Dusty talks about youth movement

[ToupeeOnFire]

I love when a reporter asks Dusty about playing young players because you can tell he immediately gets all defensive.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060810cubsbits,1,4347518.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

"Maybe," Baker replied. "But at .270 … you guys have been talking 'Felix, Felix, Felix,' but Felix has to be the Felix you're all talking about if you're going to bring him up. I'd like to see him do a little more. I'd like to see everybody do a little more. I'd like to see everybody get here not only on name, but on merit at the same time."

 

This is rich coming from Dusty.

 

 

"Everybody is talking about the Florida Marlins," he said. "Yeah, they're young, but Hanley Ramirez was Boston's No. 1 dude, and how many years did he start in Triple A? And the first baseman, [Mike Jacobs], wasn't he in Triple A [last year], too? Look it up. It's not only youth, it's youth that earned [a promotion]."

 

Uh Dusty, I looked it up. Hanley Ramirez never even played in AAA. He shot up straight from AA ball you idiot. Mike Jacobs got 96 at-bats in AAA and hit .177 in 2004. He spent all of last year at AA before being called up.

 

"I can't see a prolonged [youth] movement," Baker said. "You have to have a number of youth ready up and down your system to be prolonged. I know something about our system, but I can't answer that because I don't know everything about [it]. I just see reports, see the stats, but you don't know who's ready to play big-league baseball. The stats don't always tell."

Kill me now.

[Brian]

"Boston's no. 1 dude" I can't believe a grown man said that.

[abuck1220]

where to even start with those quotes...?

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

"Maybe," Baker replied. "But at .270 … you guys have been talking 'Felix, Felix, Felix,' but Felix has to be the Felix you're all talking about if you're going to bring him up. I'd like to see him do a little more. I'd like to see everybody do a little more. I'd like to see everybody get here not only on name, but on merit at the same time."

 

This is rich coming from Dusty.

 

"The bigger question," Baker said, "is who is left to call up?"

 

Well, what about these numbers, Dusty? Is there merit in these numbers?

 

.289/.372/.556 21 HRs 42BB/98SO in 342 Triple A at bats

 

Those would be the numbers of Michael Restovich who is not even on the 40 man roster anymore.

 

Seems like he could platoon with Jacque in RF while the Murton/Pagan platoon could be kept in LF. Oh and I guess it is possible to not start Pierre occasionally moving Pagan to CF for a game here and there for the remainder of the season.

Edited August 11, 2006 by RonnieWooWooSanto

[Mizzou]

 

"Everybody is talking about the Florida Marlins," he said. "Yeah, they're young, but Hanley Ramirez was Boston's No. 1 dude, and how many years did he start in Triple A? And the first baseman, [Mike Jacobs], wasn't he in Triple A [last year], too? Look it up. It's not only youth, it's youth that earned [a promotion]."

 

Uh Dusty, I looked it up. Hanley Ramirez never even played in AAA. He shot up straight from AA ball you idiot. Mike Jacobs got 96 at-bats in AAA and hit .177 in 2004. He spent all of last year at AA before being called up.

Kill me now.

That's hilarious. As soon as I read the words "look it up" I just knew that Dusty would be wrong. I got a good laugh out of those quotes.

[David]

I'm surprised he wasn't called out on it in the very article where they posted the quotes. Wow.

 

He's an imbecile.

[USSoccer]

I'm surprised he wasn't called out on it in the very article where they posted the quotes. Wow.

 

He's an imbecile.

 

I think that the beat reporters that don't do their research and call him out on these idiotic statements are just as imbecilic.

[Outshined_One]

Dusty's either a bold-faced liar or really ignorant.

 

You decide!

[David]

I'm surprised he wasn't called out on it in the very article where they posted the quotes. Wow.

 

He's an imbecile.

 

I think that the beat reporters that don't do their research and call him out on these idiotic statements are just as imbecilic.

 

I don't disagree.

[rocket]

Maybe Bruce Miles will read this and call Dusty out in the Daily Herald.

 

That would be fun.

[ToupeeOnFire]

I'd also like to point out that while Dusty makes a big deal about Pie's .270 batting average, Hanley Ramirez, Boston's #1 dude, only hit .271 in AA last year at the age of 21, the same age as Pie is now. In fact Pie's numbers in AAA are very similar to Ramirez's last year in AA, with more power and more strike-outs. So if Hanley Ramirez's major league numbers are any guide as to what Pie is capable of doing next year (.267/.337/.427), then he already is an improvement over Juan Pierre. Not that Pie would ever achieve those numbers with this manager and coaching staff in place.

[USSoccer]

Maybe Bruce Miles will read this and call Dusty out in the Daily Herald.

 

That would be fun.

 

Rocket, you know as well as I do that this management team doesn't give a rat crap about what anyone thinks outside their inner circle of scouts and coaches.

 

God, being a Cubs fan absolutely sucks.

[rocket]

Maybe Bruce Miles will read this and call Dusty out in the Daily Herald.

 

That would be fun.

 

Rocket, you know as well as I do that this management team doesn't give a rat crap about what anyone thinks outside their inner circle of scouts and coaches.

 

God, being a Cubs fan absolutely sucks.

 

I know, but I'm not asking him to point out an opinion. Just print Dusty's quote about Hanley's AAA numbers then Bruce simply respond with the facts. Then the reader can see what a moron Dusty is without Bruce having to say anything.

[wekse]

idea of the year.

[USSoccer]

Maybe Bruce Miles will read this and call Dusty out in the Daily Herald.

 

That would be fun.

 

Rocket, you know as well as I do that this management team doesn't give a rat crap about what anyone thinks outside their inner circle of scouts and coaches.

 

God, being a Cubs fan absolutely sucks.

 

I know, but I'm not asking him to point out an opinion. Just print Dusty's quote about Hanley's AAA numbers then Bruce simply respond with the facts. Then the reader can see what a moron Dusty is without Bruce having to say anything.

 

But are we the majority of the fanbase? I think we're the somewhat vocal minority.

 

I think the majority of Cub fans are the sort that call sports radio and complain about Ramirez's hustle, Wood and Prior being soft, and yearn for a fire and brimstone manager. They believe in clutchiness and old baseball mystique about pitching, defense, and fundamentals. They understand Baker is a problem, but on a very basic level. They fail to comprehend the enormity of the wreck he (and Hendry) have made this team. They don't recognize the uselessness of half the players on the roster. They don't understand that you can have a $90m payroll and waste half of it away on terrible baseball players, and it won't do any good. They LOVE Cesar Izturis and his RBI-creating glove. They complain about the Trib's "lack of committment to winning", when they've increased payroll a ton since the mid 1990's and spend over $100m in 2004 on a team that by all rights should have gone to the playoffs. They don't understand that it was an unreasonable workload on top of flawed mechanics, and not a lack of guts, or a stubbornness to alter said mechanics that led to Wood's shoulder exploding. They look 16 blocks south or whatever it is and see Guillen and a World Series, and think that what they need is a team of grinderballers who play "smart" ball.

 

That majority would read Bruce's column with those stats and either not grasp the signifigance of it, or would dismiss it out of hand because prospects' numbers in the minors don't mean anything, good or bad.

 

I love Bruce. I respect him and appreciate the advocacy he shows on our behalf, but the hopelessness of it all it just mind blowing.

 

I'd rather have an interviewer point this crap out live, and make Baker or Hendry respond. Get tape of one of them stammering, grasping for a response. THAT's what I want. Calling their idiocy out in print isn't helping. Bruce has been doing it for nearly 2 years now, and perceptions haven't drastically changed. Just, anybody, PLEASE grap a stat sheet before an interview or press conference.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Dusty's either a bold-faced liar or really ignorant.

 

You decide!

 

Can I choose all of the above?

[YearofDaCubs]

All the more reason for this fool to be kicked to the curb. I can't stand him.

[Sammy Sofa]

There aren't really fans out there who love Izturis...are there?

 

Come on...

[USSoccer]

There aren't really fans out there who love Izturis...are there?

 

Come on...

 

There are like 3 on this board at least.

[YearofDaCubs]

There aren't really fans out there who love Izturis...are there?

 

Come on...

I put Izturis under the Neifi category, that should say it all.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

There aren't really fans out there who love Izturis...are there?

 

Come on...

I put Izturis under the Neifi category, that should say it all.

 

You mean he's going to save us!

[YearofDaCubs]

There aren't really fans out there who love Izturis...are there?

 

Come on...

I put Izturis under the Neifi category, that should say it all.

 

You mean he's going to save us!

Of course! Nobody can catch the ball as good as Izturis can.

[jmajew]

Maybe Bruce Miles will read this and call Dusty out in the Daily Herald.

 

That would be fun.

 

Rocket, you know as well as I do that this management team doesn't give a rat crap about what anyone thinks outside their inner circle of scouts and coaches.

 

God, being a Cubs fan absolutely sucks.

 

I know, but I'm not asking him to point out an opinion. Just print Dusty's quote about Hanley's AAA numbers then Bruce simply respond with the facts. Then the reader can see what a moron Dusty is without Bruce having to say anything.

 

But are we the majority of the fanbase? I think we're the somewhat vocal minority.

 

I think the majority of Cub fans are the sort that call sports radio and complain about Ramirez's hustle, Wood and Prior being soft, and yearn for a fire and brimstone manager. They believe in clutchiness and old baseball mystique about pitching, defense, and fundamentals. They understand Baker is a problem, but on a very basic level. They fail to comprehend the enormity of the wreck he (and Hendry) have made this team. They don't recognize the uselessness of half the players on the roster. They don't understand that you can have a $90m payroll and waste half of it away on terrible baseball players, and it won't do any good. They LOVE Cesar Izturis and his RBI-creating glove. They complain about the Trib's "lack of committment to winning", when they've increased payroll a ton since the mid 1990's and spend over $100m in 2004 on a team that by all rights should have gone to the playoffs. They don't understand that it was an unreasonable workload on top of flawed mechanics, and not a lack of guts, or a stubbornness to alter said mechanics that led to Wood's shoulder exploding. They look 16 blocks south or whatever it is and see Guillen and a World Series, and think that what they need is a team of grinderballers who play "smart" ball.

 

That majority would read Bruce's column with those stats and either not grasp the signifigance of it, or would dismiss it out of hand because prospects' numbers in the minors don't mean anything, good or bad.

 

I love Bruce. I respect him and appreciate the advocacy he shows on our behalf, but the hopelessness of it all it just mind blowing.

 

I'd rather have an interviewer point this crap out live, and make Baker or Hendry respond. Get tape of one of them stammering, grasping for a response. THAT's what I want. Calling their idiocy out in print isn't helping. Bruce has been doing it for nearly 2 years now, and perceptions haven't drastically changed. Just, anybody, PLEASE grap a stat sheet before an interview or press conference.

 

I'm a firm believer that fundamentals are neccessary to win. I believe in clutch hitting, and I believe in giving it your all 100% of the time. When Ramirez doesn't hustle I get upset. The reason being that I believe everyone should always give it their best effort no matter what. It is just like any other job. I think everyone should give 100% no matter what. Whether you work at McDonalds, in an office, as a salesman, or play pro sports I think you should give your whole heart all the time.

 

If you look at all the truly great players in any sport they all wore their hearts on their sleeves. Brett Favre(I hate him but he does), Cal Ripken Jr, Griffey Jr (remember when he ran into the wall catching a ball and broke his wrist), Jordan would play with a fever and still have games of his life. I hate guys who don't play up to their potential because they don't have the motivation.

 

With all of that said, I am a firm believer in everything this board talks about. I think OBP and SLG are probably the two most important stats in all of baseball. I hate Hendry and Baker for being ignorant to those numbers and I hate the fact that Baker rode his starters too hard back in 2003.

 

I apologize for this rant but I'm sure I am not the only person on this board who feels this way. I don't think the new school thought of strictly stats is right all by itself. I think a team needs a mix of both old and new school.

 

If a reporter actually asked Hendry and Baker those questions they would probably lose their posh job of being the Cubs beat writer. Frankly can you blame them? I wish someone would ask them those questions. I'd love to see their reactions. However, they have their jobs and are making their millions so does it really matter to them what others think. They are paid to do a job and are trying to do it. The problem isn't with Hendry and Baker it is with the man who put them in charge. Andy MacPhail is to blame more so than Hendry or Baker. Heck, the tribune compnay is even more to blame, they should have fired MacPhail years ago, and then brought in a guy who would fire Hendry and then Hendry's replacement could fire Baker. You can't blame them for not spending enough money but you can blame them for who they put in charge.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Dusty Baker, baseball genius. Just ask Joe Morgan -- he'll tell ya.

[USSoccer]

 

But are we the majority of the fanbase? I think we're the somewhat vocal minority.

 

I think the majority of Cub fans are the sort that call sports radio and complain about Ramirez's hustle, Wood and Prior being soft, and yearn for a fire and brimstone manager. They believe in clutchiness and old baseball mystique about pitching, defense, and fundamentals. They understand Baker is a problem, but on a very basic level. They fail to comprehend the enormity of the wreck he (and Hendry) have made this team. They don't recognize the uselessness of half the players on the roster. They don't understand that you can have a $90m payroll and waste half of it away on terrible baseball players, and it won't do any good. They LOVE Cesar Izturis and his RBI-creating glove. They complain about the Trib's "lack of committment to winning", when they've increased payroll a ton since the mid 1990's and spend over $100m in 2004 on a team that by all rights should have gone to the playoffs. They don't understand that it was an unreasonable workload on top of flawed mechanics, and not a lack of guts, or a stubbornness to alter said mechanics that led to Wood's shoulder exploding. They look 16 blocks south or whatever it is and see Guillen and a World Series, and think that what they need is a team of grinderballers who play "smart" ball.

 

That majority would read Bruce's column with those stats and either not grasp the signifigance of it, or would dismiss it out of hand because prospects' numbers in the minors don't mean anything, good or bad.

 

I love Bruce. I respect him and appreciate the advocacy he shows on our behalf, but the hopelessness of it all it just mind blowing.

 

I'd rather have an interviewer point this crap out live, and make Baker or Hendry respond. Get tape of one of them stammering, grasping for a response. THAT's what I want. Calling their idiocy out in print isn't helping. Bruce has been doing it for nearly 2 years now, and perceptions haven't drastically changed. Just, anybody, PLEASE grap a stat sheet before an interview or press conference.

 

I'm a firm believer that fundamentals are neccessary to win. I believe in clutch hitting, and I believe in giving it your all 100% of the time. When Ramirez doesn't hustle I get upset. The reason being that I believe everyone should always give it their best effort no matter what. It is just like any other job. I think everyone should give 100% no matter what. Whether you work at McDonalds, in an office, as a salesman, or play pro sports I think you should give your whole heart all the time.

 

If you look at all the truly great players in any sport they all wore their hearts on their sleeves. Brett Favre(I hate him but he does), Cal Ripken Jr, Griffey Jr (remember when he ran into the wall catching a ball and broke his wrist), Jordan would play with a fever and still have games of his life. I hate guys who don't play up to their potential because they don't have the motivation.

 

 

First off, I hope my post didn't come off as being too caustic. My 3 week old has been keeping me up all week, so I'm a bit edgy. I shouldn't generalize like I did.

 

My main point was that the majority of the fanbase has not correctly identified the reasons why our team isn't good. They have an idea, albiet a very basic, general one, but until they realize that Ramirez's hustle is an annoying but not fatal flaw, or that it's not that Dusty should be fired not because he doesn't yell enough, but because he's a really bad manager with glaring tactical and strategic flaws, we're not going to see any change come about. MacPhail probably hears the complaining of the fanbase as being indicative of a fanbase upset about a losing season, and not a failed direction. That's a problem. This organization is pointed in the completely wrong direction.