If Last Night Was Not The Final Nail In The Coffin...

by brianp88 on Jul 7, 2006 8:19 AM CDT

for Dusty Baker, then this club will be up the creek for the next two years. We've seen Aramis Ramirez on more than one occasion lolly-gag on the base paths. It's Dusty Baker's responsibility to let Aramis know that not hustling is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Apparently, IF Baker is telling Aramis to hustle, it's going in one ear and out the other.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, last night, down 2-0 and leading off the top of the 7th, Aramis hit a ball to deep right center. Aramis started to jog to first base while admiring his shot, but the ball didn't make it out, bouncing off the wall instead. Aramis then decided it might be a good idea to actually run and decided to go for a triple. Brewers right-fielder Geoff Jenkins then gunned down Ramirez at third, killing what could have been the start of a rally.

I've got lots of problems with this and you should too. First of all, if Baker is telling him to hustle, Aramis isn't listening. Baker is failing to hold players accountable for this type of lackadaisical play. Secondly, every good ball player knows to NEVER MAKE THE FIRST OR LAST OUT OF AN INNING AT 3RD BASE.

Dusty Baker is running this team like a poorly coached Little League team. He just lets the players do whatever they want, he fails to teach anyone anything, his team is undisciplined and lacks anything that resembles heart.

Dusty's got to go. This team needs discipline and a youth movement, neither of which Dusty Baker is capable understanding.

To top it all off, we've got Neifi in the line-up AGAIN, hitting 2nd in the order, AGAIN. You've got to be kidding me. The team gets Derrek Lee back. A manager with a functioning brain would think to put guys with a high on-base percentage in front of Derrek to get him more RBI opportunities. Instead, we get another 0 for 4 night from Neifi.

It's time to stop the madness. Please Jim Hendry, realize this isn't working and terminate Mr. Baker from his position. Immediately. Amen.

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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Comments

good news and bad news...

good news: you are correct.

bad news: hendry is too busy evaluating to act.

happy friday.

by dc60123 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 7, 2006 9:07 AM CDT reply actions

Baker is getting fired.....

and he knows once he is gone, his "boy" Neifi Perez will not get any playing time....this is why he is playing him so much now....;)

by TheBeerBaron on Jul 7, 2006 10:22 AM CDT reply actions

neifi

I really do not understand why Baker continues to do this. I think if we still Latroy Dusty would still be throwing him out there in the 9th.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 7, 2006 10:46 AM CDT reply actions

What was so special about last night?

I thought this piece by Paul Sullivan talking about mediocre pitchers who made the Cubs look bad and are now in AAA was pretty compelling.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060706cubsmoves,1,6528609.story?coll=chi-sport snew-hed

by SonnyJ9 on Jul 7, 2006 11:28 AM CDT reply actions

you have to go farther

than just dusty. dusty has to go, but why should MacFail continue in his position? or hendry?

by TerryS on Jul 7, 2006 12:14 PM CDT reply actions

I'm with you

but it's too much to ask for to have the three headed monster killed in one fall swoop. The first step on the road to recovery is getting rid of Mr. Baker. Let's take that step first and go from there.

One day, the dream will come true.

by brianp88 on Jul 7, 2006 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions

With you, but

I'm all for removing Baker, trust me. But the above point is a good one. The change should really start at the top and work its way down. New President chooses new GM, new GM chooses new manager. It doesn't make as much sense to hire a new manager and then a GM who now has to work with someone else's manager. Same for a new president who now has to work with someone else's GM and manager.

by BringBackRyno on Jul 7, 2006 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions

If we could get rid of...

MacPhail, then there would be a possibility that the new president would get rid of Hendry and Baker and bring his own GM and manager. The three headed monster could get killed like that in 'one swoop' like you say. That's why if I had to pick one of the three, it would be Andy. But of course I can't fire anybody.

Cubbie Blue will always sPaRkLe in my eyes, but please stop losing. PLEASE!

by sparkles721 on Jul 7, 2006 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Does it make you feel better...

to know that Dusty praised Ramirez's hustle on that play, because Aramis was running from second to third?

Dusty's excuse was that Ramirez hustled at the wrong time.

You'd think hustling all the time and not being stupid would be a better tip, but no. Just pick the right times to hustle, and everything will be okay.

"If it takes forever."

by JDay on Jul 7, 2006 10:18 PM CDT reply actions