Included in the 38,000 morans at Wrigley Field yesterday was a wide-eyed youngster dressed nattily in khaki shorts and a Hank White Fan Club t-shirt. He was the envy of those around him who pointed and laughed and said things like, “What a great shirt, where can I procure one?” or “Who the hell is Hank White?” or “He’s number 24 you dumbass!” but mostly the fans were busy doing something else. They were busy agreeing to vote Dusty Baker off of this island. Some even offered to pack Dusty’s bags for him and drive him to the airport.
I’ve been to lots of Cubs games over the years and seen a lot of bad Cubs teams, but the boos that we heard yesterday had a familiar ring to them. They sounded just like they did during the Reds’ appearance in September of 2004.
Dimwits like Scoop Jackson can say that the criticism of Dusty is racially motivated (well, actually Scoop can’t really “say” that because he can’t string together enough coherent words to form a sentence), but the truth is that whoever was managing the Cubs right now would be treated the same way. In some respect, Dusty probably gets off easier than most because he at least has won something, even if he then took the something and poured gasoline on it and burned it in front of God and country at game six of the NLCS.
Nothing he did yesterday reeked of incompetence. Mark Prior seemed intent on giving back every lead the Cubs could scrounge together, and Dusty brought in Will Ohman at a time when he was going to face the anemic Jason LaRue then three straight lefthanded hitters. The fact that Ohman gave up a homer to LaRue is just so typically Cub of him.
But it’s obvious in person, even more so than on TV, that the Cubs are a complete mess. They can’t do anything right. They played like a team that is in a hurry to get to the offseason.
You go right through the lineup and you have Derrek Lee trying to win a batting title by not getting very many hits, Todd Walker playing defense like it’s optional, Nomar’s just happy when he runs one way or the other and doesn’t rupture anything, E-ramis’ defense has regressed so completely (from just June!) that he’s probably worse over there than he was in Pissburgh, Matt Lawton has no clue how to judge a flyball, Corey was just happy to be anyplace other than Des Moines and Jeromy Burnitz is staring at a 13th straight season in the big leagues with no playoffs attached to it. Oh, and Hank White is probably wondering why he didn’t go back to Atlanta, or even Milwaukee when the Twins told him thanks but no thanks.
If they weren’t playing the game for an absurd amount of money, you could almost (ALMOST) understand why they’ve packed it in. But they are playing for an absurd amount of money and so they don’t enjoy that luxury. It’s their job.
And that’s where the reflection on Dusty has to be the most damning. His supposed strength was the way he handled players and the way his teams always peaked at the right time. Apparently this year they peaked for seven games played around the All-Star Break. That’s what Jim Essian teams are supposed to do, not the teams of a guy who gets $16 million to make himself look like it’s Halloween with his wristbands and toothpick.
When you hire Dusty Baker you do it to avoid what is happening right now. I’m not a big believer that a manager needs to be a redass like Wally Backman or Larry Bowa. But he needs to hold his players accountable and that’s something that at least on the surface, has been completely lacking with the Cubs. Dusty’s successful Giants’ teams had veteran leaders on them like Matt Williams and even the always irascible Jeff Kent, guys who got in other guys’ faces when the effort or the decision making wasn’t there. They also had Barry Bonds who was a complete pain in the ass, but also the best player in the league, so that didn’t hurt.
So that’s what we didn’t realize. That’s what the Cubs didn’t realize when they hired him. Dusty’s biggest strengths had the potential to be imaginary. The Cubs have learned that the hard way. When your team misses Eric Karros for any reason, that’s a very telling sign.
It seems to be a matter of when now, not if, Dusty gets fired. But there are a couple of huge mitigating factors here.
The first is, of course, money. The Cubs are paying Dusty $16 million bucks over four years to steer the ship and even though he’s been bouncing it off icebergs they are loathe to pay him to go fishing. They have eaten managers’ salaries before, of course, though they prefer not to.
But the second is probably the actual reason, if Dusty doesn’t get fired. In this case, Scoop would be right. Race would play a factor. Only not in the way Scoop thinks it would. If you’re Andy MacPhail, you have to think twice about firing Dusty Baker after firing Don Baylor in 2002. Did Baylor deserve to get launched? Of course he did. He was practially begging for it at the end. Dusty’s trying to find a way out that doesn’t involve him quitting, because he needs the money, so if he’s to go, he has to be fired.
The spectre of firing two black managers, both prominent managers, too, in three years has to make MacPhail’s butt pucker. He doesn’t even want to think about it. So Dusty can complain all he wants about how the fans are treating him, and he can have his supporters stand up and claim racism and be right. Just not in the way they think. The fact that he’s black is a factor in how long he gets to do his job, but it’s more likely to keep him hired than get him fired.
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Here’s what I would do if I were Jim Hendry. I’d go to the Sweatervest and convince him that Dusty’s doing more harm than good and let Dusty ride off into the sunset with a check for whatever he’s owed for the rest of his contract. Consider it a bonus for being the first manager in Chicago since Kid Gleason to win a postseason series.
Then, I’d make myself the manager. Bobby Cox did it once in Atlanta and brought in John Schuerholz to replace himself as GM. Even if it’s only for the rest of the season. Trade anybody who got through waivers and play Murton and Cedeno and find out what you have. Hendry’s the guy who has to almost completely rebuild the bullpen, the rotation, the lineup and the bench next year. Why wonder if guys can play? Find out.
Plus, the sight of Hendry in uniform would be worth the price of admission for one game. But you know he could do it. He managed Creighton to a few College World Series, and he’d have the respect of his players from day one because he would not only control their playing time but their future earning status.
Something has to be done. So why wait?
Raaacist, yeah. If he does go, then I’d like to see a yellow guy get a shot. Orientals are very smart and hard workers.
Raaacist, yeah. If he does go, then I’d like to see a yellow guy get a shot. Orientals are very smart and hard workers.
Murton is leading off today, it’s the last time you’ll see him this year, so get off my back.
woo woo the cubs can loose woo woo
but the cards and white sucks blow woo woo
and joe morgan too woo woo
God I hope Macias doesnt play today!
Jim hendry GM and Steve Stone manager
or
Steve Stone GM and Jim hendry manager
Stone manager. Anyone who wants to trade Aramis for Manny Ramirez and Bill Mueller doesn’t deserve the keys to the roster.
Does anyone know what the lineup will be today?
Of those sounds any good.
I’m annoying, I had like, 300 worthless posts yesterday!
#10 Have of them were from you so go fuck yourself sideways you punk bitch!
C’mon Chuck, why not trade a 26 year old 3rd baseman for a 33 year old head case and a 35 year old gimp?
Ooh, I’m gonna continue the party today!
Hey, Dolan, I was at the game yesterday too. And I also had on my Hank White T-shirt. Yesterday’s Cubs game may have been the first (and thus-far largest) gathering of the Hank White Fan Club. Of course we were distant and ignorant of one another, but it’s still grand.
Hey, Dolan, I was at the game yesterday too. And I also had on my Hank White T-shirt. Yesterday’s Cubs game may have been the first (and thus-far largest) gathering of the Hank White Fan Club. Of course we were distant and ignorant of one another, but it’s still grand.
Look, I was extremely amped to have the both of you there, but you didn’t need to post twice. It’s okay, I can feel your excitement.
Rick James arguing with himself! Fuck yeah!
I think I’m gonna get outa here soon guy’s.
#17. I’m glad my dual personalty amuses you dude!
woo woo the cubs may loose woo woo
but rick james and joe morgan blow woo woo
Murton
Walker
Lee
E-ramis
Nomar
Burnitz
Barrett
Patterson
Hill
Not too bad
You mean…I…I get to PLAY? Sweet, now if only I can figure out why Dusty told me not to get on base.
Jose May-see-us
in the playoffs
I think not
woo woo other two people that blow woo woo
are macias and mr. death woo woo
Is it Ronnie or Ronny? Make up your mind dickmunch!
No Cubs Dead, Andy?
I’ll be glad when school starts so this “Rick James” cat will be out of here. He’s either in 8th grade or a child molester.
Chris Berman is a one act, fat turd. Life is so unfair.
woo woo either way, death woo woo
you still blow woo woo
You are obviously not the real Ronnie Woo Woo. Although there are two Woos in his name, the actual wooing is single. As in
either way, death woo
you still blow woo
See how there is only one woo after each phrase?
Hey Hey!
There’s a lot of energy in this ballpark (all negative)
woo woo your name says it all woo woo
and you blow too woo woo
Brave!
Come on. If MacPhail/Hendry decided Baker was going to do the franchise more harm than good for another year, they’d keep him around because of reverse racism? Do you have any basis at all for making that accusation?
Hendry continues to discuss his confidence in Dusty almost every day. That must be an ongoing lie to hide the underlying race factor that’s preventing him from doing what he thinks is best for the team.
I think where you’re, as they say, “misunderestimating” is: this is not a good baseball team in any facet. If MacPhail and Hendry don’t fire Dusty now, it’s because they’re looking at the season objectively and realizing that this was a .500 team (at best) from the beginning, not even close to a playoff team. That and $ is why they wouldn’t fire Dusty. Throwing racism out there as the primary factor is as half-cocked and irresponsible as what Scoop Jackson wrote.
The whole race issue is a farce, dh. There is no basis for anything ‘cept rampant speculation, and a reactionary theory to Scoop Jackson (which is just what he wanted). The reverse discrimination scenario Andy painted is just way out there, and is nothing more than conjecture. It sounds nice and reads nice, but total B.S. in the light of day. To say the Cubs execs are scared to fire Baker so as not to be tagged with the racist flag is ridiculous. The execs are motivated by talent, wins, and budget weighed against expecations. If that equation = Baker One More Year, then that’s what we’ll get.
I am sure Chuck will chime in with his expertise. He seems to be a sitting Trib. board member…
Hey the Tribune is way far left, of most Chicagoans, and they are peeing in their pants to be the New York Times if it wouldn’t be for their damn readers. Do they worry about this? I bet they do. They would editorialize against themselves for doing it
Don’t forget me! I was racialisted against too. OK?
Dusty and I are friends as well. OK?
pause pause pause etc.
Andy – Dusty isn’t going anywhere. If anyone is to blame it’s the giant creampuff known as Jim Hendry and the moron McFAIL. They had no intention of playing to win this year, it was about dumping Sammy. They can say all they want, but everyone in baseball, including them, knew they had an outfield full of 4th outfielders. You don’t win that way. For three years the same problem has plagued this team, no leadoff man (except for the two months Lofton played here) and no closer. Closer cost the tema a playoff spot last year and the hawkins follies along with the Nomar groin cost them at least 12 wins this year. The biggest problem is the two china dolls at the top of the rotation. Instead of over 60 starts between them, they will end up with around 30. Take anyones 1 and 2 pitcher and reduce their starts in half, you will lose.
I see your points and they’re all on the tops of your heads. The theory here is that Scoop Jackson says Dusty’s MORE LIKELY to get fired because he’s black, and Andy says he thinks Dusty’s less likely to get fired for the same reason. Though it seems his real point was that it’s time for me to take some accountability and actually take over. Which scares the shit out of me because they don’t make double-knits wide enough to comfortably contain my corpulence.
I actually believe Dusty is still the man for the job.
believe that?
jeromy burnitz was put on waivers and all teams but the white sox claimed him. hmmm…
Well if we fired two black managers, doesn’t that mean we hired two black mangers?
Seems to me that should count for something. And what about all of those Caucasian morans we dumped? And Trebelhorn. Rodents have rights too.
Besides wanting to be a Mike Murphy wannabe (Mc Phail F-a-i-l) what’s with the references to Andy McPolo? What has he done to fuck up this year?
I hate Dusty, too. My starters get hurt every year and I still make the playoffs. That’s only because I’m a genius, though.
I’m trying harder than Dusty to get fired. Why is it when I don’t want to get fired I get fired and when I try to I can’t…..? This job sucks…I love the Cubs!
I believe I was the manager of the 1917 White Sox. Kid Gleason managed them in 1919.