Fire Coaching Staff--Keep Baker.
As an unashamed, long time Baker supporter, I have often posted in defense of the Cubs' manager who led us to our best season since 1984. I accept that, and I accept that some of you don't think Baker is the man to bring our Cubbies a championship--nuff said.
However, I have never seen--and I admit that I could have missed--a posting that suggested the Cubs offer Baker a contract, but only with the stipulation that the coaching staff is replaced: top to bottom. We need some hungry, hands-on baseball lifers and thinkers who are motivated to rally the players and do everything possible to get the best out of them.
First off, I think we all agree that the Cubs organization has made one major mistake: eating the hype surrounding our young aces, and relying too heavily on their arms--namely Prior and Wood; Secondly, and contrastingly, we've also been the recepients of misfortunate with our injuries: namely, Wood (2 years), Prior (2 years), Ramirez (last year), Garciaparra, and now D. Lee (whose absence I believe is compounded by the fact that the absence of his presence negatively effects our lineup in a synergistic way). These two facts cannot be argued, nor underestimated.
Hey, I love Sarge. He's one of my favorite Cubs, and was always clutch as a pinch hitter--but he, and D. Pole, and G. Clines, and even Larry Rothschild--who arrived with so much hype and so many accolades-- haven't shown a damn thing in my opinion.
I can't hide my belief in Baker. Nor can I try and convince anyone else out there that he's a track-proven manager, who's poured his heart and soul into The Cubs, and his desire to provide this cursed, drought-ridden team a championship.
But I will say this--Before you jump on the tired Fire Dusty BandWagon consider three things.
1.) In his first season with The Cubs, he managed a team to within several outs of a World Series appearance.
2.) He's been short-handed each succesive season, the team having been decimated by significant injuries
and, most impotantly--
3.) Who will you replace him with that's available and proven?
That said, I don't believe in the coaching staff, and I think that if Baker has one weakness, it's the fact that he doesn't surround himself with the best coaching options to compliment his managerial style.
This seems to me to be the next-best-thing that the Cubs can do to progress out of this mire in the next three years.
Big Win Tonight. Go Cubs--
When your so far down, there's always reason to believe
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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25 comments
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why?
im not jumping on a bandwagon im just watching the game, there were so many freaking mistakes, i really do believe that players are exicted to play for him but as far as making stratigic moves (good lineups, game calls etc) how in the world can you defend this guy.
maybe dusty could win if we went out a bought Barry Zito, Giles, Tejada, but we dont and we arent going to- even with Lee back we have a team that CAN win games but has to be managed well to do so
im just frustrated that tonights result is going to make people foreget his blunders and all we are going to remember is a very exciting and fun game.
by ksucubbie on Jun 3, 2006 8:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree Southern
I would also fire the pitching and hitting coaches. Spier sees ok..an improvement over wavin Wendell.
by wicubfan on Jun 3, 2006 8:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
you missed the good stuff
the majority of his blunders came two innings before
by ksucubbie on Jun 3, 2006 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't the coaching staff a reflection of Baker?
My recollection is that Wendell Kim -- the worst 3B coach I have EVER seen -- was finally dismissed by Hendry over the protests of Dusty, who fought his firing tooth and nail. To me, the rank incompetence of the coaching staff reflects a managerial style of low expectations and no accountability for performance or outcomes. You can fire them, but if you allow Dusty to replace them -- a right that is typically accorded to managers -- expect a new round of inept clowns to take over the circus.
by Pa on Jun 3, 2006 8:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This is exactly the reason...
As I wrote in the main post, the Cubs did win last night DESPITE Baker's goofy moves. That's what counts, right? Winning?
by Al on Jun 3, 2006 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Winning *IS* what counts
I'm curious as to how many teams hire their coaches separately from the manager and have them report to the GM or other front office person in addition to or instead of the manager. If you are saying that Dusty should no longer retain control over the hiring and performance of his coaches, I'm really at a loss as to why the heck he deserves a multi-million-dollar salary, even on paper.
He wouldn't be running a coaching staff; he doesn't reign in the behavior of his team; he has flat-out said that he doesn't believe it's his role to teach rookies; his in-game managing is at best described as "not one of his strengths;" and his ability to recruit good players has yet to pay off in any tangible way. Why exactly does he deserve an extension and another multi-million dollar payday?
by Pa on Jun 3, 2006 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
apologies
As a manager, I would have the expectation to put a coaches in place who reflected my baseball philosophies and beliefs. I wonder how Dusty would react to having the decision-making on coaching hiring / firing / assignments taken out of his hands. It would seem to be a public rebuke, and I can't see him accepting it well.
by Pa on Jun 3, 2006 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
we did win
lets get a manager that increases our odds rather than the opposite
by ksucubbie on Jun 3, 2006 9:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Regime change
I'm more in favor of a complete regime change, to borrow a phrase from 2003.
Trib? Gone.
McFail? Gone.
Hendry? Gone.
Baker? Gone.
The Coaching staff? Gone.
Sometimes it's entirely legit to burn it to the ground and start over.
I believe it has reached that point.
"We'll take off and nuke it from orbit...it's the only way to be sure."
by Sidd Finch on Jun 3, 2006 9:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
As you are a Baker supporter...
- He is a 3X manager of the year
- He has changed the mindset of the organization
- His players love him
So again, aside from the above three points, I'd like to know why Dusty is a good manager. Why do you feel that he is the right guy to manage the Cubs for the next 2-4 years?
DmL
by dmlichte on Jun 3, 2006 9:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's easy
Cub fans have probably seen more bad managers than any other sports fan. It doesn't surprise me then that many fans don't know a good manager when they see one.
by wicubfan on Jun 3, 2006 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What exactly
by pwhalen on Jun 3, 2006 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmmm
We'd take that, wouldn't we?
In recent years, only Bobby Cox, Joe Torre and Tony LaRussa have done as well or better.
by Al on Jun 3, 2006 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually
by pwhalen on Jun 3, 2006 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
13 seasons? How do you get that?
Why did they let him go? A personal dispute between him, Brian Sabean, and Peter Magowan.
by Al on Jun 3, 2006 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
13 seasons? How do you get that?
I love to know why you think he is a good manager. What his strengths supposedly are. Personally, I tend to think the only thing he is good for is entertainment value (dumbass comments like all walks do is clog the bases, or comparing steroid testing to McCarthyism).
Unfortunately, it looks like they are set on resigning him so I guess it's good that at least a few people will be happy about it.
by pwhalen on Jun 3, 2006 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry...
In those 13 seasons, four are losing years. In all of the other nine, his teams have won at least 86 games.
He wins. Isn't that the bottom line of managing? Winning?
by Al on Jun 3, 2006 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
NO
What specifically do you feel that Dusty does as a manager? A manager has specific responsibilities. To me, he does most of them quite poorly. I can detail what he does not do well. I want a Dusty supporter to tell me what he has done well as the Cubs manager.
DmL
by dmlichte on Jun 3, 2006 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed
by ksucubbie on Jun 3, 2006 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 winning seasons
Baker has a .537 winning percentage as a manger going into this year. I'm pretty sure the Cubs haven't approached that winning percentage in the last 20 years.
As far as the 2 biggest chokes in playoffs/world series, I beg to differ. The '02 Giants were not overwhelming favorites to win that series. They were not even overwhelming favorites to beat Tony LaRussa's Cardinals in the NLCS, yet Baker got them there. No one in their right mind had the '03 Cubs within 5 outs of winning the National League, so how exactly are these chokes?
If you want real chokes, look no further than LaRussa. The 1990 Oakland Athletics who WERE overwhelming favorites to win the world series and were SWEPT by the Reds. Or how about 1988 when LaRussa's A's were overwhelming favorites to win the series and were beaten 4-1 by a much undermanned LA Dodgers team.
Go ahead, tell me winning percentage doesn't matter..
by wicubfan on Jun 4, 2006 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They...
I do not want to argue with Al or any of the other Dusty supporters. I just want them to explain to me what makes him a good manager and why he should be kept on.
by timeforachange on Jun 5, 2006 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
agrdhfasfd
im talking about HERE this CITY this TEAM
has he done a good job?
i would say clearly no
by ksucubbie on Jun 5, 2006 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 winning seasons in Chicago in a row
by wicubfan on Jun 9, 2006 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If winning doesn't matter..
by wicubfan on Jun 9, 2006 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

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