Oh, so this is why Murton is successful........

[Larry Horse]

http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/cubs.asp

 

“I’m getting more and more impressed and that’s why I used him the way I did early,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. “Get him some success. Success breeds confidence and confidence breeds more success.”

 

Baker didn’t want Murton to get stuck in a slump right away. However, solidly-built redhead did shake off an 0-for-26 slide early in his first season of pro ball at Lowell, Mass.

 

“I didn’t want to just throw him in there in the fire against guys when I didn’t like their repertoire of pitches,” Baker added. “We were bringing him along, bringing him along and now he’s playing every day against everybody.”

 

Yea, that explains it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Way to go Dusty, you're the best.

[JC]

Can Dusty compliment a young player without patting himself on the back? If his "system" is so sound, why didn't it work for Hee Seop, or Dubois?

[CuseCubFan69]

It's going to be hard to get excited about the off season with this guy in charge....no fun at all.

[JC]

It's going to be hard to get excited about the off season with this guy in charge....no fun at all.

 

2006 Cubs Convention:

 

MC: Now, we'll open it up for some frank thoughts from management about the upcoming season. No questions, please, except from those who have been pre-screened.

 

Ron, from San Fransisco: Dusty, when are you coming back? We really need you!

 

Dusty: Thanks, Ron. But, boy, I've got work to do here, you know what I'm saying? I came here with a plan and after we had success in 2003, everyone wanted to speed the plan up. But, plans are like striped bass. They only have so many fins and can't swim any faster no matter how many bait fish are chasing them. One day I had this lure...

 

Hendry (breaking in): We have no intention of letting Dusty go. In fact, I'd like to take this opportunity to announce that Dusty has signed a life time contract to manage the Cubs. We are very excited.

 

Ted, from Downer's Grove: How do you guys develop such fundamentally sound hitters like Matt Murton?

 

Hendry: I have no idea.

 

Dusty: Well, I don't know if we have no idea. I mean, when I first came up, I had 17 hits in my first 9 at bats. I didn't look to do none of that walkin' stuff. Its called hittin', not walkin', right? You know what I'm sayin? Murton didn't do a whole lot in the Cub farm system. Heck, I think he only played half a season of minor league ball. I had a plan when he arrived and I stuck to it. If it wasn't for me, Cline and Sarge, but mostly me, Murton wouldn't have had any success. But, boy, you can't teach speed, and guys with red hair are never fast. You never see someone from Ireland win the 100 yard dash in the Olympics, do you? I mean, when is the last time they held an Olympics in Ireland? Those people can't take the heat according to my mom who teaches phonics.

 

MC: Next question. Quickly.

 

Chad, from Skokie: How do you keep such a positive attitude in the dugout? As a follow up, how do you get so many quality free agents wanting to come to play at Wrigley?

 

MacPhail: Well, we always sell out the ballpark. People like to play in front of big crowds.

 

Dusty: Me. They love me. And, they know I'll go to the playoffs like I did every year since 1992. Shoot, I'm never home before the middle of October.

 

Hendry: I don't know.

 

Kevin, from Lincoln Park: With respect to OBP from the top of the ord...

 

 

MC: Only approved questions. Next.

 

Josh, from Skokie: Were you happy with Corey Peterson's decision not to play Winter Ball? Sorry, Corey Patterson. The card you gave me is hard to read...

 

Hendry: Uh, yes, well, uh, we'll fix that. Anyway, we expect Patterson to be in center field when the season starts. The rest of the outfield should fix itself. We've brought in Jeff Conine who should receive about 156 starts in left field. He is a big character guy with championship experience. Also, we think Preston Wilson should supply the kind of tools and leadership we need in the outfield. While we had lunch with Brian Giles, we thought it better to save that money for a mid-season acquisition.

 

Baker: Corey Patterson still has the ability to leadoff. You can't teach speed, man. We are working to teach him to be more aggressive running to first when he strikes out. I've already set aside the first offday to revise his entire swing.

MC: It looks like a great season ahead. Thanks, gentlemen.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Ted, from Downer's Grove: How do you guys develop such fundamentally sound hitters like Matt Murton?

 

Hendry: I have no idea.

 

I laughed hardest at this. Well done.

[Derwood]

In a quote in the Sun Times today, Baker through out the "they don't have the book on him yet" line again.

[UMFan83]

-snip-

 

You win....seriously you should write for the Heckler or something. I haven't laughed that hard in weeks

[frostwyrm]

I wonder if reporters make the wank-off hand motion when Dusty talks about Murton. It is difficult to imagine a better time for it.

[cubweiser03]

“I’m getting more and more impressed and that’s why I used him the way I did early,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. “Get him some success. Success breeds confidence and confidence breeds more success.”

 

So hitting .350+ in AA isnt success. If only he put corey in more situations to be successful, Im going to blame Dusty for Corey's failures now. Can it go that way too?

[barrettismyidol]

Dusty: But, boy, you can't teach speed, and guys with red hair are never fast. You never see someone from Ireland win the 100 yard dash in the Olympics, do you? I mean, when is the last time they held an Olympics in Ireland? Those people can't take the heat according to my mom who teaches phonics.

 

Haha, my favorite part.

[frostwyrm]

Dusty is insulting our intelligence if he wants us to believe Murton wouldn't still be on the bench if Hollandsworth or Lawton had been even slightly better than awful.

[ryno-mvp23]

Can Dusty compliment a young player without patting himself on the back? If his "system" is so sound, why didn't it work for Hee Seop, or Dubois?

 

 

maybe cause they aren't very good

[JC]

Dusty is insulting our intelligence if he wants us to believe Murton wouldn't still be on the bench if Hollandsworth or Lawton had been even slightly better than awful.

 

It doesn't matter whether they were awful or not. The only reason they aren't currently playing in front of Murton is because Hollandsworth and Lawton are with the Braves and Yankees, respectively. If they remained on the roster, I guarantee that Murton would not have gotten the number of ABs he currently has.

[JC]

Can Dusty compliment a young player without patting himself on the back? If his "system" is so sound, why didn't it work for Hee Seop, or Dubois?

 

 

maybe cause they aren't very good

 

Maybe they aren't. But, seeing how Dusty makes up his system as he goes, with no real rhyme or reason other than being distrustful of young hitters, I see no reason to believe that Dusty's handling of Murton led to his success.

[Too Tall]

It's going to be hard to get excited about the off season with this guy in charge....no fun at all.

 

Ted, from Downer's Grove: How do you guys develop such fundamentally sound hitters like Matt Murton?

 

Hendry: I have no idea.

 

...

 

Kevin, from Lincoln Park: With respect to OBP from the top of the ord...

 

 

MC: Only approved questions. Next.

 

:lol: =D> Good Stuff JC

[CubfaninCA]

Ah the vitriol. Can anyone ever give Baker any credit?? Considering he actually played the game he may know a thing or two. Yes, he's a behind the times, but the guy has more hits and homers than this entire board combined.

 

As for Choi and DuBois, yes it's Baker's fault they're riding the pine w/ LA and Cleveland. :roll:

[Tim]

Ah the vitriol. Can anyone ever give Baker any credit?? Considering he actually played the game he may know a thing or two. Yes, he's a behind the times, but the guy has more hits and homers than this entire board combined.

 

As for Choi and DuBois, yes it's Baker's fault they're riding the pine w/ LA and Cleveland. :roll:

And after 10+ years as a major league manager I think he's successfully brought one more rookie to the majors than everyone on this board combined, too.

[Larry Horse]

Ah the vitriol. Can anyone ever give Baker any credit?? Considering he actually played the game he may know a thing or two. Yes, he's a behind the times, but the guy has more hits and homers than this entire board combined.

 

As for Choi and DuBois, yes it's Baker's fault they're riding the pine w/ LA and Cleveland. :roll:

And after 10+ years as a major league manager I think he's successfully brought one more rookie to the majors than everyone on this board combined, too.

 

That's a scary thought, Tim.

[CubfaninCA]

Ah the vitriol. Can anyone ever give Baker any credit?? Considering he actually played the game he may know a thing or two. Yes, he's a behind the times, but the guy has more hits and homers than this entire board combined.

 

As for Choi and DuBois, yes it's Baker's fault they're riding the pine w/ LA and Cleveland. :roll:

And after 10+ years as a major league manager I think he's successfully brought one more rookie to the majors than everyone on this board combined, too.

 

The Cubs haven't given him much to work with.

[CubfaninCA]

Haven't some of the relievers come up through the Cub system?? Wuertz and Ohman right?? Novoa barely pitched w/ Detroit right?? Perhaps I'm wrong on this though.

[Larry Horse]

Ah the vitriol. Can anyone ever give Baker any credit?? Considering he actually played the game he may know a thing or two. Yes, he's a behind the times, but the guy has more hits and homers than this entire board combined.

 

As for Choi and DuBois, yes it's Baker's fault they're riding the pine w/ LA and Cleveland. :roll:

And after 10+ years as a major league manager I think he's successfully brought one more rookie to the majors than everyone on this board combined, too.

 

The Cubs haven't given him much to work with.

 

Rich Aurilia. There's his one position player from the Giants. In 10 years.

 

I'm sure that was just due to a lack of personnel.

 

Obviously, undue criticism.

[CubfaninCA]

Ah the vitriol. Can anyone ever give Baker any credit?? Considering he actually played the game he may know a thing or two. Yes, he's a behind the times, but the guy has more hits and homers than this entire board combined.

 

As for Choi and DuBois, yes it's Baker's fault they're riding the pine w/ LA and Cleveland. :roll:

And after 10+ years as a major league manager I think he's successfully brought one more rookie to the majors than everyone on this board combined, too.

 

The Cubs haven't given him much to work with.

 

Rich Aurilia. There's his one position player from the Giants. In 10 years.

 

I'm sure that was just due to a lack of personnel.

 

Obviously, undue criticism.

 

The "you've never played the game" argument? Very weak.

 

Actually, the "you've never played the game" argument does hold some water, especially in a game of skill like baseball. When someone hits like Baker did, they know a thing or two. Putting young guys in spot's where they're at more of an advantage is smart. Maybe if Baker just played Choi against pitchers w/ 7 and over ERA's, he'd be a superstar now. :o

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Ah the vitriol. Can anyone ever give Baker any credit?? Considering he actually played the game he may know a thing or two. Yes, he's a behind the times, but the guy has more hits and homers than this entire board combined.

 

As for Choi and DuBois, yes it's Baker's fault they're riding the pine w/ LA and Cleveland. :roll:

 

I think Dusty gives himself enough credit for everyone.

[Tim]

Haven't some of the relievers come up through the Cub system?? Wuertz and Ohman right?? Novoa barely pitched w/ Detroit right?? Perhaps I'm wrong on this though.

Yes, but I was referring to position players as dusty's use of young pitchers seems different than position players.