not that happens, is another thing entirely. This will be one of the slowest weeks in Cubdom.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Baker is just defensive. Everyday he has to hear about his job security. I not apologizing for him and no way am I a Dusty Baker backer, but I do think his reaction is very natural.

 

Other managers in the same position would react also. The reaction would depend on the personality. Leland would chew out the media, Guillen would curse at everyone, and GM Bowden would just go get blasted.

 

Baker just feels that any move he makes will be scrutinized whether it is the right move or not because it is him making the move. That being said I have no idea why he doesn't recognize that playing the youth(including Hill, Theriot, and Restovich to name a few) would atleast be defensible.

 

It would be hard to argue that Theriot should ride the pine and Neifi start everyday especially in a lost season(good season too). His defense that we need to see what the young guys can do on an everyday basis would get a few more fans on his side. But, he just doesn't see that and is so gung ho on experience/veterans.

[CUBZ99]

Hill will get plenty of starts once Maddux is traded.

[A New Era]

Baker just feels that any move he makes will be scrutinized whether it is the right move or not because it is him making the move. That being said I have no idea why he doesn't recognize that playing the youth(including Hill, Theriot, and Restovich to name a few) would atleast be defensible.

 

He's critisized BECAUSE he doesn't do what's right for the CUBS first. Let him talk jim into bringing up Hill and The Riot and play them consistantly. Then he won't get critized. It's the right thing to do, there is no choice to make. But the fact that there IS a choice to make, is why Baker get's criticized. And rightfully so.

[A New Era]

Hill will get plenty of starts once Maddux is traded.

 

Yeah, but it would be better for him to get over his lumps now, not in the first half of '07.

[CuseCubFan69]

Especially if he's protecting his overall career W-L record.

 

Which is exactly why he needs to be fired next week.... whether or not that happens, is another thing entirely. This will be one of the slowest weeks in Cubdom.

 

He's needs to be gone now is right. Hendry picked the wrong guy at the wrong time and this mistake will haunt the Cubs until he is removed. I agree that Baker is reacting to the pressure but that's what bugs me even more. He is just thinking of HIMSELF and not the team. Why would the players not follow his lead and do the same? He's a very nice man but I do not want him around as the manager for the Cubs for another day.

 

What I'm worried about is if Hendry is now worried about his job and he'll get some clown in there that is also in a "must win mode" and this team will suck for years. Hendry hasn't traded the farm yet but I hope he doesn't get to that point and the Cubs can him after he does because I don't trust him anymore when it comes to making deals.

[JC]

Its all about Baker all the time. It was Baker first in San Fran, and now its Baker first in Chicago. If Hendry wasn't so star struck by big names, he would have seen that before plundering the Cubs into this Baker mess for four years.

 

What a brutal mistake.

[CubsBullsBears]

Just fire the guy, and take away his unproductive veterens so he is forced to play the kids.

[cubfan1955]

I'm guessing that message was sent more to Hendry than the media. He just used the media to deliver it to Hendry. So now what does Hendry do? Go crawling to Dusty with an extension so he'll play the kids? Or stand up, show some backbone and fire his sorry behind?

 

He is right on one account though. There isn't room for them until Hendry trades some of the deadwood on the team.

 

And how is he considering Ohman and Novoa as kids. They've both been here going on two full years now.

[CuseCubFan69]

IMO this guys ego is WAYYYYY bigger than his skills as a manager. Dusty please go prove us wrong and manage the Yanks or some other vet/horses team and I bid you good luck. If you leave now it'll give you a chance to look around and negotiate a deal with a team and since you are a proven winner you should have no problems doing so.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm guessing that message was sent more to Hendry than the media. He just used the media to deliver it to Hendry. So now what does Hendry do? Go crawling to Dusty with an extension so he'll play the kids? Or stand up, show some backbone and fire his sorry behind?

 

He is right on one account though. There isn't room for them until Hendry trades some of the deadwood on the team.

 

And how is he considering Ohman and Novoa as kids. They've both been here going on two full years now.

 

Minimum of 7 to be a vet or a stud for 5 years in the book according to Dusty. All else are kids and not worth playing, investing time or teaching the game to. They do help with excuses though.

[Mark_R]

Is there a big DFA party that leaves along with Dusty and his clowns? Mabry, Perez, Bynum, Rusch?

[CuseCubFan69]

Is there a big DFA party that leaves along with Dusty and his clowns? Mabry, Perez, Bynum, Rusch?

 

We'd see who wanted those guys around Hendry or Baker if Baker is released. Granted Hendry is the one that makes the final decision but I have to believe Baker had some kind of impact on some of the pickups Hendry made.

[frostwyrm]

So if we have to do player development we can't hold that against Dusty's record, likewise if any of his horses are injured. Only when circumstances are ideal should any games count towards Dusty's record.

[Too Tall]

Is it time to start bringing up prospects from Triple-A Iowa, like left-hander Rich Hill, who's 6-1 with a 1.81 earned-run average there, or second baseman Ryan Theriot, who's hitting .307?

 

"We have quite a few kids here now," Baker said, ticking off the names of Marmol, Marshall, Murton, Ronny Cedeno, Will Ohman and Roberto Novoa.

 

"Right now there's not room [for Hill or Theriot]. At the same time, if that happens and we lose even more, are you going to hold that against my record, too, when we're developing?"

 

Oh Dusty, you mean Marmol who went 6 innings last night giving up one run and getting the win? Or Marshall who is 3rd in IP on the team and 3rd best ERA for a starter on the team, or Murton who drove in 2 of the 3 runs yesterday, or Cedeno who was hitting .300 for most of the first half til this recent slump, or Novoa who is your first right hander out of the pen and has the 2nd most IP for a reliever? (left Ohman out because, well he sucks, so does Novoa but he's one of Dusty's boys)

[NCCubFan]

Just fire the guy, and take away his unproductive veterens so he is forced to play the kids.

You're contradicting yourself. If he's fired, he won't be playing anybody (veterans or kids).

[soccer10k]

I thought this was going to be about Baker cutting Rusch off from the buffet before the game.

[Andy]

Is it time to start bringing up prospects from Triple-A Iowa, like left-hander Rich Hill, who's 6-1 with a 1.81 earned-run average there, or second baseman Ryan Theriot, who's hitting .307?

 

"We have quite a few kids here now," Baker said, ticking off the names of Marmol, Marshall, Murton, Ronny Cedeno, Will Ohman and Roberto Novoa.

 

"Right now there's not room [for Hill or Theriot]. At the same time, if that happens and we lose even more, are you going to hold that against my record, too, when we're developing?"

Ohman's been on this team since late 2004, it's time to drop the "kid" gloves with him. Novoa is also in his 2nd full year on this team. Just shut the hell up and manage the team to a 58-104 record. Thanks, Dusty.

[abuck1220]

there's no room on this team? yeah, the squad is just filled to the brim with such productive players (as evidenced by the stellar record) that we just can't squeeze a youngster onto the roster. argh, the agony of being such a good team.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Is it time to start bringing up prospects from Triple-A Iowa, like left-hander Rich Hill, who's 6-1 with a 1.81 earned-run average there, or second baseman Ryan Theriot, who's hitting .307?

 

"We have quite a few kids here now," Baker said, ticking off the names of Marmol, Marshall, Murton, Ronny Cedeno, Will Ohman and Roberto Novoa.

 

"Right now there's not room [for Hill or Theriot]. At the same time, if that happens and we lose even more, are you going to hold that against my record, too, when we're developing?"

Ohman's been on this team since late 2004, it's time to drop the "kid" gloves with him. Novoa is also in his 2nd full year on this team. Just shut the hell up and manage the team to a 58-104 record. Thanks, Dusty.

 

Ohman was actually pitching for the Cubs in 2000 and 2001.

[Outshined_One]

I find it hilarious that Dusty didn't name Bynum and Pagan as "kids", considering their experience in the majors.

[rawaction]

I'm sure I'll be accused of being a Dusty hater, but to me this is a shot at the young guys currently on the team. The "lose even more" comment means he equates having youth to losing. To me, that in an around-about way points the finger at all the "kids" he has on the team that they are part of the reason he is losing.

 

Last year he had very few "kids" and the team had a losing record. The team played with veterans all year til Murton came up late. The team in 2004 failed down the stretch with all veterans.

[TuffyRhodes]

"I know everybody else wants us to go to Iowa [to call up Hill]," Baker said. "Maybe they'll get their choice. But be careful what you wish for, right? Wasn't that what everyone was saying just [saturday]?"

 

 

I am not sure what Dusty is trying to say, but I am quite certain it is another shot at Hill and the "kids".