Sullivan interview w/ Baker in today's Trib

[Shawon12]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060710cubs,1,4935999.story?coll=chi-sportsnew-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

 

Kudos to Sullivan for asking some tough questions

[woodchip2153]

It's not an alibi or an excuse, because I don't use excuses

 

Bwahahahahahahahaha

[sherwood921]

It's not an alibi or an excuse, because I don't use excuses

 

Bwahahahahahahahaha

 

Funny, because that's all I saw...unless "give me my horses and I'll win," "we've been without (insert player)," and "my horses are in the stable" aren't excuses somehow.

[StMarksCubs]

Tribune: Then why don't you jack up Aramis [Ramirez]?

 

Baker: I have jacked up Aramis.

 

Anyone else made slightly uncomfortable by this? :shock: LOL

[UMFan83]

It's not an alibi or an excuse, because I don't use excuses

 

Bwahahahahahahahaha

 

The funny part is, the rest of the interview is full of excuses

 

 

 

Tribune: But Lee is back and you're still only 6-9 since he returned.

 

Baker: Yeah, but Derrek's not Derrek yet, and Mark was just beginning to be Mark (before being sidelined by a strained oblique). And at the same time, you have to consider my bullpen is way overpitched. We don't have a complete game, so somebody in my bullpen is out there every day. And it's not the guys' fault. We had a lot of young guys here out of necessity, not that they were really ready.

[Tracer Bullet]

It's not an alibi or an excuse, because I don't use excuses

 

Bwahahahahahahahaha

 

The funny part is, the rest of the interview is full of excuses

 

 

 

Tribune: But Lee is back and you're still only 6-9 since he returned.

 

Baker: Yeah, but Derrek's not Derrek yet, and Mark was just beginning to be Mark (before being sidelined by a strained oblique). And at the same time, you have to consider my bullpen is way overpitched. We don't have a complete game, so somebody in my bullpen is out there every day. And it's not the guys' fault. We had a lot of young guys here out of necessity, not that they were really ready.

 

[sarcasm]But Dusty said he doesn't use excuses, so those aren't excuses. End of discussion.[/sarcasm]

[MustangMike]

It's not an alibi or an excuse, because I don't use excuses

 

 

Ask Hank Aaron, he doesn't make excuses...go ahead, ask him. Ask Darrin too, Daddy don't make no excuses dude.

[cubweiser03]

I like how he subtly takes some credit for Barrett and Lee's hitting success.

[thedaymen]

I like how he subtly takes some credit for Barrett and Lee's hitting success.

 

Subtly?

 

Any player that does well when Dusty's managing is because of Dusty. Any other player "wasn't ready."

 

He should have taken credit for Chris Capuano's success.

[goonys evil twin]

I like how he subtly takes some credit for Barrett and Lee's hitting success.

 

You thought that was subtle? It was in reply to "do you accept part of the blame?". Yes I do, just look at how great of a job I've done all my career.

[illiniredbird]

Part of me wanted to cheer for the Cubs to give this guy an extension. I just can't do it. I hate the [expletive]. How could someone be so arrogant and yet so bad and ignorant at the same time. The sooner he is gone from baseball the better. One thing that could make the Cub/Cardinal rivalry as big as the Yankee/RedSox one is that we both need to make the playoffs every. One as division champ and the other as the wildcard. Dusty is definitely screwing up my Glorious plan.

 

P.S. I don't think that Tony LaRussa is a good manager either. Smoke and mirrors.

[cubweiser03]

I like how he subtly takes some credit for Barrett and Lee's hitting success.

 

You thought that was subtle? It was in reply to "do you accept part of the blame?". Yes I do, just look at how great of a job I've done all my career.

 

Yes it was a master spin job thats why i felt it was subtle. It did stick out like a sore thumb so maybe subtle wasnt the correct word. Anyway, i laughed and im sure derrek and michael will too.

 

Managers shouldtn take credit for players success. Accept it if the player gives it but dont take it without ackowledgement from said player.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I noticed he didn't mention LaTroy and Corey as some of the guys who have experienced success with him.

[CuseCubFan69]

As a coach...wow defending Baker....when you say you didn't do a good enough job and it's your fault, people start to lose confidence in you. Baker is selling himself as many coaches I have known do and that is to keep players/fans/upper management confident that you can do the job. The confidence you show in yourself gives others confiedence in you. I don't think Baker has done a good job and he may know that but I don't think he will ever publicly say it.

[YearofDaCubs]

Leave it to Baker to contradict himself.

[CoolHandLuke]

Oh, no. I don't regret nothing. I've learned a lot.

 

Apparently not about double negatives! :lol:

[cubfan1955]

Oh, no. I don't regret nothing. I've learned a lot.

 

Apparently not about double negatives! :lol:

I agree. It would be nice to have a manager that can speak in public with at least halfway proper English. Everytime he opens his mouth he sounds like an idiot.

[Hosak8]

I'm pretty sick of Dusty. He's full of crap.. and excuses. He talks about having a team with young players who weren't really ready as being part of the reason we're so bad? Look at the [expletive] Florida Marlins, DUDE. They have a ROSTER full of those kids, and are still 5 GAMES BETTER THAN WE ARE.

 

Damn, Dusty, at what point do you stop making excuses and practice a little bit of accountability? You share the blame. So quit deflecting it, dude.

[Backtobanks]

I'm pretty sick of Dusty. He's full of crap.. and excuses. He talks about having a team with young players who weren't really ready as being part of the reason we're so bad? Look at the [expletive] Florida Marlins, DUDE. They have a ROSTER full of those kids, and are still 5 GAMES BETTER THAN WE ARE.

 

Damn, Dusty, at what point do you stop making excuses and practice a little bit of accountability? You share the blame. So quit deflecting it, dude.

 

The young players who don't have All Star seasons aren't ready, the veterans that play poorly apparently aren't the horses that Dusty refers to, the players that do have success had success because of him, the injuries, ad nauseum. Thank goodness he doesn't use excuses.

[snoodmonger]

Boy, Dusty sure does love that horses metaphor.

 

I'm pretty surprised he got asked those tough questions. I thought I'd never say this, but kudos, Sullivan.

[Soul]

An astonishing interview.

 

Baker even walked out on Sullivan. Wow.

 

Here's an amazing quote:

 

Tribune: At one point you denied your team was underachieving, and they were 18 or 19 games under .500 at the time, and even your most vocal supporters were saying, 'Come on, at least admit that much.'

 

Baker: Well, is that underachieving, or is that ...

 

Tribune: Just the way they are?

 

Baker: (No response.)

 

Insane. So I guess we should all accept the "it is what it is" mentality and just not try to get the most of the team? This is madness. Why is Dusty still managing this team?

[Irrelevant Dude]

I can't stand how Baker talks down to people, ending his statements with questions like "Ok?" or "Understand?." While his interviews are somewhat entertaining because of the ridiculous comments and contradictions, it still annoys me to read them. Good job by Sullivan though.

[daske17]

I agree. It would be nice to have a manager that can speak in public with at least halfway proper English. Everytime he opens his mouth he sounds like an idiot.

 

Say what you will about Dusty, but I think that's an unfair statement. Most reporters, specifically sports reporters, will "translate" quotes from managers and players to avoid those sorts of double negatives and other problems with the English language.

 

Is it misquoting? No, because you are quoting the person while just adding conjunctions or clearing up verb tenses. I mean, shoot, look at what the White Sox beat reporters have to do with Ozzie.

 

I think this was a calculated move by Sullivan to make Dusty look even worse. I certainly don't have access to every article in which he quoted Dusty, but I have to imagine he's cut him some slack before in this respect.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I agree. It would be nice to have a manager that can speak in public with at least halfway proper English. Everytime he opens his mouth he sounds like an idiot.

 

Say what you will about Dusty, but I think that's an unfair statement. Most reporters, specifically sports reporters, will "translate" quotes from managers and players to avoid those sorts of double negatives and other problems with the English language.

 

Is it misquoting? No, because you are quoting the person while just adding conjunctions or clearing up verb tenses. I mean, shoot, look at what the White Sox beat reporters have to do with Ozzie.

 

I think this was a calculated move by Sullivan to make Dusty look even worse. I certainly don't have access to every article in which he quoted Dusty, but I have to imagine he's cut him some slack before in this respect.

Dusty doesn't need improper English to sound like an idiot.

[frostwyrm]

Never mind Dusty's managing, it's becoming difficult to like him as a human being. He's such a worm.