Firing Baker is the answer..

[erik316wttn]

Dusty is neither a good manager nor a bad one. He is quite average. You could do better, you could also do much worse. And, believe me, the CUBS have done much worse over the years. Frank Luchessi, Preston Gomez, Charlie Metro...... there's no point in going on.

 

If you think that replacing Dusty Baker is the answer, you're quite delusional. Even the ghost of John McGraw couldn't make chicken salad out of chicken s**t !!!

 

The only way the Cubs win w/ Baker is if the Trib gives him a $150 million budget.

 

2 1/2 years is enough of this guy. You could give 75% of the members on this board a $100 million payroll and they could probably go 40-42. 90% could probably figure out you don't bat Neifi and Patterson before the NL's 1st half MVP.

 

Preach it, brother!

[erik316wttn]

Just look at this lineup he has for tonight:

 

N. Perez SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269

J. Macias 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264

T. Walker 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288

A. Ramirez 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

T. Hollandsworth LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283

J. Burnitz RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276

M. Barrett C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257

C. Patterson CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232

M. Prior P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222

 

That's right. He has two players with OBP's under .300 hitting 1 and 2 in the lineup. He is an idiot, plain and simple, or he is trying very hard to get fired.

 

Are you ####ING KIDDING ME???

 

MACIAS?

 

Sweet lord. GOD. He is such an idiot. WHY IN THE HELL is Macias playing over Hairston, and WHY IN THE HELL is Neifi playing over cedeno. GOOD LORD.

I think it is pretty clear that Dusty does not like Hairston. Maybe his dad did something to Baker. I cannot understand it at all.

 

That lineup is almost as bad as some of the gems Don Baylor trotted out there in 2002.

[scs_paradise]

What's wriggleman doing? I never thought he got a fair shake, crappy team and still went to the playoffs....

[erik316wttn]

What's wriggleman doing? I never thought he got a fair shake, crappy team and still went to the playoffs....

 

I think he's in the Dodger organization somewhere. I want to say bench coach?

[EricG]

my problem with Dusty is he doesn't seem to care. The team needed a change from 2004 and management chose to trade Sosa and Farnsworth and not re-sign Merker and Alou. Dusty didn't keep the team on track in September and should have been fired then.

[frostwyrm]

 

If you think that replacing Dusty Baker is the answer, you're quite delusional.

 

I would say, if you think keeping Dusty Baker is the answer, you're twice as delusional.

 

Replacing Dusty is one of many answers. He's the wrong manager for the wrong team. I said it before he was hired and I haven't seen anything resembling evidence to the contrary.

 

Let's see here, the team hits .213 with men on 3rd and less than 2 outs, yep it's the manager. This is becoming silly.

 

The fact that you have to dig that deeply to find a number to exonerate Dusty actually makes him look worse, not better. And I assume you are aware that a fly ball scores a run with a man on 3rd and less than 2 outs, so BA is a pretty poor indicator of offensive effectiveness in that situation, particulary for a team that has a lot of fly ball hitters.

[Bench Coach]

Dusty could do more, but the problem isn't all his fault. People just look for the first person they can hold responsible, and "off with his head!" Obviously Dusty stands out as the manager, and at the end of the season thats where the buck stops. As of right now the Cubs are in a funk. We went through a period where we one like 15 of 20 games (I forget how many, and I'm far too lazy to look it up now) starting with the West Coast Road trip. That was a hot streak. The Cubs have lost 6 in a row. YOU PLAY 162 GAMES, and there's a reason for that. We may not catch the Cardinals, but we still get the Wild Card. I like Dusty, I think he's a good manager, and he is a proven winner(Even if he hasn't won it all).

[USSoccer]

My .02 cents:

 

Dusty is a problem. He's one of the main problems. But removing him on it's own does not make the Cubs contenders. All Dusty does it exacerbate the flaws of this team to an extreme.

 

Removing Dusty probably would stabalize the team, and we'd play a few above .500. But until the 3 black holes in our lineup are fixed, we're not a playoff team.

 

EDIT: I do want Baker fired, fwiw...

[CUBZ99]

 

If you think that replacing Dusty Baker is the answer, you're quite delusional.

 

I would say, if you think keeping Dusty Baker is the answer, you're twice as delusional.

 

Replacing Dusty is one of many answers. He's the wrong manager for the wrong team. I said it before he was hired and I haven't seen anything resembling evidence to the contrary.

 

Let's see here, the team hits .213 with men on 3rd and less than 2 outs, yep it's the manager. This is becoming silly.

 

The fact that you have to dig that deeply to find a number to exonerate Dusty actually makes him look worse, not better. And I assume you are aware that a fly ball scores a run with a man on 3rd and less than 2 outs, so BA is a pretty poor indicator of offensive effectiveness in that situation, particulary for a team that has a lot of fly ball hitters.

 

The team is still a bad team with or without Baker. Baker deserves some of the credit for poor performance and Hendry deserves the rest for poorly putting together this team.

 

There is no manager in baseball that could win with the talent and injuries the Cubs have had.

[dalgreen]

What's wriggleman doing? I never thought he got a fair shake, crappy team and still went to the playoffs....

 

You want to fire Baker who's yet to have a Cub team not finish under .500 (no real accomplishment), for a guy who had only one season above .500, and got swept in the 1998 playoffs? Perhaps there's a good reason why no one else has hired Riggleman.

[erik316wttn]

What's wriggleman doing? I never thought he got a fair shake, crappy team and still went to the playoffs....

 

You want to fire Baker who's yet to have a Cub team not finish under .500 (no real accomplishment), for a guy who had only one season above .500, and got swept in the 1998 playoffs? Perhaps there's a good reason why no one else has hired Riggleman.

 

Ok, allow me to play the "talent" card again. Look at the 1998 team, and compare it to the 2003 and 2004 teams.

[dalgreen]

What's wriggleman doing? I never thought he got a fair shake, crappy team and still went to the playoffs....

 

You want to fire Baker who's yet to have a Cub team not finish under .500 (no real accomplishment), for a guy who had only one season above .500, and got swept in the 1998 playoffs? Perhaps there's a good reason why no one else has hired Riggleman.

 

Ok, allow me to play the "talent" card again. Look at the 1998 team, and compare it to the 2003 and 2004 teams.

 

I'll follow your lead, okay allow me to ask again. Why hasn't anyone else hired Riggleman? By the way, the 1998 Cubs had a very good Lieber and Wood pitching combo, and Sosa who was head and shoulders better than anyone on the 2003 and 2004 teams. But my main question is why hasn't Riggleman been hired by anyone else? I don't have an issue in firing Bakre if you change personnel on the team or at least provide a better name than Jim Riggleman.

[CubfaninCA]

The current roster can make the wildcard, if used properly. If they want to win it all, they'll have to make some trades.

 

My guess is that most managers would have Hairston and Walker batting ahead of Lee, which helps solve problem #1, lack of runs.... Apparently, Baker doesn't like Hairston. I recall reading that Hairston's kind of a knucklehead so not a surprise. Since Baker won't give Hairston much of a shot, and since the Trib probably doesn't have the cajones to can Baker, Hendry should look to deal Hairston. Hairston probably has some good value.

[dime]

ultimately, baseball managers have very little impact on the game. all of their decisions are reactive ones, unlike in basketball, football or soccer where strategies are implemented that change how the game is played.

 

firing dusty baker will not make the cubs a better team. it will, however, provide a sense of relief and hope. the cubs are nearing the point where this will be reason enough to change leadership.

 

I don't anticipate a new manager being any more successful than baker, however.

 

...UNLESS MIKE MADDUX IS THE PITCHING COACH!!!

[dalgreen]

ultimately, baseball managers have very little impact on the game. all of their decisions are reactive ones, unlike in basketball, football or soccer where strategies are implemented that change how the game is played.

 

firing dusty baker will not make the cubs a better team. it will, however, provide a sense of relief and hope. the cubs are nearing the point where this will be reason enough to change leadership.

 

I don't anticipate a new manager being any more successful than baker, however.

 

...UNLESS MIKE MADDUX IS THE PITCHING COACH!!!

 

I think the real question is which team is the real team? The one that won seven in a row or the one that has already lost seven in a row and is currently on a six game losing streak?

[MustangMike]

 

If you think that replacing Dusty Baker is the answer, you're quite delusional.

 

I would say, if you think keeping Dusty Baker is the answer, you're twice as delusional.

 

Replacing Dusty is one of many answers. He's the wrong manager for the wrong team. I said it before he was hired and I haven't seen anything resembling evidence to the contrary.

 

Just for the sake of argument, what is the type of team that Baker should coach? Is there a way to agument this team to fit him?

[YearofDaCubs]

ultimately, baseball managers have very little impact on the game. all of their decisions are reactive ones, unlike in basketball, football or soccer where strategies are implemented that change how the game is played.

 

firing dusty baker will not make the cubs a better team. it will, however, provide a sense of relief and hope. the cubs are nearing the point where this will be reason enough to change leadership.

 

I don't anticipate a new manager being any more successful than baker, however.

 

...UNLESS MIKE MADDUX IS THE PITCHING COACH!!!

Sorry, but I don't believe that. When you have a manager putting guys in the 1 and 2 hole that have an OBP of less than .300 inf front of arguably the best hitter in baseball as of right now, yeah it's the manager's fault. Neifi, Corey, Macias have no business being on the top. Also, you have a SS who completely killed AAA ball yet he isn't even starting. I would venture to say that most of the managers would have probably given him more time to play than Dusty.

[dalgreen]

Sorry, but I don't believe that. When you have a manager putting guys in the 1 and 2 hole that have an OBP of less than .300 inf front of arguably the best hitter in baseball as of right now, yeah it's the manager's fault. Neifi, Corey, Macias have no business being on the top. Also, you have a SS who completely killed AAA ball yet he isn't even starting. I would venture to say that most of the managers would have probably given him more time to play than Dusty.

 

You're right. Baker should be slammed repeatedly for placing incompetent hitters in front of Lee. But using that as the only reason for this year's failure thus far is shortsighted. The bullpen has at least 15 losses this year, just like it's important for the 1-2 hitters to get on base, it's also important to have Burnitz, Holla/Dubois and Barrett get on base too. Also, our starters haven't been consistent. So, outside of the stupid lineups with Patterson and Perez at the top, most of the problems are players not performing.

[CubfaninCA]

 

If you think that replacing Dusty Baker is the answer, you're quite delusional.

 

I would say, if you think keeping Dusty Baker is the answer, you're twice as delusional.

 

Replacing Dusty is one of many answers. He's the wrong manager for the wrong team. I said it before he was hired and I haven't seen anything resembling evidence to the contrary.

 

Just for the sake of argument, what is the type of team that Baker should coach? Is there a way to agument this team to fit him?

 

The Cardinals. He'd bat Grudz and Molina ahead of Pujols and put Eckstein in the 6th spot. Also, he'd let Mulder, Carpenter and Morris go 130-140 pitches ala 2003 w/ Prior, Z and Wood.

[dime]

it's a .500 team, that's why they will win 6 in a row and then lose 5 straight.

 

as far as the lineup thing, perez is hitting about .430 or something lifetime against smoltz. macias is 1-3 lifetime.

 

with lee hurt, the lineup is pretty messed up. I think it's foolish to indict a manager based on a single lineup that is clearly not an everyday one.

 

it's not like he slotted the pitcher in the #8 spot...

[YearofDaCubs]

Sorry, but I don't believe that. When you have a manager putting guys in the 1 and 2 hole that have an OBP of less than .300 inf front of arguably the best hitter in baseball as of right now, yeah it's the manager's fault. Neifi, Corey, Macias have no business being on the top. Also, you have a SS who completely killed AAA ball yet he isn't even starting. I would venture to say that most of the managers would have probably given him more time to play than Dusty.

 

You're right. Baker should be slammed repeatedly for placing incompetent hitters in front of Lee. But using that as the only reason for this year's failure thus far is shortsighted. The bullpen has at least 15 losses this year, just like it's important for the 1-2 hitters to get on base, it's also important to have Burnitz, Holla/Dubois and Barrett get on base too. Also, our starters haven't been consistent. So, outside of the stupid lineups with Patterson and Perez at the top, most of the problems are players not performing.

I dont believe it's all Baker's fault but he is a huge part of it. The lineups for one, and the fact that he is stubborn. Some of the players are at fault as well, and frankly our pitching hasn;t been as good as other years.

[brinoch]

Sorry, but I don't believe that. When you have a manager putting guys in the 1 and 2 hole that have an OBP of less than .300 inf front of arguably the best hitter in baseball as of right now, yeah it's the manager's fault. Neifi, Corey, Macias have no business being on the top. Also, you have a SS who completely killed AAA ball yet he isn't even starting. I would venture to say that most of the managers would have probably given him more time to play than Dusty.

 

You're right. Baker should be slammed repeatedly for placing incompetent hitters in front of Lee. But using that as the only reason for this year's failure thus far is shortsighted. The bullpen has at least 15 losses this year, just like it's important for the 1-2 hitters to get on base, it's also important to have Burnitz, Holla/Dubois and Barrett get on base too. Also, our starters haven't been consistent. So, outside of the stupid lineups with Patterson and Perez at the top, most of the problems are players not performing.

 

Baker, the players, and Hendry, too, all share the blame. Singling one decision, or person, as the source of the team's woes is cathartic, but frankly not realistic. Some Cub decisions that annoy me to no end:

 

1. Baker makes poor decisions and favors terrible to mediocre he can count on (Macias, Perez, and Hollandsworth) over the more unpredictable, yet with much more potential rewards (Hairston, Dubois, Cedeno).

 

2. Baker uses relievers in situations where they are prone to failure -- like the repeated attempts to use Remlinger to get lefties out.

 

3. Baker demands that there be 12 pitchers on the roster, yet the 11th and 12th guys get little work (Hendry is equally culpable in this lunacy).

 

4. Baker continually uses Macias as one of his first options off the bench.

 

5. Macias is on the team.

 

It's not like people didn't identify and discuss the problems this team would likely face during the offseason. Lo and behold, we have trouble scoring runs because the offense is insufficient. Lo and behold, the bullpen is spotty, at best.

[erik316wttn]

What's wriggleman doing? I never thought he got a fair shake, crappy team and still went to the playoffs....

 

You want to fire Baker who's yet to have a Cub team not finish under .500 (no real accomplishment), for a guy who had only one season above .500, and got swept in the 1998 playoffs? Perhaps there's a good reason why no one else has hired Riggleman.

 

Ok, allow me to play the "talent" card again. Look at the 1998 team, and compare it to the 2003 and 2004 teams.

 

I'll follow your lead, okay allow me to ask again. Why hasn't anyone else hired Riggleman? By the way, the 1998 Cubs had a very good Lieber and Wood pitching combo, and Sosa who was head and shoulders better than anyone on the 2003 and 2004 teams. But my main question is why hasn't Riggleman been hired by anyone else? I don't have an issue in firing Bakre if you change personnel on the team or at least provide a better name than Jim Riggleman.

 

Grady Little.

[dime]

Why is Grady Little the fab choice here? I can't think of a single reason why he'd be preferable to anyone...his team won the WS immediately after firing him, and I don't think I even have to mention what happened with Pedro Martinez in that ALCS.

 

You want him in charge? Really? Why?

[CubfaninCA]

Why is Grady Little the fab choice here? I can't think of a single reason why he'd be preferable to anyone...his team won the WS immediately after firing him, and I don't think I even have to mention what happened with Pedro Martinez in that ALCS.

 

You want him in charge? Really? Why?

 

My memory isn't that great. Did Little have either Foulke or Schilling?