August 7, 200520 yr comment_3109707 It sorta is, but whatever. Anyway, the last couple innings in this Braves/Cards game has been great. Lots of strategy going on between LaRussa and Cox. And so the Braves were up 3-1, but the Cards loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. Seaboll popped out, which brought up Eckstein. The Braves announcers noted how the outfielders could play in because it wasn't likely he'd hit it over anyone's head. Two pitches later, Eckstein dumps a Reistsma pitch into the leftfield stands to win the game 5-3. Unbelivable. Really says something about this team when their leadoff hitter, not at all known for power, can hit a grandslam to win the game, while teams like the Cubs struggle to get one run in similar situations. Another thing I noticed was how excited everyone on the Cards' bench was when they loaded the bases. Regardless of the situation, the Cubs' bench never seems all that into it. Just seems like LaRussa's got his team more amped for any game than Baker. I would definitely take Carlos over, but Victor is pretty good. And that was an emotional up and down game for me. I really wanted the Cards to win this game, and was rooting harder than usual. Great win. A good overall game, and an entertaining one I can see from someone who is (somewhat) indifferent towards the result.
August 7, 200520 yr comment_3110407 The Mets are so sweeping this series. Lineups are in and even though Nomar's playing, Dusty manages to squeeze Neifi in there. And he's batting SECOND! Hollandsworth is also playing in place of Burnitz tonight and Macias is getting his fourth straight start in center. Macias should never get back-to-back starts, let alone four. I'm not saying Matt Murton would turn this team around, but he can't get ONE game in right or left? Ugh.
August 8, 200520 yr comment_3111873 The Mets are so sweeping this series. Lineups are in and even though Nomar's playing, Dusty manages to squeeze Neifi in there. And he's batting SECOND! Hollandsworth is also playing in place of Burnitz tonight and Macias is getting his fourth straight start in center. Macias should never get back-to-back starts, let alone four. I'm not saying Matt Murton would turn this team around, but he can't get ONE game in right or left? Ugh. I think Dusty's in someone's pocket. Seriously, the only way this lineup could be worse is if he started Blanco, and sat Lee and Rameriez. Seriously, I know that Hairston is injured, but WTF. This has been the problem all year. He somehow thinks that he needs to get Macias and Perez into games, and we have people like Murton just dying on the bench. He should put a lineup together, and put it on the field. Some people might get a day off every now and then, but for the most part, let em play. CF Hairston (S) LF Lawton (L) 1B Lee ® RF Burnitz (L) 3B Rameriez ® SS Garciaparra ® 2B Walker (L) C Barrett/Blanco ® P PITCHER That lineup has a nice balance of lefties and righties, and balance top to bottom. Hairston was doing a much better job in the leadoff role, and playing good defense. Lawton has shown he makes good contact with the ball, and hasn't struck out much. I alternated Lee, Burnitz, and ARam because of the lefty righty, though I'd probably rather have ARam protecting Lee. Garciaparra gets shoved down the lineup, but into a position that if they pitch around the big hitters, he might be able to drive them in. Walker is always a professional hitter, and makes contact. Barrett and the improving Blanco bat in the 8th spot because, well...we all know why. WHY CAN'T DUSTY DO THIS? Other managers do this. You name the guy a starter and put him on the field. If he isn't he starter, he's on the bench. Give him a couple days off a month, but this playing the backup once or twice a week has got to stop. There is no way in hell this team will ever compete if you aren't putting the best players on the field.
August 8, 200520 yr comment_3111951 isnt hairston hurt?Yes, but that was just an everyday lineup. Burnitz and Hollandworth have both played CF in their careers, and would be an upgrade to Macias any day. Especially against a righty, why wouldn't you play them both instead of shitball Macias. If he's on the roster again next year, I may boycott the Cubs until they fire Dusty. I've been a Cubs fan all my life, and NEVER have I been this pissed at a manager. BRING BACK ZIMMER!
August 8, 200520 yr comment_3112761 Dusty hates the kids. He isn't a firm believer in children are the future. He'd rather play has beens and never weres. I hope the freefall continues, because he needs to go. He's a braindead piece of crap that has taken a team loaded with talent, and turned it into a mockery. They're a terrible fundamental team, but is that ever addressed? Hell no. They can't situational hit. Is that ever addressed? Hell no. I want someone to call him out on giving three guys with sub .300 OBP playing time.
August 8, 200520 yr comment_3113216 Dusty hates the kids. He isn't a firm believer in children are the future. He'd rather play has beens and never weres. I hope the freefall continues, because he needs to go. He's a braindead piece of crap that has taken a team loaded with talent, and turned it into a mockery. They're a terrible fundamental team, but is that ever addressed? Hell no. They can't situational hit. Is that ever addressed? Hell no. I want someone to call him out on giving three guys with sub .300 OBP playing time.He won't abandon Neifi like that. That's what he said! Abandon Neifi? Fuck Neifi. If he wants to play, he'll hit the ball and show some effort in the field. In Cincy last trip (I saw the game live), there was a ball hit to his right that he could have made a dive and got a glove on it. Instead, he just kinda waved at it as it went by and a run scored. Since that day, I'll never forgive him.
August 8, 200520 yr comment_3113252 I've never liked Dusty. He got WAY too much praise in SF. He inherited a team full of great to solid players in the early 90s. He had John Burkett and Billy Swift in their primes at the top of the rotation. Had Will Clark, Matt Williams, Royce Clayton, Robby Thompson, Rod Beck, Mike Jackson etc. Oh and they happened to sign Barry Bonds just as he was going to have maybe the best 10 year period in the history of the game. They lucked out big time in the Matt Williams/Jeff Kent trade. (At the time it was considered a steal for the Indians as Kent was seen as someone who would "never realize his potential") Dusty has been given loads of talent to work with since he began managing and has wasted all of it. His moves are asinine. IE not pinch hitting in game 4 (elimination game for SF) of the 2000 NLDS for Mark Gardener in the 5th inning when the Giants had 2 men on base and were trailing by 4. You can also go back to game 2 of that series where he let Felix Rodriguez continue pitching after the Giants tied the game in the 9th even though he had Robb Nen, who was basically unhittable and who had always made the Mets look retarded at the plate, available.Then he lets Prior and Wood throw out their arms in the 2003 Playoffs (pitching them late in games when the Cubs were way ahead) And obviously his blatant bias against Rookie players has been well noted. What angers me the most is that he is praised to no end in the media as some sort of genius. Chris Russo often says that Dusty "Gets the best out of mediocre players" and that he "Inspires players to give it their all". Former Giant (and current Met) broadcaster Ted Robinson last year when the Mets beat the Cubs 2 of 3 in the famous Sept. series openly said on the air that "He felt bad for Dusty" and that "This Cubs team had let their manager down" No one will ever criticize the man. Hopefully people will finally come to realize this guy is a joke.
August 8, 200520 yr comment_3113980 What angers me the most is that he is praised to no end in the media as some sort of genius. Chris Russo often says that Dusty "Gets the best out of mediocre players" and that he "Inspires players to give it their all". He also said Dusty is a terrible big game manager.
August 8, 200520 yr comment_3115038 Give him a couple days off a month, but this playing the backup once or twice a week has got to stop. There is no way in hell this team will ever compete if you aren't putting the best players on the field. This actually isn't the problem with Dusty Baker - many other managers, especially Tony LaRussa, utilize this same strategy. The problem is with who you put onto the field when you spell those everyday players. Neifi Perez as an occasional middle infield sub isn't a bad thing, but Baker plays him in a time-share platoon with Nomar F'n Garciaparra. I'm not even going to touch Macias in center field. Seriously, did you watch the Cubs outfielders in the series? I could have taken third on a flyball to Hollandworth. It was embarrassing and it's not because the Cubs don't have the personnel (Lawton, Burnitz, and Murton could certainly work in the outfield, I think), but because Baker puts too much weight on major league experience.
August 8, 200520 yr comment_3115459 Which is why I wouldn't play a guy in center whose MLB experience is confined to playing for the Tigers and Expos.
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