Aug 17, 2004

Not Half Baked

Dusty Baker

   Dusty Baker takes a lot of criticism in town on the local sports radio stations for his seemingly lack of managing the team.  They theorize that he acts more like a father or a big brother than the players’ boss.  A recent example is his handling of Sammy Sosa after he had a horrendous West Coast trip.

   When Sosa returned from the disabled list in June, Baker allegedly discussed with him the possibility of batting in the fifth or sixth slot.  Sosa objected, and said he was willing to bat fourth, but no lower.  When asked by the media about the possibility of dropping Sosa in the order after the trip, Baker replied, “You have to know your personnel.  Sammy is a warrior and very proud, but he is sensitive too.  We all know that.  You guys know Sammy better than I know him.  It is what it is.”    

   And that’s why Baker is such a successful manager.  There are times I curse under my breath at the moves he makes, but the one thing Baker always does is back his players.  And they love him and bust their butts for him.  He is the classic ‘players manager.’

   Look at the talent he had in San Francisco.  It was nothing special, yet he had his team in the running for the playoffs practically every year he managed there.  I couldn’t figure it out; but now I can.  It’s difficult to judge a player or a manager unless you have the opportunity to see them every day and how they handle situations.  Dusty Baker is not a great X’s and O’s manager.  That is not his strength.  Being a manager of men is. 

   We would all like him at times to come down on them with a swift sword and ream them out for stupid base-running plays or swinging at terrible pitches.  He refrains from doing that, but he makes subtle references to let you know he doesn’t necessarily approve of it, and shrugs his shoulders like he is saying, “What can I do?”  He could act like another manager and rip the player or players in the media.  But what would that accomplish?

   Today’s athletes have been coddled their whole lives.  If you come down on them and embarrass them in public, you are far more likely to lose them than to have them see it your way.  Baker knows this perhaps as well as anybody.  If he takes them aside outside of our view and explains the facts of life, I don’t know. 

   A lot of fans of the team are tired of Sosa’s act and would like him dropped down in the batting order.  It would give them satisfaction, but what would it accomplish for the team?  You could say it might help to win some games that they are losing because Sammy is batting cleanup, and it probably would.  Dusty Baker looks at the big picture and how the team performs over 162 games.  In that scheme, his way seems to work best.

   He came to a club last year that wasn’t supposed to do anything and was just five outs away from the World Series.  He has taken a team this year that has suffered more injuries to key players than any Cub’s team in recent memory, and has them in prime position to make the playoffs.  When the ’85 squad went through a similar bout with injuries, they folded up like an accordion.  The difference between the two teams is that they didn’t have Dusty Baker.

   Unless they totally collapse, they will be over .500 in consecutive seasons for the first time in over thirty years.   Accomplished in Baker’s first two years. 

   So criticize him all you want.  I know I do at times.  But when you look at the big picture – he’s a winner.  And that, nobody can deny.

SportzNutz Columnist Darrell Horwitz isn’t shy when it comes to “A Fan Speaking Out”… he holds nothing back and tells it like it is, from a fan’s perspective.  A Chicago native, Darrell is a lifelong Cubs and Bulls fan. Along with his “A Fan Speaks Out” column, Darrell is the fan writer for the Chicago Cubs, here on SportzNutz.  If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to email Darrell at darrell.horwitz@nutzworld.net