Excuse-Making to a New Level

[MembersOnlyJacket]

Nothing new, just Baker excuse-making for his beloved veterans:

 

“It was 3-2 (the count) and he was running,” manager Dusty Baker said in defense of Macias. “That was a long single in the gap. Our defense was shifted around for Clifford to pull. Macias hustled after the ball. It was not that he was loafing after it.”

 

The overall theme is bad enough, but the defense was shifted for Cliff to pull ? In that case, Macias would have been shifted closer to the gap, making it easier for him to get to the ball. Again, that's besides the point; if Macias throws to the correct base, the game remains 1-0 after the 1st. Of course, Dusty makes no mention of this. Had that been Corey Patterson or Adam Greenberg in CF lofting the ball 40 feet into the air and 40 feet up the line, they would have been called out for a lack of fundamentals. But, not Macias.

[Tracer Bullet]

From another Miles article, more love for Jose:

 

The Cubs turned to Jose Macias in center. He failed to throw out a runner going from first to second Saturday on a flyball. Sunday night, he was slow getting to a single, allowing a runner to score from first base.

 

“Macias has done a good job for us out there,” Baker said. “The guy’s hitting close to .300. It’s not like he’s some slouch.”

 

Hitting nearly .300 with a .670 OPS and terrible CF defense. Still better than trying to work Murton and his .400 AVG and .920 OPS into the lineup, apparently.

 

It killed me to turn on the game last night and see Burny & Walker getting the day off, but Cedeno and Murton still not starting (Not to mention Neifi and his .288 OBP in the 2 hole again). When was the last time either of these guys got a start?

[wastra]

Another example of the "enabling" culture Dusty fosters. It's his biggest strength and bigest weakness as a manager. It's a strength because players always feel he's on their side, so they like him for it. It's a weakness because it shifts blame and responsibility off those who should FEEL responsible for poor play, and hence removes a motivating factor for them to improve.

 

It's like when we went 2 or 3 months as one of the least patient teams in the NL, and Baker kept saying "It's just bad luck. We're not trying to take walks, we're trying to get hits. I want them to be aggressive." Instead, he should have been saying "We've got to learn to be more patient."

 

It excused their poor plate discipline. It wasn't until a players' only meeting right before the break that they started TRYING to take walks.

[Derwood]

Sadly, it didn't matter. Cubs would have lost 5-1 instead of 6-1. The team has bigger problems than that one play.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Staggering ignorance.

[CuseCubFan69]

I.....I....I....just just don't know how to answer that. It's no longer worth my time.

[Chris]

frustrating.

[Backtobanks]

I get a kick out of people who blame Macias or Perez. It's not their fault that they're put in positions where they have no hope of succeeding. Macias is not a CF and should not be the first bat off the bench. Perez is a substitute SS with a horrible lifetime OBP and should never be batting above 7th in a lineup or playing for more than 2 games in a row. I know people will jump all over me for this, but a case could be made for both of those guys when you compare them to the players holding the same positions on other teams. Compare Macias to the 25th player on other team's rosters and compare Perez to the backup SS on other teams. Looking at them from that perspective makes you realize that the real problem has been the way they were used and the frequency that they were used. Blame Baker with an assist to injuries.

[J.R.]

The Cubs turned to Jose Macias in center. He failed to throw out a runner going from first to second Saturday on a flyball. Sunday night, he was slow getting to a single, allowing a runner to score from first base.

 

“Macias has done a good job for us out there,” Baker said. “The guy’s hitting close to .300. It’s not like he’s some slouch.”

 

Fricking ridiculous.

[CuseCubFan69]

I get a kick out of people who blame Macias or Perez. It's not their fault that they're put in positions where they have no hope of succeeding. Macias is not a CF and should not be the first bat off the bench. Perez is a substitute SS with a horrible lifetime OBP and should never be batting above 7th in a lineup or playing for more than 2 games in a row. I know people will jump all over me for this, but a case could be made for both of those guys when you compare them to the players holding the same positions on other teams. Compare Macias to the 25th player on other team's rosters and compare Perez to the backup SS on other teams. Looking at them from that perspective makes you realize that the real problem has been the way they were used and the frequency that they were used. Blame Baker with an assist to injuries.

 

I blame Baker and Hendry for this not the players. Macias and Perez were never that good and for them to be put in this situation proves that Baker has no clue and if they (Baker, Macias,Perez) remain Hendry should leave the GM post as well. I'd keep Perez as an extra Inf but no way ever should he get the PT he has been getting. I'd just release Macias unless the Cubs get enough talent so he wouldn't play more than once every 2 weeks.

[Backtobanks]

I get a kick out of people who blame Macias or Perez. It's not their fault that they're put in positions where they have no hope of succeeding. Macias is not a CF and should not be the first bat off the bench. Perez is a substitute SS with a horrible lifetime OBP and should never be batting above 7th in a lineup or playing for more than 2 games in a row. I know people will jump all over me for this, but a case could be made for both of those guys when you compare them to the players holding the same positions on other teams. Compare Macias to the 25th player on other team's rosters and compare Perez to the backup SS on other teams. Looking at them from that perspective makes you realize that the real problem has been the way they were used and the frequency that they were used. Blame Baker with an assist to injuries.

 

I blame Baker and Hendry for this not the players. Macias and Perez were never that good and for them to be put in this situation proves that Baker has no clue and if they (Baker, Macias,Perez) remain Hendry should leave the GM post as well. I'd keep Perez as an extra Inf but no way ever should he get the PT he has been getting. I'd just release Macias unless the Cubs get enough talent so he wouldn't play more than once every 2 weeks.

 

But that's the point, the Cubs have enough talent so he doesn't have to play (Murton). Perez was brought here with the intention of being the extra infielder and has played because of Nomar's injury and Baker's reluctance to play Cedeno.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I get a kick out of people who blame Macias or Perez. It's not their fault that they're put in positions where they have no hope of succeeding. Macias is not a CF and should not be the first bat off the bench. Perez is a substitute SS with a horrible lifetime OBP and should never be batting above 7th in a lineup or playing for more than 2 games in a row. I know people will jump all over me for this, but a case could be made for both of those guys when you compare them to the players holding the same positions on other teams. Compare Macias to the 25th player on other team's rosters and compare Perez to the backup SS on other teams. Looking at them from that perspective makes you realize that the real problem has been the way they were used and the frequency that they were used. Blame Baker with an assist to injuries.

 

I blame Baker and Hendry for this not the players. Macias and Perez were never that good and for them to be put in this situation proves that Baker has no clue and if they (Baker, Macias,Perez) remain Hendry should leave the GM post as well. I'd keep Perez as an extra Inf but no way ever should he get the PT he has been getting. I'd just release Macias unless the Cubs get enough talent so he wouldn't play more than once every 2 weeks.

 

But that's the point, the Cubs have enough talent so he doesn't have to play (Murton). Perez was brought here with the intention of being the extra infielder and has played because of Nomar's injury and Baker's reluctance to play Cedeno.

 

Murton is the 3rd best OF on the team right now. And Perez should never have been signed in any capacity.

[gus_dog]

Murton is the 3rd best OF on the team right now. And Perez should never have been signed in any capacity.

 

I both agree, and disagree.

 

Murton should be playing every day now that Hairston went down.

 

Perez is a utility guy, and a very capable defencive player. I like having him on the team for that reason.

 

He should not be playing every day, nor should he be batting 1st, or 2nd. He should be 7th or 8th, when he plays, which should be sparingly (e.g. to give a regular some rest).

 

JMHO

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Murton is the 3rd best OF on the team right now. And Perez should never have been signed in any capacity.

 

I both agree, and disagree.

 

Murton should be playing every day now that Hairston went down.

 

Perez is a utility guy, and a very capable defencive player. I like having him on the team for that reason.

 

He should not be playing every day, nor should he be batting 1st, or 2nd. He should be 7th or 8th, when he plays, which should be sparingly (e.g. to give a regular some rest).

 

JMHO

 

Even with Perez's defense, his awful, awful offense makes him a detriment to the team. Straight forward, he's not good enough to be on the team, whether as an everyday player, utility guy, or waterboy.

[wastra]

I wouldn't mind having Perez on the team IF (and only if) he was the 25th man, a true utility defensive replacement. The problem is that our manager insists on starting everyone with more than 2 years' experience on the team about every 7th game or more. That means that our 25th man, despite matching up well to other teams' is a worse detriment to those players who might be their team's 25th man who never plays.

 

As was said, Macias has been our #1 or #2 pinch hitter most of the year. Bad use of him. Neifi plays almsot every day, whether as a puinch hiter, or second base or first base- Baker has used every single excuse all year long to get him in the lineup. When Walker went down, the very first game had who at Second Base? Not Hairston, our backup, but Neifi.

 

So it's not that neither deserves to be on a roster...for all his weaknesses, macias at least provides a warm body who will make contact. There's a use for that at some level, just not the level Baker uses him.

 

 

Let me be hoenst- I'm not claiming that playign bench players more often than usual is an awful idea, but it requries a team to have a pretty damn good bench or it's actually HURTING the team. Our bench is not pretty damn good. Perez and Macias only have bench value if they're rarely used- and only used in the way that most benefits the Cubs. that's now HOW they're used. They're used almost as platoon players, not scrubs. THAT'S a bad idea.

 

Again, I liked the idea of having Hollandsworth on the team, but that was when thought he'd be a backup, used as most managers would use him...pinch hitting, mainly. instead, contrary to how umpteen previous managers thought he was best suited, Baker played him as the PRIMARY left fielder.

 

So, again, it's not that either is on a roster, it's that they're on OUR roster, where we know they'll be used in amanner not best suited to take advantage of their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.

 

I don't blame Perez, Macias, Hollandsworth, et al. Perez and Macias have done exactly what their career numbers say they should do. Hollandsworth has proven yet again that he's a terrbile everyday left fielder...just as he's always shown when placed in that role. It's how they're used that's maddening.

 

Finally, if you're a GM, and you know your manager's preferred strategy of using bench players, why put two 25th-type men on the roster? Where's the pressure from on high to get guys like Murton, Cedeno, et al consistent at bats? So Hendry shoulders some of this blame as well.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I just wish they'd ask Dusty every day why Murton isn't playing and keep bringing up the fact that the kid is hitting .400!

 

Dusty must go!

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

I can picture his response now...

 

"Well Murton's average has dropped from .462 to .400 over the past few weeks. He's in a terrible slump. Plus, Macias saved this team. Also, he's more capable of handling the summer heat than Murton. It's not because Murton's a young guy. Didn't you guys see me play all those kids in spring training? I always play the young guys in spring training, so I don't know where this idea of me not wanting to play the kids comes from."

[YearofDaCubs]

Murton is the 3rd best OF on the team right now. And Perez should never have been signed in any capacity.

 

I both agree, and disagree.

 

Murton should be playing every day now that Hairston went down.

 

Perez is a utility guy, and a very capable defencive player. I like having him on the team for that reason.

 

He should not be playing every day, nor should he be batting 1st, or 2nd. He should be 7th or 8th, when he plays, which should be sparingly (e.g. to give a regular some rest).

I agree.

 

JMHO

[YearofDaCubs]

There's no ? Baker has to go. The morning radio shows were ripping on him today because he tries to lay the blame on other and rarely does he look at the mirror and lay blame. Sure, the players have been stinking it up and havent done squat but you know what these guys need a fire lit under them. I dont care what they say about them not quitting. IMO, they have already quit.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

There's no ? Baker has to go. The morning radio shows were ripping on him today because he tries to lay the blame on other and rarely does he look at the mirror and lay blame. Sure, the players have been stinking it up and havent done squat but you know what these guys need a fire lit under them. I dont care what they say about them not quitting. IMO, they have already quit.

 

Dusty quit long before the players did. You can tell by the way he talks, he doesn't care about this city or the Cubs. I think the right move would be to hire a homegrown guy, or someone like Sandberg that has lived and died with this team before. Not someone that's here because the money was right.