jerseyhoya wrote:This is all the Nats fault

Fuck. The. Nats.

CFP wrote:New manager Dusty Baker!

CFP wrote:New manager Dusty Baker!

Slowhand wrote:How does this guy continue to get managing gigs?

For all their fuckery, and I’m probably in the minority here, I think the Nationals will end up better off with Baker. Maybe it’s because I saw him managing my favorite team up close for a decade, but I think Dusty’s flaws are vastly overstated. Except for that goddamn Rally Monkey, he would’ve guided the Giants to their first West Coast title, and except for Steve Bartman, he would’ve guided the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945. He took over a mediocre Reds team and guided them to three playoff appearances in four years, which they hadn’t accomplished since 1973-76.

Yes, Baker’s flaws are very real and very apparent. He doesn’t handle the bullpen well, he has quite regressive views on the use of statistics, and he has underachieved in the playoffs. Those are some of the same flaws that doomed Matt Williams this season, but unlike Williams, Baker’s players usually love him, and he can manage stars like few other managers.

Bill McNeal wrote:

Slowhand wrote:How does this guy continue to get managing gigs?

Read this defense of his hiring earlier today on deadspin. Personally, I this this is a great hire (as a Phillies fan) because he's gonna #$!&@ up all those arms down in DC which is good for us! But I didn't realize Baker has as much success as he did.

For all their #$!&@, and I’m probably in the minority here, I think the Nationals will end up better off with Baker. Maybe it’s because I saw him managing my favorite team up close for a decade, but I think Dusty’s flaws are vastly overstated. Except for that goddamn Rally Monkey, he would’ve guided the Giants to their first West Coast title, and except for Steve Bartman, he would’ve guided the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945. He took over a mediocre Reds team and guided them to three playoff appearances in four years, which they hadn’t accomplished since 1973-76.

Yes, Baker’s flaws are very real and very apparent. He doesn’t handle the bullpen well, he has quite regressive views on the use of statistics, and he has underachieved in the playoffs. Those are some of the same flaws that doomed Matt Williams this season, but unlike Williams, Baker’s players usually love him, and he can manage stars like few other managers.

RichmondPhilsFan wrote:

Bill McNeal wrote:

Slowhand wrote:How does this guy continue to get managing gigs?

Read this defense of his hiring earlier today on deadspin. Personally, I this this is a great hire (as a Phillies fan) because he's gonna #$!&@ up all those arms down in DC which is good for us! But I didn't realize Baker has as much success as he did.

For all their #$!&@, and I’m probably in the minority here, I think the Nationals will end up better off with Baker. Maybe it’s because I saw him managing my favorite team up close for a decade, but I think Dusty’s flaws are vastly overstated. Except for that goddamn Rally Monkey, he would’ve guided the Giants to their first West Coast title, and except for Steve Bartman, he would’ve guided the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945. He took over a mediocre Reds team and guided them to three playoff appearances in four years, which they hadn’t accomplished since 1973-76.

Yes, Baker’s flaws are very real and very apparent. He doesn’t handle the bullpen well, he has quite regressive views on the use of statistics, and he has underachieved in the playoffs. Those are some of the same flaws that doomed Matt Williams this season, but unlike Williams, Baker’s players usually love him, and he can manage stars like few other managers.

That "mediocre Reds team" had guys like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Travis Wood, Francisco Cordero, Bronson Arroyo, etc., most of whom hadn't reached their age 30 seasons yet.

Were they the equal to the Phillies, Dodgers, and Giants teams from that era? Of course not. But they were at the top of the second-tier in the NL when it came to their roster. This "defense" of Baker loses a whole lot of steam with that statement.

ReadingPhilly wrote:

RichmondPhilsFan wrote:

Bill McNeal wrote:

Slowhand wrote:How does this guy continue to get managing gigs?

Read this defense of his hiring earlier today on deadspin. Personally, I this this is a great hire (as a Phillies fan) because he's gonna #$!&@ up all those arms down in DC which is good for us! But I didn't realize Baker has as much success as he did.

For all their #$!&@, and I’m probably in the minority here, I think the Nationals will end up better off with Baker. Maybe it’s because I saw him managing my favorite team up close for a decade, but I think Dusty’s flaws are vastly overstated. Except for that goddamn Rally Monkey, he would’ve guided the Giants to their first West Coast title, and except for Steve Bartman, he would’ve guided the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945. He took over a mediocre Reds team and guided them to three playoff appearances in four years, which they hadn’t accomplished since 1973-76.

Yes, Baker’s flaws are very real and very apparent. He doesn’t handle the bullpen well, he has quite regressive views on the use of statistics, and he has underachieved in the playoffs. Those are some of the same flaws that doomed Matt Williams this season, but unlike Williams, Baker’s players usually love him, and he can manage stars like few other managers.

That "mediocre Reds team" had guys like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Travis Wood, Francisco Cordero, Bronson Arroyo, etc., most of whom hadn't reached their age 30 seasons yet.

Were they the equal to the Phillies, Dodgers, and Giants teams from that era? Of course not. But they were at the top of the second-tier in the NL when it came to their roster. This "defense" of Baker loses a whole lot of steam with that statement.

wouldn't that collection of talent not making the playoffs before he got there make them mediocre then?

etched Chaos wrote:

ReadingPhilly wrote:

RichmondPhilsFan wrote:

Bill McNeal wrote:

Slowhand wrote:How does this guy continue to get managing gigs?

Read this defense of his hiring earlier today on deadspin. Personally, I this this is a great hire (as a Phillies fan) because he's gonna #$!&@ up all those arms down in DC which is good for us! But I didn't realize Baker has as much success as he did.

For all their #$!&@, and I’m probably in the minority here, I think the Nationals will end up better off with Baker. Maybe it’s because I saw him managing my favorite team up close for a decade, but I think Dusty’s flaws are vastly overstated. Except for that goddamn Rally Monkey, he would’ve guided the Giants to their first West Coast title, and except for Steve Bartman, he would’ve guided the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945. He took over a mediocre Reds team and guided them to three playoff appearances in four years, which they hadn’t accomplished since 1973-76.

Yes, Baker’s flaws are very real and very apparent. He doesn’t handle the bullpen well, he has quite regressive views on the use of statistics, and he has underachieved in the playoffs. Those are some of the same flaws that doomed Matt Williams this season, but unlike Williams, Baker’s players usually love him, and he can manage stars like few other managers.

That "mediocre Reds team" had guys like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Travis Wood, Francisco Cordero, Bronson Arroyo, etc., most of whom hadn't reached their age 30 seasons yet.

Were they the equal to the Phillies, Dodgers, and Giants teams from that era? Of course not. But they were at the top of the second-tier in the NL when it came to their roster. This "defense" of Baker loses a whole lot of steam with that statement.

wouldn't that collection of talent not making the playoffs before he got there make them mediocre then?

Dusty took over in 2008. Votto's full rookie season was 2008, as was Jay Bruce's, Rolen didn't become a Red until '09. Cueto's rookie season was 08, Cordero joined the Reds in 08, Wood and LEake were rookies in 2010. So your statement is false because the talent listed (aside from Arroyo and Phillips) weren't actual Reds until Dusty arrived.