Posted on 11/03/2015 9:37:30 AM PST by TBP
Hours after firing Matt Williams as the Washington Nationals’ manager last month, general manager Mike Rizzo said he’d prefer to have someone with “some type of managerial experience, especially at the major league level†fill that role in future seasons.
In Dusty Baker, the Nationals found a well-suited candidate.
Baker, 66, was hired to be the Nationals’ next manager on Tuesday, stepping in after Williams was fired after just two seasons.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I like Casey Stengel:
“The secret to managing is to keep the twelve guys who hate you away from the twelve guys who are undecided.”
You know it. That was some magical baseball.
Can he keep his kid off of the field ?
The Nats hired Dusty
The Marlins hired Donnie
The Phillies hired one of Billy Bean’s extreme Saberguys
So it looks like the Mets & the Braves will be fighting out the division for the next 5 years
“looking forward to see what Dusty can do here.”
Allow me to clue you in
1. He will play veterans ad nauseum-way beyond it being obvious to everyone else that the side of beef is past his prime. He will tell the media that he is allowing them to “play out of” their slump
2. He will hardly steal, if ever! You can have the some of the fastest players in MLB on your roster and it won’t matter. He will not allow them to steal a base. Ask Willy Taveras, Drew Stubbs and Billy Hamilton:
3. He will wear your starting pitchers out:
4. He will make you crazy with bizarre decisions and leave you wondering why he did or did not do something that was obvious to even the most casual fan; and
5. He cannot close the deal. He will get the Nats to the post-season but (much like Bruce Bochy in 2012) he will get out-managed.
I remember when the Reds hired him. A friend from Chicago warned me that Dusty will get some over the hill bums that are loyal to him and play them too much. One he singled out was Corey Patterson. He said that Patterson cannot resist the low outside fastball and he could not hit the low outside fastball. I spent a Summer going nuts watching Dusty run Patterson out on the field and watching him continuously strike out on low outside fastballs.
Good luck Nats. You’ll need it.
Dusty has had success wherever he’s gone.
Cincinnati, unfortunately, has been lousy since Dusty left. Former big leaguer Jerry Hairston talked to his Reds’ teammates Joey Votto and Jay Bruce and asked them, “What’s going on? What’s wrong with you guys?”
Their answer was, “We miss Dusty Baker.”
He’s been to the playoffs numerous times and been to the World Series. And he knows how to manage superstars, having managed Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Ken Griffey Jr.
He isn’t a sabermetrics-bound guy, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
I wouldn’t bet on that. In fact, I’m not sure I’d bet on either of them winning the division next season.
Of course the veterans and super stars love Dusty. He allows them preferential treatment in the locker room and in playing time. Any hot shot rookies and prospects in the Nats clubhouse will see minimal playing time - regardless if they are better than the veterans.
Look for your starting pitching to come down with arm problems too. He has a history of torn up elbows and shoulders in his wake.
You’ll see.
As for success wherever he has gone - it is limited. He cannot close the deal
I suspect Trea Turner, for one, will get plenty of playing time. With Desmond almost certainly moving on (sadly), Turner is the long-term answer at shortstop, and one of the best young players in the game. Dusty wants to win; he didn't sign up for the money.
However, I wouldn't be surprised if Turner starts the season in Syracuse -- which has nothing to do with Dusty. They'll use the Kris Bryant principle and keep him in AAA for about three weeks to gain another year of control over him. Pretty much any team would do it that way.
Prior and Wood aren't Dusty's fault.
He has managed a team into the World Series, and every team he's managed has gotten into the postseason while he was there.
Dusty has a very good record.
It appears that Dusty was the Lerners’ selection, whereas GM Mike Rizzo wanted Black. The Lerners handled the contract process.
TBP-get back to me in a year or two.
Prior
Wood
Arroyo
Bailey
Yup, NONE of them were Dusty’s fault.
The Mets Extended Terry Collins after my post
So, Congratulations Braves
Jim Hendry, who was the Cubs’ GM when Dusty managed there, said that Prior and Wood weren’t Dusty’s fault.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/5/dusty-baker-back-baseball-nationals-adapt/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/5/dusty-baker-nationals-manager-introduced/
TBP - enjoy. Think of me when he starts making you scratch your head with some of his decisions.
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