Cubs' Players Fighting Back

[CUBZ99]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060714cubsgamer,1,3619652.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

Manager Dusty Baker called it a "perfect potential double-play ball" but said the timing was off because Walker "bobbled the ball."

 

The result was an errant throw from shortstop Ronny Cedeno, coming across the bag, allowing two more runs to score.

 

"That was a big play," Baker said, "because it would've [stayed] 3-2 instead of 5-2. Would've been a totally different ballgame."

 

Bobble? Not so, Walker said.

 

"Y'all need to go look at the replay. … It kind of handcuffed me, but it didn't stick in my glove and I didn't bobble it," he said.

 

So what happened?

 

"I got a little tough short hop there," Walker said. "I think Bob [brenly] mentioned on TV I had trouble [getting it out of my glove]. I didn't have trouble getting it out of my glove. It was just a tough hop. We got the play at second and could've got the guy at first too. That was a tough deal, but you'll have to ask Ronny about that."

 

Cedeno was asked if Walker bobbled the ball and affected his timing.

 

"Yes," Cedeno replied. "In that situation, we have to go real quick."

 

Maybe Todd Walker is trying to talk himself into a quick exit off of the team. Talk about not being able to shut your mouth. Add Walker to the list of players I can't wait for the Cubs to get rid of.

 

I know I hate me some productive players.

 

Seriously though, a player's media interaction should not impact their status on the team.

 

I know I hate me some people that are ignorant enough to believe that Walker's only problems are his "media interactions". The Cubs couldn't give him away over the off season and most teams don't want to even touch him. Add the fact that he rarely stays with a team longer than 1 -2 years and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what type of team player the guy is.

 

Walker serves absolutely no purpose on the Cubs for the rest of the year.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I know I hate me some people that are ignorant enough to believe that Walker's only problems are his "media interactions". The Cubs couldn't give him away over the off season and most teams don't want to even touch him. Add the fact that he rarely stays with a team longer than 1 -2 years and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what type of team player the guy is.

 

Walker serves absolutely no purpose on the Cubs for the rest of the year.

 

That's a lazy argument for people who won't/can't find a legitimate reason why Walker isn't any good.

 

As far as the rest of the season goes, it depends on if you want Walker around next year. Don't trade him if you want him in the mix for the 2B job next year.

[UMFan83]

^^ OK how about his below average (for him) .757 OPS

[CUBZ99]

I know I hate me some people that are ignorant enough to believe that Walker's only problems are his "media interactions". The Cubs couldn't give him away over the off season and most teams don't want to even touch him. Add the fact that he rarely stays with a team longer than 1 -2 years and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what type of team player the guy is.

 

Walker serves absolutely no purpose on the Cubs for the rest of the year.

 

That's a lazy argument for people who won't/can't find a legitimate reason why Walker isn't any good.

 

As far as the rest of the season goes, it depends on if you want Walker around next year. Don't trade him if you want him in the mix for the 2B job next year.

 

It is lazy to bury your head in the sand and act like there are no personality issues concerning Walker. It is not just with the media, the guy was not wanted by any team in baseball over the offseason. All you have to do is watch today's game to see why he his little value. Add his defense up with his .206 splits vs. LHP and you have little more than a 33 year old platoon player at 2B.

 

Further, what would make you believe that there is even the slightest chance that Hendry would even consider bringing Walker back? He isn't mentioned in every article about players the Cubs are trying to trade, because Hendry has him in the Cubs plans next year.

Edited July 15, 2006 by CUBZ99

[stitchface]

wow, that is painfully bad grammar. unreadable.

[CUBZ99]

^^ OK how about his below average (for him) .757 OPS

 

Yes, his OPS has helped the Cubs immensely this year. Especially over June and July when he carried the club. Without Walker the Cubs would have never made it to the playoffs in 2004 and 2005 and if they trade him they might finish with 105 losses instead of 100.

[dalgreen]

I think many fans have lost their objectivity because of their hatred for this team. I really hate this particular team and the organization. But Todd Walker has to go. I know it's a shock to some people, but we talk about how Baker states "untruths" well so did Walker so we should hold him accountable. Remember early in the offseason he claimed that he hadn't talked to Baker, but then in January he came out and said he did? Anyway, very suspicious how he could've been gotten for a bag of peanuts and a relatively low salary yet no one wanted him. Now he's continuing the let's criticize the announcers brigade. I don't know if he bobbled the ball but he did seem to have trouble getting the ball out of the glove, thus disrupting the timing a little bit, but I won't say that cost us the game. Heck, we were three runs down and only half the ballgame was over.

 

Anyway, as far as Jacque Jones goes, I don't know what the fans said and I bet most of you don't. It's totally different to say, "You guys suck" vs. your mama this or your wife that. I don't know what was said. All I know is we can no longer make fun of Philly fans.

[Careless]

^^ OK how about his below average (for him) .757 OPS

 

Yes, his OPS has helped the Cubs immensely this year. Especially over June and July when he carried the club. Without Walker the Cubs would have never made it to the playoffs in 2004 and 2005 and if they trade him they might finish with 105 losses instead of 100.

Yes, Lee and zambrano suck. Wait, you were talking about Walker. but they're on the team too, they must also be terrible

Boo. Hiss.

[Laura]

Sullivan's writeup.

[Andy]

^^ OK how about his below average (for him) .757 OPS

 

Yes, his OPS has helped the Cubs immensely this year. Especially over June and July when he carried the club. Without Walker the Cubs would have never made it to the playoffs in 2004 and 2005 and if they trade him they might finish with 105 losses instead of 100.

You lost me here

[rocket]

Hahahaha, awesome.

 

The more Dusty loses control, the better for us Cubs fans.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Why is Walker getting the blame when it was Cedeno who tried to throw the ball into Lake Michigan? Cedeno still had time to make a good throw and he airmailed it.

 

Should Walker have kept his mouth shut? Maybe. But I think a lot of this could be the boiling over from the fact that Dusty Baker has lost this team. Losing creates disention. Players are much more willing to be team players when being one creates results. When you have a selfish manager who plays favorites, selfishness becomes the theme in the clubhouse.

 

Williamson spoke the truth a few weeks ago. Much of this I don't see as indictments against the players as I do those who created the climate for it to fester. Players will follow the lead of their manager. If that manager lacks accoutability, integrity, and makes excuses, then his players often follow suit.

 

What I find interesting, especially if we look at the two main culprits from 2004 in Alou and Mercker is that both those guys were always called great guys in the clubhouse everywhere they've played before Chicago and afterwards, yet under Baker they had issues with the media.

 

Now other players are starting to have the same "issues" again. Dusty has been known to preach "you're either for us or against us." Maybe the polarizing problem here is the one chewing the tooth pick.

 

His firing cannot come soon enough and hopefully Hendry will follow him out the door if he's not leading the way.

[dalgreen]

Why is Walker getting the blame when it was Cedeno who tried to throw the ball into Lake Michigan? Cedeno still had time to make a good throw and he airmailed it.

 

Should Walker have kept his mouth shut? Maybe. But I think a lot of this could be the boiling over from the fact that Dusty Baker has lost this team. Losing creates disention. Players are much more willing to be team players when being one creates results. When you have a selfish manager who plays favorites, selfishness becomes the theme in the clubhouse.

 

Williamson spoke the truth a few weeks ago. Much of this I don't see as indictments against the players as I do those who created the climate for it to fester. Players will follow the lead of their manager. If that manager lacks accoutability, integrity, and makes excuses, then his players often follow suit.

 

What I find interesting, especially if we look at the two main culprits from 2004 in Alou and Mercker is that both those guys were always called great guys in the clubhouse everywhere they've played before Chicago and afterwards, yet under Baker they had issues with the media.

 

Now other players are starting to have the same "issues" again. Dusty has been known to preach "you're either for us or against us." Maybe the polarizing problem here is the one chewing the tooth pick.

 

His firing cannot come soon enough and hopefully Hendry will follow him out the door if he's not leading the way.

 

That play did not cost us the game, but Walker gets the blame because of the bobble or trouble he had getting the ball out of his glove that disrupted the timing of the play. Cedeno's throw was poor because as he threw it the runner (I forgot who it was) actually made an attempt to grab the bag and when he couldn't he grabbed Cedeno's foot making Cedeno get off a poor throw.

 

These guys are adults who have been playing baseball all their lives. If they have to act like babies I don't fault the manager, I fault the players. Walker threw Cedeno under the bus with his comment that you'd have to ask Cedeno what happened on the throw when Walker was right there as Cedeno was being tripped up. I understand when fans don't want to place any blame on "their" guy, but you can't then blame Baker or anyone else who does the same thing. I still don't know why more wasn't mentioned of Walker's lie when he created a stir by saying he never spoke to Baker during the offseason when a month later he admitted he did. As I said earlier, it was always curious to me that any team could've had him, as Hendry was seemingly dangling him , yet no one wanted him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Why is Walker getting the blame when it was Cedeno who tried to throw the ball into Lake Michigan? Cedeno still had time to make a good throw and he airmailed it.

 

Should Walker have kept his mouth shut? Maybe. But I think a lot of this could be the boiling over from the fact that Dusty Baker has lost this team. Losing creates disention. Players are much more willing to be team players when being one creates results. When you have a selfish manager who plays favorites, selfishness becomes the theme in the clubhouse.

 

Williamson spoke the truth a few weeks ago. Much of this I don't see as indictments against the players as I do those who created the climate for it to fester. Players will follow the lead of their manager. If that manager lacks accoutability, integrity, and makes excuses, then his players often follow suit.

 

What I find interesting, especially if we look at the two main culprits from 2004 in Alou and Mercker is that both those guys were always called great guys in the clubhouse everywhere they've played before Chicago and afterwards, yet under Baker they had issues with the media.

 

Now other players are starting to have the same "issues" again. Dusty has been known to preach "you're either for us or against us." Maybe the polarizing problem here is the one chewing the tooth pick.

 

His firing cannot come soon enough and hopefully Hendry will follow him out the door if he's not leading the way.

 

That play did not cost us the game, but Walker gets the blame because of the bobble or trouble he had getting the ball out of his glove that disrupted the timing of the play. Cedeno's throw was poor because as he threw it the runner (I forgot who it was) actually made an attempt to grab the bag and when he couldn't he grabbed Cedeno's foot making Cedeno get off a poor throw.

 

These guys are adults who have been playing baseball all their lives. If they have to act like babies I don't fault the manager, I fault the players. Walker threw Cedeno under the bus with his comment that you'd have to ask Cedeno what happened on the throw when Walker was right there as Cedeno was being tripped up. I understand when fans don't want to place any blame on "their" guy, but you can't then blame Baker or anyone else who does the same thing. I still don't know why more wasn't mentioned of Walker's lie when he created a stir by saying he never spoke to Baker during the offseason when a month later he admitted he did. As I said earlier, it was always curious to me that any team could've had him, as Hendry was seemingly dangling him , yet no one wanted him.

 

But we don't know for a fact what Hendry would have taken for Walker. Everyone wants to say that he could have been had for a song, but we don't know that. We only know what was reported in the media. And yes, it seemed as if Walker was actively being shopped, but we really don't know what Hendry's asking price was, just as we don't know definitively that Hendry could have had Dunn for Rich Hill.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

Thank You Vance for hitting the nail on the head.

 

:Loud Applause: =D>

[CUBZ99]

Why is Walker getting the blame when it was Cedeno who tried to throw the ball into Lake Michigan? Cedeno still had time to make a good throw and he airmailed it.

 

Should Walker have kept his mouth shut? Maybe. But I think a lot of this could be the boiling over from the fact that Dusty Baker has lost this team. Losing creates disention. Players are much more willing to be team players when being one creates results. When you have a selfish manager who plays favorites, selfishness becomes the theme in the clubhouse.

 

Williamson spoke the truth a few weeks ago. Much of this I don't see as indictments against the players as I do those who created the climate for it to fester. Players will follow the lead of their manager. If that manager lacks accoutability, integrity, and makes excuses, then his players often follow suit.

 

What I find interesting, especially if we look at the two main culprits from 2004 in Alou and Mercker is that both those guys were always called great guys in the clubhouse everywhere they've played before Chicago and afterwards, yet under Baker they had issues with the media.

 

Now other players are starting to have the same "issues" again. Dusty has been known to preach "you're either for us or against us." Maybe the polarizing problem here is the one chewing the tooth pick.

 

His firing cannot come soon enough and hopefully Hendry will follow him out the door if he's not leading the way.

 

Vance, you may very well have a point and I don't disagree that Dusty needs to go. But-- Walker, Alou and Mercker are all grown men. Bob Brenly didn't make Walker's bad play on the field, just the same as Dusty doesn't make Walker talk too much.

[UMFan83]

^^ OK how about his below average (for him) .757 OPS

 

Yes, his OPS has helped the Cubs immensely this year. Especially over June and July when he carried the club. Without Walker the Cubs would have never made it to the playoffs in 2004 and 2005 and if they trade him they might finish with 105 losses instead of 100.

 

Wait huh? I was defending you

[dalgreen]

Why is Walker getting the blame when it was Cedeno who tried to throw the ball into Lake Michigan? Cedeno still had time to make a good throw and he airmailed it.

 

Should Walker have kept his mouth shut? Maybe. But I think a lot of this could be the boiling over from the fact that Dusty Baker has lost this team. Losing creates disention. Players are much more willing to be team players when being one creates results. When you have a selfish manager who plays favorites, selfishness becomes the theme in the clubhouse.

 

Williamson spoke the truth a few weeks ago. Much of this I don't see as indictments against the players as I do those who created the climate for it to fester. Players will follow the lead of their manager. If that manager lacks accoutability, integrity, and makes excuses, then his players often follow suit.

 

What I find interesting, especially if we look at the two main culprits from 2004 in Alou and Mercker is that both those guys were always called great guys in the clubhouse everywhere they've played before Chicago and afterwards, yet under Baker they had issues with the media.

 

Now other players are starting to have the same "issues" again. Dusty has been known to preach "you're either for us or against us." Maybe the polarizing problem here is the one chewing the tooth pick.

 

His firing cannot come soon enough and hopefully Hendry will follow him out the door if he's not leading the way.

 

That play did not cost us the game, but Walker gets the blame because of the bobble or trouble he had getting the ball out of his glove that disrupted the timing of the play. Cedeno's throw was poor because as he threw it the runner (I forgot who it was) actually made an attempt to grab the bag and when he couldn't he grabbed Cedeno's foot making Cedeno get off a poor throw.

 

These guys are adults who have been playing baseball all their lives. If they have to act like babies I don't fault the manager, I fault the players. Walker threw Cedeno under the bus with his comment that you'd have to ask Cedeno what happened on the throw when Walker was right there as Cedeno was being tripped up. I understand when fans don't want to place any blame on "their" guy, but you can't then blame Baker or anyone else who does the same thing. I still don't know why more wasn't mentioned of Walker's lie when he created a stir by saying he never spoke to Baker during the offseason when a month later he admitted he did. As I said earlier, it was always curious to me that any team could've had him, as Hendry was seemingly dangling him , yet no one wanted him.

 

But we don't know for a fact what Hendry would have taken for Walker. Everyone wants to say that he could have been had for a song, but we don't know that. We only know what was reported in the media. And yes, it seemed as if Walker was actively being shopped, but we really don't know what Hendry's asking price was, just as we don't know definitively that Hendry could have had Dunn for Rich Hill.

 

You're right we don't know what Hendry's asking price was. But it's rare to have several outlets (and I mean Chicago papers and national people) say that a player is being shopped around without any mention of a comment like "...but the asking price is high..." if the asking price wasn't too high. It wasn't as if he was ever given a ringing endorsement even when the rumors were out there.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Why is Walker getting the blame when it was Cedeno who tried to throw the ball into Lake Michigan? Cedeno still had time to make a good throw and he airmailed it.

 

Should Walker have kept his mouth shut? Maybe. But I think a lot of this could be the boiling over from the fact that Dusty Baker has lost this team. Losing creates disention. Players are much more willing to be team players when being one creates results. When you have a selfish manager who plays favorites, selfishness becomes the theme in the clubhouse.

 

Williamson spoke the truth a few weeks ago. Much of this I don't see as indictments against the players as I do those who created the climate for it to fester. Players will follow the lead of their manager. If that manager lacks accoutability, integrity, and makes excuses, then his players often follow suit.

 

What I find interesting, especially if we look at the two main culprits from 2004 in Alou and Mercker is that both those guys were always called great guys in the clubhouse everywhere they've played before Chicago and afterwards, yet under Baker they had issues with the media.

 

Now other players are starting to have the same "issues" again. Dusty has been known to preach "you're either for us or against us." Maybe the polarizing problem here is the one chewing the tooth pick.

 

His firing cannot come soon enough and hopefully Hendry will follow him out the door if he's not leading the way.

 

That play did not cost us the game, but Walker gets the blame because of the bobble or trouble he had getting the ball out of his glove that disrupted the timing of the play. Cedeno's throw was poor because as he threw it the runner (I forgot who it was) actually made an attempt to grab the bag and when he couldn't he grabbed Cedeno's foot making Cedeno get off a poor throw.

 

These guys are adults who have been playing baseball all their lives. If they have to act like babies I don't fault the manager, I fault the players. Walker threw Cedeno under the bus with his comment that you'd have to ask Cedeno what happened on the throw when Walker was right there as Cedeno was being tripped up. I understand when fans don't want to place any blame on "their" guy, but you can't then blame Baker or anyone else who does the same thing. I still don't know why more wasn't mentioned of Walker's lie when he created a stir by saying he never spoke to Baker during the offseason when a month later he admitted he did. As I said earlier, it was always curious to me that any team could've had him, as Hendry was seemingly dangling him , yet no one wanted him.

 

But we don't know for a fact what Hendry would have taken for Walker. Everyone wants to say that he could have been had for a song, but we don't know that. We only know what was reported in the media. And yes, it seemed as if Walker was actively being shopped, but we really don't know what Hendry's asking price was, just as we don't know definitively that Hendry could have had Dunn for Rich Hill.

 

You're right we don't know what Hendry's asking price was. But it's rare to have several outlets (and I mean Chicago papers and national people) say that a player is being shopped around without any mention of a comment like "...but the asking price is high..." if the asking price wasn't too high. It wasn't as if he was ever given a ringing endorsement even when the rumors were out there.

 

And with the ineptitude that Hendry has shown in valuing defense and speed over OBP and SLP, is Hendry not wanting Walker around really an indictment over Walker's skills?

[dalgreen]

Why is Walker getting the blame when it was Cedeno who tried to throw the ball into Lake Michigan? Cedeno still had time to make a good throw and he airmailed it.

 

Should Walker have kept his mouth shut? Maybe. But I think a lot of this could be the boiling over from the fact that Dusty Baker has lost this team. Losing creates disention. Players are much more willing to be team players when being one creates results. When you have a selfish manager who plays favorites, selfishness becomes the theme in the clubhouse.

 

Williamson spoke the truth a few weeks ago. Much of this I don't see as indictments against the players as I do those who created the climate for it to fester. Players will follow the lead of their manager. If that manager lacks accoutability, integrity, and makes excuses, then his players often follow suit.

 

What I find interesting, especially if we look at the two main culprits from 2004 in Alou and Mercker is that both those guys were always called great guys in the clubhouse everywhere they've played before Chicago and afterwards, yet under Baker they had issues with the media.

 

Now other players are starting to have the same "issues" again. Dusty has been known to preach "you're either for us or against us." Maybe the polarizing problem here is the one chewing the tooth pick.

 

His firing cannot come soon enough and hopefully Hendry will follow him out the door if he's not leading the way.

 

That play did not cost us the game, but Walker gets the blame because of the bobble or trouble he had getting the ball out of his glove that disrupted the timing of the play. Cedeno's throw was poor because as he threw it the runner (I forgot who it was) actually made an attempt to grab the bag and when he couldn't he grabbed Cedeno's foot making Cedeno get off a poor throw.

 

These guys are adults who have been playing baseball all their lives. If they have to act like babies I don't fault the manager, I fault the players. Walker threw Cedeno under the bus with his comment that you'd have to ask Cedeno what happened on the throw when Walker was right there as Cedeno was being tripped up. I understand when fans don't want to place any blame on "their" guy, but you can't then blame Baker or anyone else who does the same thing. I still don't know why more wasn't mentioned of Walker's lie when he created a stir by saying he never spoke to Baker during the offseason when a month later he admitted he did. As I said earlier, it was always curious to me that any team could've had him, as Hendry was seemingly dangling him , yet no one wanted him.

 

But we don't know for a fact what Hendry would have taken for Walker. Everyone wants to say that he could have been had for a song, but we don't know that. We only know what was reported in the media. And yes, it seemed as if Walker was actively being shopped, but we really don't know what Hendry's asking price was, just as we don't know definitively that Hendry could have had Dunn for Rich Hill.

 

You're right we don't know what Hendry's asking price was. But it's rare to have several outlets (and I mean Chicago papers and national people) say that a player is being shopped around without any mention of a comment like "...but the asking price is high..." if the asking price wasn't too high. It wasn't as if he was ever given a ringing endorsement even when the rumors were out there.

 

And with the ineptitude that Hendry has shown in valuing defense and speed over OBP and SLP, is Hendry not wanting Walker around really an indictment over Walker's skills?

 

I never mentioned his skills. I mentioned his childish dig at Brenly and throwing Cedeno under the bus.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

Vance, you may very well have a point and I don't disagree that Dusty needs to go. But-- Walker, Alou and Mercker are all grown men. Bob Brenly didn't make Walker's bad play on the field, just the same as Dusty doesn't make Walker talk too much.

 

I'm not condoning their actions, but trying to place them into context. Have you ever worked for a crappy boss that always passed the buck and blamed everyone but never took any responsibility himself? I have. And after awhile, very good employees become very bad employees. They begin to take advantage where they can and they begin to often take on the personality of their leader. I've seen it happen in two places where I've worked.

 

It doesn't surprise me that this team has taken on a me-first attitude when that is exactly what attitude it's leader has. Baker's statement about if the team struggles with the youth, would that be held against him shows what exactly the manager is thinking. When the players see that, it tells them that their leader believes in looking out for himself first and that they should as well.

 

Furthermore, what Walker is doing is only human. He believes he's going to be traded. Like others have mentioned in this thread, he heard the rumors of his being traded all offseason. He was the starter in 05, yet not once did he receive a public backing by his bosses this offseason. He's hearing the rumors again that he'll be traded. He's a FA who will be looking for a job and has received no indication that his current employer plans on retaining him. Why should he exhibit loyalty to said employer when they haven't done so to him?

 

As a teacher, I usually try to be a team player. In fact I score high in that regard on every evaluation I recieve. I rarely take days off because I know that it is difficult for my school to get quality substitutes and often my co-workers end up having to cover classes on what should be their break. Yet, if I heard rumblings when I reported in August that my principal tried to have me transferred over the summer, and then in February-March, I continue to hear from reliable sources that I'm not going to be re-hired for the next school year, suddenly I may not be as willing to cover someone's class or cover someone's duty, and I may just start taking my sick days at my leisure. Why would I do this? Human nature.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

I never mentioned his skills. I mentioned his childish dig at Brenly and throwing Cedeno under the bus.

 

So how would you respond if a reporter publicly questioned your ability to do your job?

[dalgreen]

 

Vance, you may very well have a point and I don't disagree that Dusty needs to go. But-- Walker, Alou and Mercker are all grown men. Bob Brenly didn't make Walker's bad play on the field, just the same as Dusty doesn't make Walker talk too much.

 

I'm not condoning their actions, but trying to place them into context. Have you ever worked for a crappy boss that always passed the buck and blamed everyone but never took any responsibility himself? I have. And after awhile, very good employees become very bad employees. They begin to take advantage where they can and they begin to often take on the personality of their leader. I've seen it happen in two places where I've worked.

 

It doesn't surprise me that this team has taken on a me-first attitude when that is exactly what attitude it's leader has. Baker's statement about if the team struggles with the youth, would that be held against him shows what exactly the manager is thinking. When the players see that, it tells them that their leader believes in looking out for himself first and that they should as well.

 

Furthermore, what Walker is doing is only human. He believes he's going to be traded. Like others have mentioned in this thread, he heard the rumors of his being traded all offseason. He was the starter in 05, yet not once did he receive a public backing by his bosses this offseason. He's hearing the rumors again that he'll be traded. He's a FA who will be looking for a job and has received no indication that his current employer plans on retaining him. Why should he exhibit loyalty to said employer when they haven't done so to him?

 

As a teacher, I usually try to be a team player. In fact I score high in that regard on every evaluation I recieve. I rarely take days off because I know that it is difficult for my school to get quality substitutes and often my co-workers end up having to cover classes on what should be their break. Yet, if I heard rumblings when I reported in August that my principal tried to have me transferred over the summer, and then in February-March, I continue to hear from reliable sources that I'm not going to be re-hired for the next school year, suddenly I may not be as willing to cover someone's class or cover someone's duty, and I may just start taking my sick days at my leisure. Why would I do this? Human nature.

 

I have to disagree, Vance. We're talking about one player today and two players (Alou and Mercker) from 2004. I'd be inclined to agree with you if generally stand up guys like Lee, Pierre or Maddux started to act like this. And it infuriates me that in order for these types of incidents to happen they would have to go to the clubhouse rewind the tape AND turn up the volume. What's the point of turning up the volume to see a replay?

[dalgreen]

 

I never mentioned his skills. I mentioned his childish dig at Brenly and throwing Cedeno under the bus.

 

So how would you respond if a reporter publicly questioned your ability to do your job?

 

I don't know if you have had a chance to read the article yet, but I had no problem with his response until he brought up Bob Brenly's name, which had nothing to do with the original question. And, he was right there when he saw what happened to Cedeno, and if he didn't see it he was right there asking Cedeno if he was okay or what happened or whatever when Cedeno stayed on the ground after the play. I know Walker is one of your favorites, but I don't see how anyone can justify his bringing up Brenly's comment.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

Vance, you may very well have a point and I don't disagree that Dusty needs to go. But-- Walker, Alou and Mercker are all grown men. Bob Brenly didn't make Walker's bad play on the field, just the same as Dusty doesn't make Walker talk too much.

 

I'm not condoning their actions, but trying to place them into context. Have you ever worked for a crappy boss that always passed the buck and blamed everyone but never took any responsibility himself? I have. And after awhile, very good employees become very bad employees. They begin to take advantage where they can and they begin to often take on the personality of their leader. I've seen it happen in two places where I've worked.

 

It doesn't surprise me that this team has taken on a me-first attitude when that is exactly what attitude it's leader has. Baker's statement about if the team struggles with the youth, would that be held against him shows what exactly the manager is thinking. When the players see that, it tells them that their leader believes in looking out for himself first and that they should as well.

 

Furthermore, what Walker is doing is only human. He believes he's going to be traded. Like others have mentioned in this thread, he heard the rumors of his being traded all offseason. He was the starter in 05, yet not once did he receive a public backing by his bosses this offseason. He's hearing the rumors again that he'll be traded. He's a FA who will be looking for a job and has received no indication that his current employer plans on retaining him. Why should he exhibit loyalty to said employer when they haven't done so to him?

 

As a teacher, I usually try to be a team player. In fact I score high in that regard on every evaluation I recieve. I rarely take days off because I know that it is difficult for my school to get quality substitutes and often my co-workers end up having to cover classes on what should be their break. Yet, if I heard rumblings when I reported in August that my principal tried to have me transferred over the summer, and then in February-March, I continue to hear from reliable sources that I'm not going to be re-hired for the next school year, suddenly I may not be as willing to cover someone's class or cover someone's duty, and I may just start taking my sick days at my leisure. Why would I do this? Human nature.

 

I have to disagree, Vance. We're talking about one player today and two players (Alou and Mercker) from 2004. I'd be inclined to agree with you if generally stand up guys like Lee, Pierre or Maddux started to act like this. And it infuriates me that in order for these types of incidents to happen they would have to go to the clubhouse rewind the tape AND turn up the volume. What's the point of turning up the volume to see a replay?

 

But it's not just one player today and two from 2004. Have we forgotten so soon Scott Williamson's comments? Or what about Ramirez throwing the pitching staff under the bus? Or Scott Eyre, who is normally a stand-up guy, saying the media questioning Dusty is part of the problem?

 

Just because Lee, Pierre, and Maddux haven't stooped to this level is no way proof that the attitude hasn't permeated the clubhouse. Some guys are more vocal than others. Walker, Alou, and Mercker were always vocal in good times and bad. It's not surprising that they were the ones who spoke out since they were always outspoken.

 

I'm not saying that they are all model citizens either, but wasn't Dusty's strenght his ability to keep a happy clubhouse and keep veteran players focused on the team concept? Well, it appears he sucks at it. Alou went bad under Dusty. Mercker, who in every interview from anyone who ever played with him says he's the best guy you can have in a clubhouse, had issues under Dusty. Williamson went as far to saying Dusty had "favorites." This kind of bickering and backbiting is a sign that there is a poor leader at the top. If being 20 games under 500 isn't enough to justify firing him, this should be. If Hendry is too dense to see it, then he should be fired as well.