Still not happy that Baker was let go.

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

I have to voice my displeasure in Hendry letting Baker go from the team. Yes, I too disagreed with a lot of the moves that Dusty made but when you have a GM who doesn’t supply you with the players you need to win, that what chance do you have to succeed? How can a GM for two years in a row pin all of his hopes on his two often-injured pitchers (Wood and Prior), like Jimbo/Fatso did? Please! Dusty Baker was made the scapegoat for all of the Cubs’ troubles. I think Baker is better off, getting out of Chicago. The Cubs don't deserve him. Dusty will be all right, he’ll land on his feet somewhere. I do agree with those of you that say that it is important that we separate Dusty Baker –the man from Dusty Baker – the manager. This is true and as I have said, I wasn’t happy with some of the managerial moves that my man Dusty, made. I know many you didn’t like Baker, and that’s fine but what I had a problem with, was how some of the posters on this board, got personal and ugly with regards to their feelings of Baker –some people even joked about doing some sort of violence to Dusty, just because they were upset with some move that he had. C’mon as much as I love the Cubs and baseball, it is after all, just a game. You’ll have to excuse me, but I can’t understand how some of our Cub fans, can get so ugly and rude with the players and the manager of the team. Some players even received death threats, are you kidding me? Whether it was LaTroy Hawkins or someone else, the behavior of some fans was and is, still inexcusable. I understand that Juan Pierre is practically out the door because of some of the things that occurred this summer. Hendry better get off the couch and do something to retain Pierre and Ramirez right now. If this type of behavior continues, it won’t matter who Jimmy brings in, whether it’s Torre, Girardi or someone else, nobody is going to want to put up with the fans at Wrigley.

[Soriano12]

sarcasm right?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

How can a GM for two years in a row pin all of his hopes on his two often-injured pitchers (Wood and Prior), like Jimbo/Fatso did? Please! Dusty Baker was made the scapegoat for all of the Cubs’ troubles.

 

Cause and Effect

 

Dusty abuses Prior and Wood to oblivion, and wonder of wonders they can't stay healthy.

[Soriano12]

The entire organization failed.

 

McPail is gone and rightfully so.

 

Hendry should be gone, yes it is not really fair he is still around.

 

Baker is gone and rightfully so.

 

Despite being 2 starters short at the hands of Hendry, doesn't excuse the

fact that this team was probably the worst fundemental team in baseball this year.

 

It also doesn't excuse the fact that Baker's lineups were terrible day in and day out.

 

Don't make excuses for Baker. Excuses are like A-Holes, everyone's got one....and they all stink.

 

Dusty being no exception.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Regardless of whether it was Dusty's fault or not is irrelevant. Dusty was paid and paid handsomly to come here and win. He didn't. In the world of professional sports, when a team doesn't win, it is the manager who pays with his job. Dusty made over 15 million dollars to preside over this trainwreck. He didn't win. Now, we'll see if someone else can.

[Blizzau]

I have to voice my displeasure in Hendry letting Baker go from the team. Yes, I too disagreed with a lot of the moves that Dusty made but when you have a GM who doesn’t supply you with the players you need to win, that what chance do you have to succeed? How can a GM for two years in a row pin all of his hopes on his two often-injured pitchers (Wood and Prior), like Jimbo/Fatso did? Please! Dusty Baker was made the scapegoat for all of the Cubs’ troubles. I think Baker is better off, getting out of Chicago. The Cubs don't deserve him. Dusty will be all right, he’ll land on his feet somewhere. I do agree with those of you that say that it is important that we separate Dusty Baker –the man from Dusty Baker – the manager. This is true and as I have said, I wasn’t happy with some of the managerial moves that my man Dusty, made. I know many you didn’t like Baker, and that’s fine but what I had a problem with, was how some of the posters on this board, got personal and ugly with regards to their feelings of Baker –some people even joked about doing some sort of violence to Dusty, just because they were upset with some move that he had. C’mon as much as I love the Cubs and baseball, it is after all, just a game. You’ll have to excuse me, but I can’t understand how some of our Cub fans, can get so ugly and rude with the players and the manager of the team. Some players even received death threats, are you kidding me? Whether it was LaTroy Hawkins or someone else, the behavior of some fans was and is, still inexcusable. I understand that Juan Pierre is practically out the door because of some of the things that occurred this summer. Hendry better get off the couch and do something to retain Pierre and Ramirez right now. If this type of behavior continues, it won’t matter who Jimmy brings in, whether it’s Torre, Girardi or someone else, nobody is going to want to put up with the fans at Wrigley.

 

To be filed under Rants? Of the nonsensical kind, that is...

[UK1679666180]

While it was idiotic to do some personal bashing of Baker, I find it just as idiotic and hypocritical that you would call Hendry fatso in the same post comdemning personal attacks on Baker.

[frostwyrm]

Baker was not fired, he was allowed to serve the full duration of his contract. If the job was supposed to be his in perpetuity he should have had a liftetime contract instead of 4 years.

[Soriano12]

Baker was not fired, he was allowed to serve the full duration of his contract.

 

Excellent point.

 

Contrast that with with Jim Riggleman who was fired, and for alot less than vs. Baker.

 

(ducks)

[J.R.]

Ridiculous post.

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

Disgruntled Cubs fan wrote: "Don't make excuses for Baker. Excuses are like A-Holes, everyone's got one....and they all stink".

 

--Man, where have I heard that crude saying before? I must admit that I probably let my emotions get the best of me because Dusty Baker is such a decent human being. Ooh, that felt good to get off of my chest! Maybe at a later date, I'll post the contents of my last phone conversation with Baker before he left Chicago. I really don't think I'm making excuses for Dusty, the only thing I think I said was, for two years in a row Baker was stuck with often injured Wood and Prior-- which is a fact. I appreciate y'alls feedback.

[A New Era]

Disgruntled Cubs fan wrote: "Don't make excuses for Baker. Excuses are like A-Holes, everyone's got one....and they all stink".

 

--Man, where have I heard that crude saying before? I must admit that I probably let my emotions get the best of me because Dusty Baker is such a decent human being. Ooh, that felt good to get off of my chest! Maybe at a later date, I'll post the contents of my last phone conversation with Baker before he left Chicago. I really don't think I'm making excuses for Dusty, the only thing I think I said was, for two years in a row Baker was stuck with often injured Wood and Prior-- which is a fact. I appreciate y'alls feedback.

 

Jim Hendry is just as much at blame as Dusty. However we have all grown sour on Dusty. Do I really have to relist all of the things he did bad?

Edited October 9, 2006 by A New Era

[USSoccer]

I really don't think I'm making excuses for Dusty, the only thing I think I said was, for two years in a row Baker was stuck with often injured Wood and Prior-- which is a fact. I appreciate y'alls feedback.

 

You know what else is a fact? That Baker's negligent overuse of both of them in 2003 resulted in the fact that they were often injured in 2005 and 2006.

 

I'm sure Baker is a decent human being, but he's a terrible baseball manager, and deserved to have his contract nonrenewed. It's a business, and he failed.

 

And the fact that you were upset by personal attacks on Baker, yet personally attacked Hendry's weight is ironic and hypocritical.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

But also, on Dusty's watch the 2004 team which had all the talent needed to win a World Series collapsed. Should he blamed for it? I don't know.

 

Sure, Dusty is a good man from what I can tell. There are lots of good people in baseball, but baseball is a production game. When you don't produce, you don't get to keep your job. This is true for playersl; this is true for management; this is true for front office personel.

 

I've never thought Dusty was anything but a good person. However, his team failed. When that happens, you will not be retained as a manager...especially when you are making four million as a manager.

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

JR wrote: "Ridiculous post".

 

I ask you, what's wrong in someone stating their opinion. There might not be that many of us, but I'm not the only one on this board that liked Baker. Do you disagree that Jim Hendry deserves a fair amount of blame for the Cubs demise? And besides, we don't criticize you for all of the silly posts, that you have made.

[Brian]

Dusty may be a nice guy, but that's no reason for him to be the Cubs manager.

[CubinNY]

You know a funny thing,

 

I think Dusty was the least responsible for this season's train wreck than any other season he managed the Cubs. Regardless, I think he has to be judged on his body of work in Chicago.

 

Every year he managed the team got worse (not record wise from 03 to 04, but in terms of reaching the playoffs).

 

This team needs a change. They need a change in personnel and a change in management.

 

Unless Hendry pulls a miricale out of his hat, I kind of feel sorry for the next manager. This team is not good.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Dusty may be a nice guy, but that's no reason for him to be the Cubs manager.

 

Agreed. I'm a nice guy. Can I make four million to manage the Cubs?

[A New Era]

JR wrote: "Ridiculous post".

 

I ask you, what's wrong in someone stating their opinion. There might not be that many of us, but I'm not the only one on this board that liked Baker. Do you disagree that Jim Hendry deserves a fair amount of blame for the Cubs demise? And besides, we don't criticize you for all of the silly posts, that you have made.

 

:lol: Your original post claimed you would have liked Baker back. Yet you have not admited any of Baker's failures. If you really want to keep this arguement going let's discuss. .

 

-Baker continually led Pierre off when he was struggling for the 1st 2 months.

-Baker ocntinually played bad players like Bynum, Mabry, and Pagan over better players in Nevin, Moore, Theroit, and Murton

-He dismisses the need for OBP at the top of the line-up and insited to put "speed" at the top of the order. Even when that "speed" had a sub .300 OBP

-He overused Prior and Wood in 03

-He let Zambrano pitch 120+ pitches almost every game even when the season was over

-He'd rather someone who is slow to not get on base at all, according to all of the things he's said.

-He preached aggressivness at the plate. Which shows because the Cubs (someone back me up here) the Cubs were last in pitches per plate appearance in the league

-He consistantly made excuses and did not punish bad fundimentals

-He let the team go into extensive loosing streaks. Not having a "team meeting" until the streak was 8 games lost in a row

-He never "saw" anything from where he was sitting in the dugout

-He hardly ever went out to argue a bad call, because he didn't want his family to see that

-Him and his coaching staff have been noted as to not have been very "hard working" according to Bruce Miles, and I can tell you, it REALLY showed by the teams play on the feild.

 

He is a terrible manager. Now you tell me why you would want him back. Beside him being a "nice guy". Try to list all of the good things about Baker.

[Rob]

Dusty may be a nice guy, but that's no reason for him to be the Cubs manager.

 

Agreed. I'm a nice guy. Can I make four million to manage the Cubs?

 

Four million may sound like a lot but remember... Dusty was paying for his own toothpicks.

[Soriano12]

I'm not a nice guy, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

Can I coach the Cubs?

[Careless]

I know many you didn’t like Baker, and that’s fine but what I had a problem with, was how some of the posters on this board, got personal and ugly with regards to their feelings of Baker –some people even joked about doing some sort of violence to Dusty, just because they were upset with some move that he had. C’mon as much as I love the Cubs and baseball, it is after all, just a game. You’ll have to excuse me, but I can’t understand how some of our Cub fans, can get so ugly and rude with the players and the manager of the team. Some players even received death threats, are you kidding me? Whether it was LaTroy Hawkins or someone else, the behavior of some fans was and is, still inexcusable. .

Excellent reasons to bring Dusty back for another season.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Equating Cub fans who wanted Baker gone with those who sent death threats is pretty ridiculous.

[Soriano12]

Equating Cub fans who wanted Baker gone with those who sent death threats is pretty ridiculous.

 

I doubt those were Cub fans. They were [expletive] biggots who targeted

an African American manager in the spotlight.

[Careless]

Equating Cub fans who wanted Baker gone with those who sent death threats is pretty ridiculous.

 

I doubt those were Cub fans. They were [expletive] biggots who targeted

an African American manager in the spotlight.

They're not mutually exclusive categories. Millions of Cubs fans out there, some of them are bound to be tremendous bigots