Fire Dusty Baker
I’ve been good. I’ve tried to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, had patience with him in dry times. But he’s got to go. As much as I’d love for teh Cubs to win the World Series this year, they’re not going to. They have a good young team, with some solid veterans, but they’re not going to win it all. Hell, I don’t think they’re going to make the playoffs. The Cubs need to get a new manager in there to prepare for next year (Ah… I said it already, it’s only May).
I was watching last nights game when Juan Pierre caught Bonds’ 714 homer. Thankfully it became an out. However, the situational decision to pitch to Bonds in that situation is reason enough for Baker to be fired. It was the fifth inning and there were men on first and second. At that point, the Giants held a 2-1 lead, and had 2 outs in the inning. Why on earth would Dusty pitch to Bonds? Risk putting the game out of reach (with the Cubs offense 4 runs is definitely out of reach)? No. No. No. You walk Bonds, and take your chances with Pedro Feliz, who at games end was batting .234.
This is just the latest example of the poor decision making that Baker exhibits on a regular basis. The problem is, it’s not just the questionable game decision that Baker makes that are evidence. Baker has lost his clubhouse before, and it seems that he’s lost it this year. In 2004, Sammy Sosa’s last year with the Cubs, the players were boss. There was the corked bat, the telephone calls to the television booth, the radio smashing, Sosa leaving early. All of those things tell me that Dusty is ill-equipped to manage a professional baseball team.
Now is precisely when a team needs a manager. When a teams’ top 2 pitchers, All-Star, MVP candidate first baseman are all on the shelf, the Cubs’ need a manager who can pull everyone together and do the best they can. Now, I don’t expect the Cubs, with so many guys on the shelf, to win 80% or even 70% of their games. Currently one would be nice. I do expect the Cubs to play .500 baseball no matter what. Period. You’ve got and have spent the money on a team that is supposed to contend for the division. Granted there are injuries. If this team turns into the Marlins when 3 players are hurt, when those players come back I don’t think they’ll automatically turn into the best team in baseball. Jim Hendry, and the Cubs cannot lean on Dusty’s track record of near success anymore. I want more for the Cubs. Fire Dusty Baker.
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May 10th, 2006 at 8:21 am
I couldn’t agree more! Great post.
May 10th, 2006 at 8:55 am
Here, here. I was going to say this yesterday. I”m looking for candidates for the position. Where are Art Howe or Lou Pinellas? If you are a big league manager, you are paid precisely for what Dusty isn’t doing and that is keep the team afloat during these hard times. I don’t believe for a second that this is not a .500 club without Lee, Prior and Woods. Dusty has no testicularity when it comes to rainin’ a shit storm on his players. Near success is right, and that only happened once. He can’t manage a pitching staff, he can’t juggle a lineup, they are just as fundamentally bad as last year, so it’s Dusty, Dusty and Dusty along with Sarge and Gene Clines who for some reason escaped the chair last year. I remember hearing earlier this year that this is the most upbeat the clubhouse had been in years. Well, kiss that goodbye as the losing will (and should) suck the wind out of that piece of intangible team strength. That is, if the team has an ounce of pride. Who are the leaders? Who is stepping up and getting in guy’s faces? Is it Barrett, Lee, Ramirez, Maddux?? Who?
June 28th, 2006 at 11:14 am
[...] hole at DH and could risk bringing in Nevin? Meanwhile, the now-familiar calls for Dusty Baker's dismissal are getting louder (though not everyone agrees thi [...]
August 27th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
My wife and I try to see one Cubs game a year. We went in mid-April this year to see the Cubs lose to the Reds. Except for the Wrigley experience and seeing Greg Maddux get his gold glove (and being unseasonably warm) it was a wasted day. I knew then this team was going nowhere. I am uncertain as to what Dusty saw in Neifi Perez but, apparently, he thought he was the greatest player since the Babe even though Perez can’t hit his way out of a paper bag. Now with Maddux gone there is even less reason to watch. But watch I do. As I write this, I have just finished watching the Cubs lose to the Cards 10-6 on a walk off grand slam that wouldn’t have happened had Cedeno been able to turn double plays. Here’s where a manager comes in. I know a guy in the majors is expected to know his position, but shouldn’t Dusty do some teaching here. I’ve watched this kid get worse, not better, as the season wore on. Same with Matt Murton. Can he get any more lazy in left field? The basics. You can win with no names and journeymen if you execute. This team doesn’t play baseball and the manager doesn’t manage. And, in my opinion, we can thank Dusty for the condition of Prior’s arm and shoulder problems. He should have been fired mid-season. And, one step further, the team needs to be sold to someone, anyone, committed to winning and not just the bottom line. Say what you want about Steinbrenner, but I could live with an owner who tries to buy the pennant. The new owner should retain Hendry since he knows the operation of Wrigley Field. He would make a fine ticket scanner, scalper or cotton candy vendor. I hear he is trying to find a way to resign Neifi Perez for next season, even if it means giving up Derrek Lee and several prospects.
I have been watching the Cubs since I was a kid in the 50’s. This team is worse than any of those teams. At least then, prior to free agency, there was a consistent cast of losers as opposed to guest appearances by a bunch of doofusses who don’t belong in triple A ball let alone the majors.
September 3rd, 2006 at 3:35 am
I think we need major moves for next year.
For starters hire a new hitting coach a change is always better.
We need a healthy starting rotation to help Carlos Zambrano.
If Dusty Baker is fired the Cubs must look for a manager who can motivate , great strategist and winner.
I have been a Cubs fan for 14 years I have been frustrated this year with the team’s performance.
1998 and 2003 gave us hope.
Both years were exciting.
We might new a whole new coaching staff in 2007.
Iam loyal Cubs fan I want a winner on the field.
Jim Hendry must make every effort to put a winning team together.
I admire The New York Yankees for what they have done for the last 11 years.
6 penants and 4 world series titles.
The Cubs can turn their fortunes around.
They were a baseball power house from 1929-1938.
The glory days can return to Wrigley Field.
The Cubs can still win it all.
You need a strong winning constistent team and faith.
A never say die attitude!
I hope 2007 is the year!
Go Cubs!
Your loyal fan forever
Rowan
From
South Africa
December 26th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
[...] That’s just ridiculous. Expectations at the beginning of the year were that Wood would come back from his injury onto a team that was contending for a division title, but thingshaven’t exactly turned out that way. Derrek Lee’s broken wrist has led to a team that just can’t score runs. Whether that can be blamed on the manager or not is a different conversation. [...]