It’s almost like Dusty Baker has a checklist at home and every day he tries to say something dumber to make himself look even worse than he did the day before.
While his team was grinding out the minimum amount of runs necessary to avoid a shutout in a 3-1 loss to the Braves, Dusty was hatching a plan to find somebody new to blame it on.
Who would it be this time? The scoreboard operator? Maybe Yosh Kawano is putting too much starch in the seat of their game pants? Oh, I know, the red roof on the “Budweiser” house across Waveland is too red.
Nope, none of those would have been suitably dumb enough for Dusty. He had to do them even better.
No, Dusty decided to blame the Cubs poor play, the fans’ irriation with that play, and the feeling that he’s not wanted…on the Internet.
Since we have a timer on the home page that counts down to the glorious day in November of 2006 when this stooge’s contract expires, I think he might be talking about us, among others.
“It’s no secret,” he said. “There are some people that don’t want me here.”
To be fair, Dusty, we don’t want a lot of Cubs to be here, you’re just one of them. He wondered aloud why there’s a firedustybaker.com Web site, but why other managers don’t have to put up with that. Even Mike Kiley figured out that more successful managers than Dusty put up with just that very thing, that’s why you can visit firejoetorre.com and firetonylarussa.com.
There is no fireozzieguillen.com, that one won’t spring up until the second week in October.
What Dusty forgets is that it’s not like the fans “turned” on him for no reason. When the Cubs hired him in the winter of 2002 most of us Cubs’ dopes (like me) were excited. Here was a manager who had just been to the World Series (even if he did botch it), and he was going to bring credibility to a franchise in dire need of it.
Dusty’s pretty sure that the fans turned on him in game six of the NLCS in 2003, and the smart ones probably did. The rest of us didn’t until late last year, and even then there was Sammy to blame everything on.
But what we have seen over three long years now is evidence that Dusty the great communicator, and Dusty the great player’s manager, is really just Dusty the fraud.
We were told we’d have to sacrifice some in-game acumen with Dusty, but that he’d more than make up for it in the way he got the most out of his players and the way his team’s peaked at the end of the season. In 2003, that’s just what we saw. A guy who made some curious moves in the dugout, but a team that roared through September and past the Astros and to five outs from a World Series. Even though the end of the season was like a Rockettes line of kicks to the crotch, better days were promised. The team was young for the most part and had improved incredibly from one year to the next.
Then of course came 2004, when Dusty’s “communication” skills turned out to be just a series of “dudes’ and alibis. Alibis for him, for his players, for anybody. There wasn’t a loss that couldn’t be excused away on an injury or a weather phenomenon or a solar flare. Nothing was ever Dusty’s fault, and the only players who ever got any blame were ones born after 1978.
But it’s our fault now. It’s the Internet’s fault. Because there are people out there who have nothing better to do with their free time than create Web sites for the express purpose of getting Dusty fired. It has nothing to do with wanting the Cubs to be better. Nope. We just hate a man we’ve never really met, for no good reason. He’s an innocent victim. Just a guy going to work every day and doing a great job, while bad luck, misfortune and too many young players cause his team to underachieve, day after day, month after month, season after season.
It’s not Dusty. It’s us. We’re the ones doing a bad job. We should be telling you how great he’s doing, and how for a month while his team fell out of contention before the All-Star Break, that it was a great idea to bat his two worst hitters first and second. We should write tomes about his brilliant idea of batting his third most consistent offensive player eighth most of the season. We should be giddy about explaining to the world that when his teams play horrific fundamental baseball, on the bases, in the field and at the plate, how it’s not his fault, because guys have to know how to play when they get to the big leagues and if they don’t know by then, well they can’t be helped and what’s a man to do?
But part of it is our fault. It’s our fault to be upset every time Dusty proves he doesn’t get “it.” You’d think we’d learn by now that his cluelessness is almost pathological.
There are only so many ways you can try to rationalize just how bad this team is this year, and it’s bad. Really bad. If seven of the eight best teams in baseball weren’t in the American League, just how bad would the Cubs’ record be?
The Cubs have a long history of doing the wrong things consistently. It’s how you go 97 years without winning a World Series and it’s how you become one of the true laughingstocks in all of sports. So it’s no surprise that Andy MacPhail says he hasn’t lost faith in Jim Hendry and that in turn, Jim Hendry says he hasn’t lost faith in Dusty Baker. They’re just carrying on the long and sordid tradition that the Cubs have enjoyed, literally, since the day they opened their ivy covered burial ground. It’s a tradition of them being too stupid to change and too arrogant to realize it.
What’s this? Comments? Shit, somebody wake up Baker Basher, Rick James, Sox Fan and the gang!
Spot-on piece, by the way.
Did I ever mention that this is not a great hitters’ park when the wind is blowing in?
I also forgot to add that the high grass makes it impossible for me to throw out guys scoring second on an infield hit.
Also, it apparently makes it impossible for me to write the word “for.”
Damn Internet. Dusty’s right. This is all it’s fault.
Good thing there was no Internet back then…
owww…get off of me!!
Noooo, Sloth, I am NOT gonna let you do a “Dirty Sanchez” on me…stop it or I’ll mmmfm mmfmfm mfffm mfff…
ohhhh…..THIS SUCKS!!
Dusty, a word of advice. You have enough problems attempting to ‘manage’ you club to waste time tooling around the Internet. Leave that to the professionals (like Zambrano).
Oh and Jim, if you spend next spring negotiating a extension for a manager who has wasted the talent you have attempted to provide to Cubs, I’ll just start rooting for the Phillies in April.
I wondered aloud why other TOP managers don’t have web sites dedicated to their firing. Torre and LaRussa aren’t with me at the top of the profession.
You forgot Ronny Woo Woo Woo Woo…ugh…
I attempted to provide talent? Cool, thanks Hawk.
Dolan,
Great dose today and thanks for opening the comments back up. I’ve been fuming about Dusty the last few days.
You pretty much hit it out of the ballpark today regarding Dusty’s pure ignorance along with the whole Cub organization.
When your team president holds a press conference and is content with the direction this organization is going in- HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!
MacFail and Baker need to go. Hendry actually has some positive use. But with him in the middle of those other two jackasses, he’s worthless.
The Tribune Company is so content on Wrigley Field bringing in money, they don’t give a fuck about this team. They just have MacFail show up in a suit and tie to read off their profits at the monthly board meeting.
You would think just once, the Tribune Company, MacFail, Hendry, and Baker would have some pride and put their egos, ideals, stubborness and arrogance to the side to put together a winner. They could make history.
No, but these fine fuckups go out of their way in stabbing us fans right in the heart. After all, we’re just the ones driving their profits up and paying their salaries.
Maybe the only way this organzation will ever win a World Series is to just boycott buying season tickets or tickets in general and give them the big fuck you.
Baker Basher
Good dose, Dolan. Damn, I DO suck.
But I ain’t leavin’ ’til somebody fires me!
I guarantee that you guys will not lose today!
Not only have I been fuming the last few days, I’m this annoying in real life and can’t find anyone to complain to, so I go where I’m not wanted because no one can give me a swirly like those mean boys used to throughout high school.
Dusty needs to buy a mirror if he wants to know who is causing the Cubs’ downfall this season.
Man, you torched my ass, BC! You TORCHED my ass!
In a week full of great Doses, this was the top-o-the-heap. Glad the comments are open, so we can all applaud.
Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap
Us top managers gotta stick together, dude…
I hate the pressure of managing the Cubs, have a visible disliking for the fans and I DO NOT respect their right to boo this lazy, dumb, emotionless, under-achieving team.
Sign me up for another 4 years!
We’re ensuing now!
Honesty compels me to say I hate the internet, too.
It was that Terror Alert System that was responsible for running me out of town.
At least Dad and I are able to be together to reminisce about Grampa.
And he’s closer to us!
Put Dusty in a lockbox.
Items are being crossed off of me left and right.
Buy pallette of Kleenex for semester in Champaign.
Go to Internet and claim to be anally raping a runaway underage child actress.
… the Anonymous Basher of Posters is back with another tired-ass reference to Kleenex and crying.
1. Complain about Cardinals
2. Rag on Baker
3. Complain more about Cardinals
4. Whine about Score
5. Write post using “Mouth Breathin’ Matty Mo”
6. Visit St. Louis Post Dispatch website to get more ammo to complain about Cardinals
7. Wring out crying towel
8. Express hate for LaRussa in new way (may take time)
9. Tell me to eff off
Yeah! Anonymity is a terrible thing!
And, I don’t think B.C. is using the Kleenex to wipe his eyes…
Sure know how to shit all over an outstanding dose by Andy.
Thanks for playing.
Turn the page, assclown.
There is no me today guys. Notice how it doesn’t say “Daily Dose” in the headline, there are no links posted at the end and the comments are open? This is more of a general rant.
I’ll give you a general rant, Dr. Tim Leary.
I just come here for the pictures.
Would any amount of money convince me to manage the Cubs?
saw myself on that comcast show hosted by that fat giggly black dude last night, when asked what it’s like to work with Leo Mazzone I answered: “It’s great, he just lets me be. His reputation speaks for itself.”
General Rant? Any relation to Colonel Blimp?
Why was Mark Prior allowed to throw me yesterday?
Becuase we are in charge.
If we are around next year too, Dr. Andrews will be even richer.
Cubs trade Walker and over-hyped prospects to the Dodgers for Jeff Kent. Kent and Bradley can no longer co-exist. Dodgers will like Walker’s high average and low salary. Dusty loves Kent and hates Walker’s defense. Cubs could use a clubhouse policeman, since Dusty can’t/won’t perform this role.
Managing a team into dismal failure is hard work!
Good one Mr. Dolan.
Did you see my redass in the papers this week? I’m sitting on my Barcalounger in Hammond for chrissakes, hire me! I guarantee I can both outmanage Dustbag in my sleep, and not get into fights with Jeff Kent, Marvel Wynne or Jose Rijo.
Also, I have “postseason” experience too, if that is the ridiculous thing that got Dusty hired. And, I think I have a black relative somewhere in Georgia, so I’m down with the bruthas.
Miss me?
Does anybody have Walker + prospects for Kent on their gaydar?
Also, I’m hearing that Hendry and Baker might get extensions in the offseason. Thoughts?
The Sanj
I kid because I have no other talent.
Today as I was lounging around in my tunic smoking my water pipe and listening to the bullets wizz outside of my front door I came to realize that not only did my country not have a constitution yet but it also had no chance of seeing the Cubs play in the post season. Even though I am in the middle east I can still be a Northsider….Here’s hoping my car doesn’t explode tomorrow.
FireJoeTorre.com is a pro Joe Torre site. (“This is NOT a site to BASH Joe, it is a meeting place for the fans!It was created for the purpose for Yankee Fans to interact!We are HUGE Fans of Joe! We wanted to put this site up before some idiots use it for a bashing site!”) ForeTonyLaRauusa.com doesn’t come up on my borwser. You would THINK the writer would have checked the sites before he wrote the story.
You best shut yo ass DC before I blast it, bitch.
Good to hear from PG law enforcement. Please devote your time to investigating the county’s many stolen cars and not committing adultery while on duty or shooting innocent people in the back (especially while lying on the floor handcuffed). Thank you!
I aint no po po you yuppie ass bitch. I be hard core. Oh, and I is innocent.
DC exile has me!
My “bad”, as you say, PG (more properly known as “Inside the Beltway PG County Exile”). Thanks for moving out of DC so I can live here! You’ll have a few more of your friends joining you after we clear out the ‘hood to build the new stadium. I’d say, hope you avoid the “po-po”, but given that they are known for nailing cheating housewives and not crooks, you don;t need it!
And I descriminate against the lower class. Yup, I belong in DC, especially Dupont Circle…Wheeee!!! I need to get carjacked.
DC Exile picked up a case of the HIV at me! Well, actually in the alley behind the armory, but whatever.
Au contraire. The “lower class” is busy killing themseleves off, so who needs to discriminate aginst them. Besides, we need the “lower class”. Good help is so hard to find, and there are only so many illegals one can get across the border. Fortunately, my obscenely high taxes help support the most policed city in the nation, what with MPDC, Capitol Police, Park Police, Uniformed Secret Service, etc., so I only have to worry about carjackings if I venture into PG. And why on earth would I do that? I make the cleaning woman take the bus home.
I love young boys.
On the internet, I can pretend to be wealthy, and tough! Awesome!
We are an offensive juggernaut!
While Dusty bears some of the blame for his strategic missteps, let’s have a look at his options the past three seasons:
Kent Mercker, Mike Remlinger, Joe Borowski, Mark Guthrie, Shawn Estes, Dave Veres. Six guys who were all re-treads, the Cubs gambling to catch lightning in a bottle. Worked with Glendon Rusch – at least for one season, so it’ll happen again, right? Uhhhh, not so much.
Todd Wellemeyer, Juan Cruz, Jon Leicester, Sergio Mitre, Michael Wuertz, Will Ohman. These guys will always be quadruple-A quality, yet along with the re-treads, this is what the Cubs have relied upon the last three years to form what is commonly known as the “Bull-pen.” Fortunately, just about every team in the majors suffers from a shaky bullpen, and come October it’s usually their undoing.
Kyle Farnsworth & Corey Patterson. What can you do with two people who perennially rank at or near the top of “Most unrealized talent” poll of MLB players? Though it’s not his fault, throw Wood in here, too. At least he acts like he wants to win. I’d be open to suggestions of players who were so frustrating to one team, then put it all together for a subsequent team. Just doesn’t seem to happen so often.
LaTroy Hawkins. A failure as closer in Minny, a failure as closer everywhere else, too.
Todd Hollandsworth, Lenny Harris, Troy (I ain’t Irish) O’Leary, Ramon Martinez, Tom Goodwin, Mark Bellhorn (the lucky bastard, though Red Sox fans have turned on him), Augie Ojeda, etc. There are so many junky players that have walked through the clubhouse that when looking at the Cubs roster over the last three years, there is no wonder why they’re middle of the NL pack offensively.
And I’m not sure we can blame the jalopy teams on Jim Hendry. The nature of the Cubs has always been to subsist on B or C-list talent. Here’s a test: In ten years, if you’re reminiscing about the Cubs with a friend, see how many of the above names make you laugh uncontrollably. Names like Tuffy Rhodes or Tom Veryzer or Heathcliff Slocumb or Mike Perez or Damon Berryhill or Kevin Orie always crack me and my friends up. It’s like, “How did the Cubs even think getting that player was a good decision?” That’s why getting Nomar was a “Holy Shit!” moment. At least it seemed like one.
The Yankees and Red Sox and Angels and Braves are good because they either got the absolute best talent first, or they have a competent farm system. The Cubs have shown drastic improvement in their farm system, with Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Willis and even Corey as testimony. They still aren’t so hot on getting the best talent available come free agent time.
So here’s what they need to do.
1) Keep Dusty. We have no idea what the clubhouse atmosphere is like, but I would bet the frustration we’re seeing is a product of losing, not Dusty’s managerial skills. Tony LaRussa overmanages during spring training, let alone the playoffs, and he’s won all of one title with boatloads of talent to work with. If the players do their job, Dusty’s a winner, if they don’t Dusty’s a loser. I’d bet most of the guys would go to the mat for Dusty. And while he had the Incredible Hulk to rely on in San Fran, Dusty’s got no such help here. Which brings me to the next point:
2) Get Johnny Damon and two of the best relief pitchers available. Watch the runs scored number go up, the bullpen era go down, and the winning percentage go up. Sosa’s $$ are off the books next year, so there’ll be additional budgetary freedom.
3) Cut off Kerry’s right arm, and replace it with robotic parts. We have the technology.
With the Cubs out of contention, we can sit back and watch DLee race against the rest of the NL for the Triple Crown. We might even get to see a couple of dust ups with the Cards and Astros, only we don’t have Farnsworth anymore to give Pujols a figure four. We might as well revel in this pile of pig shit while we can. Bears aren’t going to be any better.
See, New Guy likes my double switches. Your Macias jersey is in the mail, dude. He knows that good relief pitchers are a dime a dozen, man. Gotta go pick Darren up from daycare now.
I did as good as Dusty with way less talent. He had a healthy and dominant Nen, Rodriguez combo. He had Kent, and Ortiz when they were really good. Yeah, the Giants, all they did was cry when Dusty left. I might not have gone to the Series, but if I had Dusty’s team I would have won the damn thing. And my brain is made of Cream of Wheat!
I was one of the best relief pitchers available 2 years ago. That worked out so well that Hendry should throw hefty contracts at a couple more guys like me & Remlinger.
We all know what a powerhouse the AL West has been this year, so last year they were incredible too, right? Way less talent? The only talent they needed were Bonds and Kent. I’m just as perplexed by Dusty’s love of Jose Macias, especially when Murton hasn’t played himself out of the lineup.
Hey Dusty, honey, could you pick up a gallon of milk while you’re out?
We are in the AL now? That’s news to us.
Wait a minute, I don’t have any. And you want to extend my contract? Whoppee
We should all get 6 year…no,..lifetime extensions. We are that good. Thanks New Guy, now stay tuned for another exciting Cubs finish…to a season way before it’s over, that is. Again.
Why then I could put a sign on the dugout “No Irish Apply, and nobody under 40 too”
7 of the best 8 teams are from the AL? Have you seen the Twins play? The Yankees? I’ll give you the Indians, Sox, Sox, Angels, and maybe the A’s…but come on. In a series that means something, I would take the Marlins over any of these guys.
was “Jon Garland is the best pitcher any of us have ever seen”.
No, lets fire Dusty and keep this cavalcade of managers going. That’s the real laughingstock. Replacing a manager every time the sub par players fuck up! Who do you want this time? Leland had Bonds, Bonilla, Van Slyke, etc. with the Pirates, the All-Star team with the Marlins. Piniella (if he’s available) won one WS, with Eric Davis, Larkin, Rijo, Browning and the Nasty Boys, couldn’t cut it with A-Rod, Griffey, Tino and Edgar, Unit and Jeff Nelson. How about calling back Tom Treblehorn or Lee Elia or Jim Frey or Riggleman. Or, how about Grady Little! I’m sure Wally Backman’s available.
I don’t think it has anything at all to do with the players. Especially if you look at the Red Sox, who’ve made it to the playoffs seven times in the last 15 years — with seven different managers. Nope, definitely not the talent on the field!
BTW – LaTroy’s last two years in Minnesota 1.99 ERA, 157.6 IP, 138 SO, some blown saves. Exactly why he’s a SETUP MAN, not a closer. Borowski out, LaTroy in – we’ve got problems.
Great post Andy. I just wish someone in the general media had the balls to make those statements to Dusty or press him for explanations when he makes those lame ass statements. To the two homos with the “exile” riff going; you’re perfect examples why the comments section should be turned off. You’re two guys carrying on a loud conversation in the middle of a movie, only more cowardly, because no one can get their hands on you.
Yes everyone, I’m really the New Guy.
FYI, my post on 48 directly related to the SunTimes article _at the center of Andy’s post_. There _is_ no FireTonyLaRussa.com, and FireJoeTorre.com is not a site supporting Torre’s dismissal. Mike Kiley was sloppy in claiming that those sites were like FireDustyBaker.com, and Andy was sloppy in not seeing if the sites actually existed, or if they were in fact anti-manager sites. So blow me.
I am apparently a really tough guy.
Calling people me on the internet is about the dumbest thing in the world. #72, are you gonna put your name, address and phone number up here to meet up with those guys? Are you gonna find them and throw down fistacuffs? No? Thought so. Guys like you contribute to shitty comments to you tool.
2 games behind the Brewers…is that bad?
Dusty Baker managing out of spite is going to be ugly.
woo woo the cubs might be bad woo woo
and comment number 9 might miss me woo woo
but there’s some people woo woo
who blow big time woo woo
and those include woo woo
baker, benson and mcfail woo woo
and don’t forget joe morgan woo woo
I’ll say good bye woo woo
but before I leave woo woo
I’ll say I’m glad woo woo
glad to be back woo woo
to the only site you’ll ever need woo woo
Kelly,
Dusty’s been managing out of spite since he got here.
The cubs are ahead of us by 2.5 games.
Ref post #71 – New Guy, You’ve just made a great case for never hiring a $4M per year manager. If it’s only the players that matter, hire Darren Baker instead extending Dusty at $4M per.
So #81…is that bad?
Yes, I am New Guy too
You should see the bitch I porked last night after my dominating save. Right in the ass, splooge-central.
Well, why would you hire a $4M a year manager and NOT give him the talent necessary to win? Of course it’s not only the players that matter. I’ve read some sighs of relief on this site when Murton was in the lineup and Captain Shinguard was on the bench, and the Cubs still lost. The best manager in the world can’t fix crap players, but great players can win in spite of a manager (Ozzie, mang?)
The Sox have great players??? They don’t have one All-Star caliber position player on their team. Bad analogy, mang. Ozzie has helped that team perform over their collective heads for most of the year. I don’t think he’s a great manager, but to say his players are great is ridiculous.
Was that when I was batting eighth?
I make no sense.
I did say great didn’t, I? Well, ok, not great. But I mean the pitching staff? That’s the reason behind their success. Remember their staff last year (13 different starters, team ERA of 4.91, one starter under 4.00 ERA-Buehrle, the rest not even close) suuuuuucked compared to this year (6 starters, 3.62 ERA, 3 under 4.00 ERA). Ozzie’s been called out a number of times this year for screw-ups, even when his team wins. Remember Jeff Brantley? Point is, it’s the players first, manager later. You can’t argue that point.
Ahh yes, but what if we aren’t used correctly, or put in the best position to contribute from the start? That can’t be good for us.
How can you defend me? I said walks clog the bases, and left field is the hardest position to learn. Enough said. My idiocy was kept quiet because while my teams were playing, you guys were sleeping to get up for work. Go read some san fran blogs, or do an archive search of their newspapers. No one skipped a beat when I left. The above should show you that. Sorry, I gotta go now, the sun is going down, time for whitey to dis his thing, dude.
New Guy – two of your quotes…
“Well, why would you hire a $4M a year manager and NOT give him the talent necessary to win?”
“Point is, it’s the players first, manager later.”
So which is it, hire the $4M manager 1st and then give him the talent (1st quote) or get the players 1st then hire the manager (2nd quote)?
My point, never hire a $4M a year manager, you’ll never get appropriate ROI.
Regardless of how the Cubs finish this season, Dusty will be back next season.