Another reason to think about firing Dusty

by hoosiercubbie on Jul 10, 2006 9:42 AM CDT

Reading today's Trib, I got really annoyed by the implication in David Haugh's article, "Its Still Baker's Team," that the Cubs might be playing harder to save Dusty's job--that they've been winning since knowledge of Hendry's "evaluation" first surfaced. It sounds good that perhaps Dusty's still wanted by the players and there's hope that he can still turn this team around (which I hope is the case), but I can't help but feel that what's really going on here is that the players are only playing just hard enough to keep things the same.

I don't mean to dump on Dusty more, and I certainly don't claim to know who would do any better in the short-term as manager. However, its very frustrating that the current Cubs might be trying only hard enough to keep the laid-back Dusty in charge, and then as soon as perhaps his job is safe for the time being again they'll slack off like they've been doing for the last two years.

It smacks of the free agent-to-be who only bothers to try to win when his future stability is in doubt. On the surface, it sounds great--"oh, the players play hard for Dusty when his job's on the line." But, read between the lines, and it sounds more like, "the players are just trying to preserve the status quo of their own comfort zone."

And I guess this bothers me too, because it taps into the one problem I've always had with Baker--his Cubs teams, at least, always play the best when they've got nothing to lose, just like they play their worst when they've got everything to lose.

It seems to be a never-ending circle. As much as I want to see the Cubs win immediately and keep winning, I cannot help but feel that they are trapped in this cycle.

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.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I swear

if he gets an extension I'll foam at the mouth.

Playing hard to keep him around? A 3 game winning streak is 'playing hard'?!

Christ they win 3 games and you'd think they were going to the WS for the way people talk.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 10, 2006 9:46 AM CDT reply actions

"playing hard" was my phrase . . .

and not in the article itself, I think. So, perhaps, I was careless with the words there. But clearly, the implication in Haugh's article is that the Cubs are doing something special on Dusty's behalf who--as he states--"remains closer to hero than scapegoat" inside the clubhouse. There's also this passage:

"But if Hendry wants to interpret it as a sign of how badly players want Baker to stick around, Jacque Jones said that's fine with him and some veteran teammates."

by hoosiercubbie on Jul 10, 2006 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

the same

clubhouse that reports say is divided.

clubhouse that Dusty reports he talked to the dude, yet results indicate, if anything, all he (Dusty) did was sat in his office and played more MLB 2k6 with Neifi and ignored the player in question.

JJ might want to play with Dusty, but he's still contracted with the Cubs to play for the Cubs, as such that means any management at all.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 10, 2006 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Where on Earth...

... did you get the "fact" that Baker was playing video games with Neifi?

I swear, if you're going to criticize, at least use real facts, not this made-up stuff.

by Al Yellon on Jul 10, 2006 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

oh lord

Al, if you can't recognize the satire in that comment no one can help you.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 10, 2006 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Then it was very subtle satire

by BeerCub on Jul 10, 2006 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

how very

observant of you, thank you.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 10, 2006 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

one month at a time

If the players are playing for the sake of saving Dusty's job, then Hendry should sign Dusty to one month contracts. They would be in contention if that was the case.

I was saying Boo-urns.

by jrm78 on Jul 10, 2006 10:33 AM CDT reply actions

Interim Manager

Another name, if we are looking for that guy to come in and ONLY manage for this season is Jim Frey. Sitting in Maryland in retirement. Time for the Cubs to think a bit out of the box.

by Frustrated Fan on Jul 10, 2006 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

Is That Box A Casket?

Are you serious? Jim Frey is 75 years old and hasn't managed in 20 years. Whitey Lockman is 80 years old and hasn't managed in 31 years. Why not him?

by BeerCub on Jul 10, 2006 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

You want an old guy?

Herman Franks is still alive. He's 92. What about him?

The oldest man ever to manage a major league team was Connie Mack, who was 88 when he managed the 1950 Philadelphia A's. That's a bit of an exception, of course, since he was also the owner.

I believe McKeon was the oldest "regular" manager of a team at age 74 last year.

by Al Yellon on Jul 10, 2006 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I see

Instead of making fun of the idea by making a ridiculous suggestion, why don't you tell me why the idea of getting a senior baseball man with a good eye at evaluating talent to fill in for the rest of the season is a bad idea? The Marlins appeared to try it with Jack McKeon, and their chronologically challenged citizen not only was a good caretaker, he produced a winner. And just as importantly, he helped further evaluate talent and is still there to provide advice to the young manager of the team. As a result, the Marlins are a lot closer to competing than the Cubs.

Consider:

Veteran Interim Manager (VIM) has no reasonable expectation of winning this year and his job does not depend on winning this year. As such, he can then focus on what is good for the team in the longer term, not what is good for the team in the very short term. The VIM, in fact, can be charged with the job of evaluating the young talent.
The VIM is not playing for his next job. The current manager appears to be "playing for his next job" by setting up his alibais in place. The VIM has no incentive to do so.
The VIM will be able to advise the new manager. The VIM will be able to sit down with the new manager and relate, in detail, and from his veteran perpsective, exactly what was going on in the Clubhouse from July X, onward. Is there any real expectation that a fired manager would do this? Is there any real expectation that the fired manager would be capable of doing this?
Hiring a VIM gives the team time to focus now on getting a real manager for the future without the concern that the interim will have a dead cat bounce and get the job.

Again, this is what lots of companies and organizations in the REAL world do. And it is time for a baseball team to think a bit out of the box and do what successful winning organizations do all the time.

by Frustrated Fan on Jul 10, 2006 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Re

You know, this is an excellent idea, especially if the organization wants to go with a younger, first-time manager going forward.

The search process should be done deliberatly, especially given that the winner isn't going to have a track record by which to judge. This means hiring the permanent new manager now, in haste, would be a huge mistake. And then there's also the pool of available candidates to consider at this point in the season.

I like this. Hire an experience teacher and evaluator. Use the 2nd have to teach and evaluate. Then kick him upstairs as a consultant who's available to coach the new manager and play some golf with corporate clients.

Where do I apply?

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on Jul 10, 2006 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions

re: Interim Manager

If we can consider 75 year old men in retirement, how about Earl Weaver or Sparky Anderson (who's only 72)?

by John in DC on Jul 10, 2006 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly

This is exactly the kind of guy that can be brought in to Manager on an interim basis. They are under NO pressure to win (as all but the most delusional fans realize that the season is over) and they are charged with the job of evaluating young talent and then meeting with the new manager (selected in the off season) to give a full and complete report on everything -- with the experienced eye that they bring to the game. At this point, its only a two month or so commitment. These are the kinds of names that should seriously be considered as interims.

In the REAL world, this is the kind of guy brough in as an "interim". (As opposed to an "acting" executive who normally has another title and will reassume that job or the new job once the vacancy is filled).

by Frustrated Fan on Jul 10, 2006 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

A question

for Faith plus 1.
When Dusty and Neifi are playing MLB 2k6 does Neifi bat Neifi in the two spot?

by kessinger on Jul 10, 2006 11:27 AM CDT reply actions

LOL

Naturally. Jose Macias is also the lead off hitter.

"I respect the mind's power over the body, it's why I do what I do" - Dr. Jonathan Crane

by Faith plus 1 on Jul 10, 2006 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Here's another reason.

He's throwing his players under the bus. From the Sun-Times...

Baker was asked if the time is nearing to concentrate on playing some of the Cubs' young talent.

"We've got quite a few kids here now,'' he said. "Haven't we been developing Matt Murton and Ronny Cedeno? Haven't we been developing Sean Marshall, Will Ohman, Roberto Novoa?''

Told the question was whether guys such as Rich Hill and Ryan Theriot might be brought up from Class AAA Iowa, Baker had an interesting response.

"If that happens and we lose even more, are you going to hold that against my record, too?'' he said. "While you are developing?''

and this one (from TCR):

"Juan Pierre is playing lights-out. And Murton has been working hard. I'll give him that."

Is that a compliment of Murton?

Only people that want to be fired get quoted like this. Baker wants to be fired. He knows he's not going to get an extension. He wants to take the rest of the summer off to play with his kid.

by MikeJ on Jul 10, 2006 1:26 PM CDT reply actions