Dusty commenting on young players.......

[Larry Horse]

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/cubs.asp?id=71917

 

"Youth served? Dusty Baker had an interesting take Saturday on his reputation as a manager who doesn’t like young players.

 

“Who plays more kids than me in spring training?” he said. “I probably play more kids than anybody in spring training. That’s why (with), ‘Dusty doesn’t like kids,’ I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, you haven’t seen my track record.’"

 

I almost spit my coffee out when I read this. Hey Braniac, every team plays young players in spring training, because it's SPRING TRAINING!!!! That's where young players get a chance to prove themselves. This isn't some sort of novel concept you've come up with.

 

And Dusty proves his "track record" with this nugget:

 

"As far as Hollandsworth goes, Baker is likely to start him today, even though the Marlins will throw lefty Al Leiter at the Cubs.

 

“You can’t just shelve Holly,” Baker said. “Holly’s doing an outstanding job for us. He’s finally got his act together. I don’t want Holly off too many days. I’m going to play Holly tomorrow because if not, Holly would be off almost a week. That’s a long time.”

 

So let me get this straight. Murton gets called up, goes 2-4, provides a much needed spark, yet he will sit today against a lefty because "You just can't shelve Holly." Hey Dusty, you can shelve Holly, because YOU MAKE OUT THE LINEUPS!!! Holly is not the future for this team. Here are your own words regarding Murton's first game: “That was a great first game,” said manager Dusty Baker, whose team improved to 41-44. “That was a way to start your career. That was huge.” So his reward? A trip to the bench after his second game. Who gives a rat's ### about Holly?

 

Dusty's response to criticism that he doesn't like rookies is that you have to have young players to play. So a young player comes up, looks pretty good and is benched. Which is it Dusty? You can't have it both ways. AAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

[Cubfanintheknow]

I'm typically not one to comment on the comments of Dusty Baker (there are plenty of others on this board who handle that chore for me), but I, too, think it's crazy to not play Murton. He's played well in his first two games and showed--at least early on-- that he's not a liability in the lineup. And if there's anyone who's showed he can be shelved for a couple days and come back string, it's Hollandsworth.

 

By the way, Todd Hollandsworth is 0-4 with four strikeouts in his career versus Al Leiter.

[biittner77]

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/cubs.asp?id=71917

 

"Youth served? Dusty Baker had an interesting take Saturday on his reputation as a manager who doesn’t like young players.

 

“Who plays more kids than me in spring training?” he said. “I probably play more kids than anybody in spring training. That’s why (with), ‘Dusty doesn’t like kids,’ I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, you haven’t seen my track record.’"

 

I almost spit my coffee out when I read this. Hey Braniac, every team plays young players in spring training, because it's SPRING TRAINING!!!! That's where young players get a chance to prove themselves. This isn't some sort of novel concept you've come up with.

 

And Dusty proves his "track record" with this nugget:

 

"As far as Hollandsworth goes, Baker is likely to start him today, even though the Marlins will throw lefty Al Leiter at the Cubs.

 

“You can’t just shelve Holly,” Baker said. “Holly’s doing an outstanding job for us. He’s finally got his act together. I don’t want Holly off too many days. I’m going to play Holly tomorrow because if not, Holly would be off almost a week. That’s a long time.”

 

So let me get this straight. Murton gets called up, goes 2-4, provides a much needed spark, yet he will sit today against a lefty because "You just can't shelve Holly." Hey Dusty, you can shelve Holly, because YOU MAKE OUT THE LINEUPS!!! Holly is not the future for this team. Here are your own words regarding Murton's first game: “That was a great first game,” said manager Dusty Baker, whose team improved to 41-44. “That was a way to start your career. That was huge.” So his reward? A trip to the bench after his second game. Who gives a rat's ### about Holly?

 

Dusty's response to criticism that he doesn't like rookies is that you have to have young players to play. So a young player comes up, looks pretty good and is benched. Which is it Dusty? You can't have it both ways. AAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

 

OK, so we wants to get Hollandsworth into the lineup- although if I read the box scores yesterday didn't Hollandsworth bat twice? Baker could give Burnitz a day off and play Hollandsworth in RF.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What I find amusing is he doesn't want Hollandsworth to sit for almost a week, because that's a long time. It's almost as if he can relate sitting a long time to having trouble finding a groove and hitting consistiently. Yet, isn't that exactly what he did to Dubois? and in 2003, Choi? :-k

[Roast]

 

“Who plays more kids than me in spring training?” he said. “I probably play more kids than anybody in spring training. That’s why (with), ‘Dusty doesn’t like kids,’ I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, you haven’t seen my track record.’"

 

 

I have a new sig.

[hawkeyecub]

I don't have any problem with this usage. It's a good situation for Murton to get 2/3 starts.

Hollandsworth was our 3rd best hitter in June, hitting .360/.372/.547 and he's 8-24 in July with 2 HR, 2 doubles and 2 walks. He's been very good for well over a month now, and we're still trying to get in the playoffs. Plus I think Len said yesterday we face two lefties right after the All-Star break.

 

People think young players are ruined if they don't play every single day. Cedeno said he learned a ton (like going the other way) by just being up here, taking everything in, and watching and taking BP with everyone.

Murton isn't going to be damaged if he isn't playing every single day. If he's only getting 2 starts per week that's not good, but if he's getting about 4, that's still a good situation for him.

[rawaction]

I don't have any problem with this usage. It's a good situation for Murton to get 2/3 starts.

Hollandsworth was our 3rd best hitter in June, hitting .360/.372/.547 and he's 8-24 in July with 2 HR, 2 doubles and 2 walks. He's been very good for well over a month now, and we're still trying to get in the playoffs. Plus I think Len said yesterday we face two lefties right after the All-Star break.

 

People think young players are ruined if they don't play every single day. Cedeno said he learned a ton (like going the other way) by just being up here, taking everything in, and watching and taking BP with everyone.

Murton isn't going to be damaged if he isn't playing every single day. If he's only getting 2 starts per week that's not good, but if he's getting about 4, that's still a good situation for him.

 

I agree, Hollandsworth has been pretty good. I think it will be Burnitz getting the day off. And Murton should still be in LF.

 

But I have to point out what's the point of taking everything in and learning, if you can't put it to use. Cedeno has been wasted, while Neifi does nothing.

[Roast]

Cedeno has been wasted, while Neifi does nothing.

 

See, thats what really burns me. I dont really mind that much that Murton might get one day off. Okay, fine. But Cedeno is rotting on the bench while Neifi stands out there and continues to suck massively.

[hawkeyecub]

 

But I have to point out what's the point of taking everything in and learning, if you can't put it to use. Cedeno has been wasted, while Neifi does nothing.

 

I agree, there's no reason for Cedeno to be on the bench now. When he was initally called up and Neifi was playing out of his mind it was okay, but now it's ridiculous.

 

My point was more that when a player is first called up, it's okay if they don't play every single game. That's especially true when the player at their position is playing well.

At Murton's age and this stage in his development, I think it might be more beneficial to him if he gets 4 starts a week rather than playing everyday.

[frostwyrm]

OK, so we wants to get Hollandsworth into the lineup- although if I read the box scores yesterday didn't Hollandsworth bat twice? Baker could give Burnitz a day off and play Hollandsworth in RF.

 

Yeah. I just don't see what is so fantastic about Burnitz that he has to play every day. He hardly ever even gets a day off. As for Holla, we are going through a rare stretch when we are predominantly facing lefties, so Murton should be playing. There will be many more stretches when we face nothing but righties, but I doubt Dusty will bend over backwards to accommodate Murton in those situations.

[frostwyrm]

“You can’t just shelve Holly,” Baker said. “Holly’s doing an outstanding job for us. He’s finally got his act together. I don’t want Holly off too many days. I’m going to play Holly tomorrow because if not, Holly would be off almost a week. That’s a long time. ”

 

 

This quote kills me. Dusty will not hesitate to let a rookie sit for more than "almost a week" between starts, but if it's a vet in question then "almost a week" between starts is "a long time". And someone needs to tell Dusty that Holla got 2 at bats last night.

[Deeg]

 

But I have to point out what's the point of taking everything in and learning, if you can't put it to use. Cedeno has been wasted, while Neifi does nothing.

 

I agree, there's no reason for Cedeno to be on the bench now. When he was initally called up and Neifi was playing out of his mind it was okay, but now it's ridiculous.

 

My point was more that when a player is first called up, it's okay if they don't play every single game. That's especially true when the player at their position is playing well.

At Murton's age and this stage in his development, I think it might be more beneficial to him if he gets 4 starts a week rather than playing everyday.

 

Neifi hasn't been "out of his mind" since April. SInce May 1st his OPS is well below .600.

[umpunk]

I personally think that Murton and Cedeno should be starting every day. Not because I believe they are better players at this point than Hollandsworth and Perez, but because there really is little hope for the Play-offs and I would like an extended look heading into next season. After saying all that, this thread goes is dead on to the reason I (and a few others) defend Dusty - people just bash him unfairly. What do you want him to do - never play Hollandsworth or Perez again? Todd has been one of our best hitters over the past month or so. Dusty is just not ready to leave Hollwandsworth (or Burnitz) rotting on the bench quite yet and throw in the towell on the season.

[Elrhino]

Any manager that cares about winning would not bench a player with an 1.000 OPS in the last month.

[abuck1220]

What do you want him to do - never play Hollandsworth or Perez again?

 

deal. :thumleft:

[hawkeyecub]

Neifi hasn't been "out of his mind" since April. SInce May 1st his OPS is well below .600.

 

I know that. Cedeno was called up on April 20th I believe, when Neifi was still "out of his mind."

[hawkeyecub]

What do you want him to do - never play Hollandsworth or Perez again?

 

deal. :thumleft:

 

Right, why would we want our 3rd most productive hitter over the last month plus, to ever play?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What do you want him to do - never play Hollandsworth or Perez again?

 

deal. :thumleft:

 

Right, why would we want our 3rd most productive hitter over the last month plus, to ever play?

 

[April]Why would you want to bench our 2nd best hitter over the last month?[/April]

 

[June]Perez has been horrible ever since May 1st[/June]

[Warpticon]

Neifi hasn't been "out of his mind" since April. SInce May 1st his OPS is well below .600.

 

I know that. Cedeno was called up on April 20th I believe, when Neifi was still "out of his mind."

 

The first time. Currently, Neifi sucks, yet gets the vast majority of the playing time, even since Cedeno was called back up.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

What do you want him to do - never play Hollandsworth or Perez again?

 

deal. :thumleft:

 

Right, why would we want our 3rd most productive hitter over the last month plus, to ever play?

I would be fine with Holla being the key bat off the bench. I still don't trust that he can stay healthy for an extended period of time anyways.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Neifi hasn't been "out of his mind" since April.

 

Are you sure ???

 

Perez          AB   R   H  2B  3B  HR  TB RBI  BB  SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
05/17 - 06/05  83  11  33   5   0   3  47  12   1   5  0.398  0.407  0.566  0.973