dusty baker!

[da bears]

oh dusty, you giant loser

 

from Jayson Stark's rumblings and grumblings http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings:

 

• Seeing Red: We've heard some buzzing lately, among baseball men, scouts and players, about a recent Dusty Baker quote on the Reds' troubles that sure looked like an attempt to absolve himself of all blame.

 

"I have never wanted to win more than I do right here, and I will," Baker told the Dayton Daily News' Hal McCoy. "But this is Wayne Krivsky's team, not Walt Jocketty's and not mine. I just hope there is enough out there after the season that we can get to help us."

 

Maybe we're not reading that right. But if we're misinterpreting it, suffice it to say we're not the only ones. And it appears Baker is saying that the Reds' disappointing record is his players' fault, and his former GM's fault, but not his own or his current GM's doing.

 

Well, obviously, Jocketty is only now beginning to put his stamp on this roster. And the players haven't exactly overachieved. But doesn't the manager bear some responsibility for this mess, too?

 

Scouts who have followed the Reds continually talk about their messy execution, their mediocre defense and their distinct lack of energy. There also has been plenty of second-guessing of Baker's lineup choices (particularly those 242 at-bats Corey Patterson has gotten).

 

And there is no shortage of people wondering whether Aaron Harang's forearm injury -- along with his 1-6, 8.49 slide in the past 2½ months -- might be a direct result of Baker's decision to allow him to throw 63 pitches in relief on two days' rest in a May 25 18-inning game, then start him on three days' rest immediately afterward.

 

Dusty Baker has many admirable traits. And this is not an attempt to heap all the blame on him. We're just saying that when teams like this fall apart, it's everybody's fault -- including the manager's.

[Derwood]

If enjoying seeing Baker do this to another team is wrong, I don't want to be right

[SouthSideRyan]

Jocketty's not dumb enough to keep him around that long, but I'd love for Dusty's record to dip below .500 lifetime.(106 over at this moment)

[RedFlash]

This is now just going public? I think Cubs/Giants fans can combine and tell Jayson Starks and the rest of baseball, "d'oh."

[TruffleShuffle]

gee this sounds awfully familiar.

[illiniguy]

gee this sounds awfully familiar.

Dude, he just needs his horses.

[CubinNY]

I'll heap the blame on him.

 

It's only taken 15 years for the baseball world to figure this guy out. He should have to give a portion of his paycheck to Barry Bonds for almost singlehandedly making the Giants good for all those years.

[C.C.]

I wouldn't be surprised if he's not back next year.

[Cynosure]

It is his team to ruin... like killing 2 aces with 1 stone.

[Outshined_One]

I'll laugh when he gets a job managing some poor American League team after the Reds fire him.

 

Seattle looks about right.

[Tarver]

I'll laugh when he gets a job managing some poor American League team after the Reds fire him.

 

Seattle looks about right.

 

They've shown interest in him before.

[Post Count Padder]

gee this sounds awfully familiar.

[kujay]

In Dusty We Trusty(ed)

[biittner77]

Dusty Baker might not be bad as an AL Manager. He wouldn't have to overthink the game. No more double switches for no reason. He could get guys ABs in the DH spot. The problem is that he needs a veteran club and most teams looking for a manager are rebuilding and don't want him. I could see Baker taking over the Orioles in a couple years if Angelos decided to spend some money again and bring in the likes of Texiera and some pitchers.

[badger1679666666]

Dusty Baker might not be bad as an AL Manager. He wouldn't have to overthink the game. No more double switches for no reason. He could get guys ABs in the DH spot. The problem is that he needs a veteran club and most teams looking for a manager are rebuilding and don't want him. I could see Baker taking over the Orioles in a couple years if Angelos decided to spend some money again and bring in the likes of Texiera and some pitchers.

 

He'd still kill every young arm he could, just for fun, dude.

[gflore34]

Dusty Baker might not be bad as an AL Manager. He wouldn't have to overthink the game. No more double switches for no reason. He could get guys ABs in the DH spot. The problem is that he needs a veteran club and most teams looking for a manager are rebuilding and don't want him. I could see Baker taking over the Orioles in a couple years if Angelos decided to spend some money again and bring in the likes of Texiera and some pitchers.

 

With a very strong sense of professionalism, Baker' apologetic attitude towards veteran players enables their messy execution, etc. I know Lou isn't be end all of no no nonsense managers but, would Fonzie have apologized to Baker led team the other day?

[Jehrico]

Dusty Baker might not be bad as an AL Manager. He wouldn't have to overthink the game. No more double switches for no reason. He could get guys ABs in the DH spot. The problem is that he needs a veteran club and most teams looking for a manager are rebuilding and don't want him. I could see Baker taking over the Orioles in a couple years if Angelos decided to spend some money again and bring in the likes of Texiera and some pitchers.

 

He'd still kill every young arm he could, just for fun, dude.

Give him a rotation with 5 Livan Hernandezes and see what he could do. Man, that would be ugly in a number of ways.

[Gingerballs Lives]

This is now just going public? I think Cubs/Giants fans can combine and tell Jayson Starks and the rest of baseball, "d'oh."

 

Don't you mean, "duh"?

[RedFlash]

This is now just going public? I think Cubs/Giants fans can combine and tell Jayson Starks and the rest of baseball, "d'oh."

 

Don't you mean, "duh"?

 

No, I mean d'oh" as in "Dusty, Oh Heck......"

[CuseCubFan69]

So, was the 03 Cubs success was somebody else's fault as well? He'll take the wins but the losses are always somebody else's fault, coward.

[Derwood]

So, was the 03 Cubs success was somebody else's fault as well? He'll take the wins but the losses are always somebody else's fault, coward.

 

I credit the rest of the division being horrible. 88 wins isn't really something to get impressed by, especially when that team was probably capable of better.

 

Last night's game against the Reds reminded me of every reason I'm glad Baker is no longer here. Terrible fundamentals, over-management of the bullpen.....sorry Reds fans

[CuseCubFan69]

So, was the 03 Cubs success was somebody else's fault as well? He'll take the wins but the losses are always somebody else's fault, coward.

 

I credit the rest of the division being horrible. 88 wins isn't really something to get impressed by, especially when that team was probably capable of better.

 

Last night's game against the Reds reminded me of every reason I'm glad Baker is no longer here. Terrible fundamentals, over-management of the bullpen.....sorry Reds fans

 

If you listened to Baker talk though he mentioned quite often on how he brought his "winning attitude" to Chicago. I suppose mentioning how bad of a manager he is like hitting a golf ball off of a ship and hoping it'll hit water, it's just too easy.

 

Remember when he used to talk about how "fundamentally sound" his teams ALWAYS were? I recall Bruce saying that Lou's guys were out there working on stuff and are a hard working group of coaches while Dusty's did little or nothing, it shows in the results.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If you listened to Baker talk though he mentioned quite often on how he brought his "winning attitude" to Chicago. I suppose mentioning how bad of a manager he is like hitting a golf ball off of a ship and hoping it'll hit water, it's just too easy.

Baker should also sometime drop a line about the drastic difference in talent put on the field in 03 vs 02. I didn't stay at a holiday inn express or nothing, but I think that may have had a lot more to do with the team being a whole bunch better that 1st year than his attitude

[CuseCubFan69]

If you listened to Baker talk though he mentioned quite often on how he brought his "winning attitude" to Chicago. I suppose mentioning how bad of a manager he is like hitting a golf ball off of a ship and hoping it'll hit water, it's just too easy.

Baker should also sometime drop a line about the drastic difference in talent put on the field in 03 vs 02. I didn't stay at a holiday inn express or nothing, but I think that may have had a lot more to do with the team being a whole bunch better that 1st year than his attitude

 

I think the writers are now starting to see this. It's the presses fault...it's the previous GM's fault...it's the previous coaches fault...it's the announcers fault...

 

How many years did the Reds sign him for? I hope they don't fire him for the duration of his contract.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If you listened to Baker talk though he mentioned quite often on how he brought his "winning attitude" to Chicago. I suppose mentioning how bad of a manager he is like hitting a golf ball off of a ship and hoping it'll hit water, it's just too easy.

Baker should also sometime drop a line about the drastic difference in talent put on the field in 03 vs 02. I didn't stay at a holiday inn express or nothing, but I think that may have had a lot more to do with the team being a whole bunch better that 1st year than his attitude

 

I think the writers are now starting to see this. It's the presses fault...it's the previous GM's fault...it's the previous coaches fault...it's the announcers fault...

 

How many years did the Reds sign him for? I hope they don't fire him for the duration of his contract.

3 year deal, and that could be a glorious 3 years for the rest of the NL central