Hanigan about to lose his job--Baker should be next

by nycredsfan on Jun 22, 2009 10:59 AM EDT

So Dusty all but made it official yesterday when asked about what would happen when Votto comes back.

“I have to get Hernandez back behind the plate,” said Baker. While he recognizes what Hanigan is doing with the bat, Baker also knows most of his hits are not producing runs. Although he isn’t the Lone Ranger is not driving in runs, Hanigan is hitting .174 with runners in scoring position - .063 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

Hernandez is hitting .304 with runners in scoring posing, .320 with less than two outs.

Baker said this when Hal suggested he move Hernandez to 3rd to keep Hanigan in the lineup.

So the difference in OBP-.411 to .323 apparently doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that Hanigan is clearly a better defensive catcher. Since Hanigan didn't get enough hits the 4 or 5 times there was actually a man in scoring position he's going to get benched.

My contention is that no matter what Walt does, this team won't win with Baker making decisions like this. There's another rumor out there that Bronson is being dangled so the team can get younger. If that's the case, I think it's time to move on and get a new manager. Baker just doesn't trust the young guys enough and puts too much stock in fading veterans. Obviously this won't happen this season, but I think the best offseason move Walt can make is firing Baker.

Thoughts?

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"Baker also knows most of his hits are not producing runs."

MAYBE BECAUSE HE’S BEEN BATTING 8TH EVERY GAME, YOU JACKASS.

"Power guys like Giambi and Dunn have always had high OPS because no one wants to pitch to them. But it takes two hits to score them from first." -- Harold Reynolds

by jch24 on Jun 22, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions

Exactly, Hanigan isn't driving anyone in because Ramon and Rosie are hitting in front of him

If Hanigan was hitting 4th like Hernandez has been he’d be the big run producer.

Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?

by nycredsfan on Jun 22, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Ryan Hanigan has 30 PA with RISP

why judge a player on 30 PA? He clearly didn’t judge Willy Taveras on 30 PA. Why do Hanigan’s 30 PA mean more than WT’s?

BTW, Hernandez is not batting .320 with RISP and less than 2 outs. He’s batting .260 in those situations. He’s batting .320 with RISP and 2-outs. Hanigan is batting .429 in those situations. Of course, all of this is stupid because we’re talking about 20 some plate appearances for each split. Ridiculous.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Jun 22, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Why do Hanigan’s 30 PA mean more than WT’s?

Because Dusty is racist!! :)

"Power guys like Giambi and Dunn have always had high OPS because no one wants to pitch to them. But it takes two hits to score them from first." -- Harold Reynolds

by jch24 on Jun 22, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Not true

I think he married an African-American woman.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Jun 22, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs

This is kinda exactly my point

Dusty gives crappy veterans 3,000 chances, and when a young or new player doesn’t perform great in limited time, he assumes that’s what they’ll do forever. The reason this particular story made me so angry is that even though Hanigan is clearly the better choice, Dusty finds some obscure and ridiculous stat to justify playing the veteran. It’s like he forgets that young players will likely improve while older players are probably going to decline.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?

by nycredsfan on Jun 22, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I just hate it when Bronson is dangled....

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin

by Madville on Jun 22, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

The boat-going ladies don't seem to mind as much.

I can see you're not going to agree with me, so let's move on. - Bill Maher

by PeteyHendrix on Jun 22, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

As far as I can tell, the two out stats are patently false or outdated

According to ESPN, Hanigan is 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position, 2 outs.

He’s .233/.320/.256 (43 at bats) with runners on and .167/.276/.208 (24 at bats) with RISP. 24 AT BATS. If you’re worried about your catcher who is compiling a ROOKIE OF THE YEAR caliber season and has one of the best arms in the NL driving in runs – bat him in the fucking two slot. He’s far more valuable as a scoring chip when Votto and Phillips come to bat than Ramon is as an “RBI guy” – whatever that means. Hernandez is doing .292/.446/.375 with RISP in twice as many at bats. Fair enough.

I don’t think Hanigan has proven he should be the outright starter – just as he hasn’t proven he can’t hit with RISP – over only about a 1/5 of a season of at bats, but if he doesn’t get at least 50% of the starts now, Dusty is reaching new heights of stubborn dumbassery.

I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jun 22, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

I think I got scooped by Slyde while I was writing this

I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jun 22, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Can managers be put on the DL?

This one certainly has mental issues. And he’s giving me mental issues, too.

Baseball worshiped here.

by Daedalus on Jun 22, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

dementia'd

From the Reds: Manager Dusty Baker has been put on the 15 day DL with “dumb-ass related issues.” Right now it doesn’t look like surgery will be necessary, but Dr. Tim Kremcheck will examine him today to determine if a full lobotomy is necessary.

Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?

by nycredsfan on Jun 22, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually reading the entirety of that Hal McCoy article makes me sick

Even Baker said on the day he started playing Hernandez at first, "I’ve always thought any good catcher could play both third base and first base without any problems."

It’s as though Baker has read every thought in our collective heads and vowed to do the opposite. He rarely gives any insight on what privileged knowledge he might have that leads him to a completely counterintuitive decision. I really think the fact that players like playing for him, but his veteran’s preference is way, way beyond the pale.

I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jun 22, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously

The deck of cards that Dusty has been dealt by senior management/ownership is lacking face cards. You can only win so often flipping over deuces and jokers… The season feels like it is starting to slip away, imho.

On the flip side the Cubs have passed the Reds in the standings and I’m getting my just desserts. Frickin Kerry Wood….

"We're going to Adonis, son"

jch24

by obc2 on Jun 22, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions

so does Votto stay on the DL to help his friend win ROY?

by Cy Schourek on Jun 22, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

Votto only knows how to finish second in the balloting.

by Brendanukkah on Jun 22, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

That's what she said!

…wait…I don’t think I did that quite right…

I can see you're not going to agree with me, so let's move on. - Bill Maher

by PeteyHendrix on Jun 22, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Who wants to start the sign patrol?

HANIGAN
AGAIN
& AGAIN!!

I can see you're not going to agree with me, so let's move on. - Bill Maher

by PeteyHendrix on Jun 22, 2009 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

Also

The notion that his hits aren’t producing runs is so misguided. He’s getting on base 41% of the time right now, which has translated to 15 runs scored in 148 PAs despite batting in front of the likes of Rosales, Gonzalez, the pitcher’s spot and Taveras. Compare to Hernandez’s 19 runs in 252 PA – the majority in the 5th and 6th spots.

I know Runs is a highly conditional stat, but more to the point — if Hanigan had been slotted higher in the order he would have ironically padded the RBI stats of those hitting below him, including Hernandez. Hernandez gets the credit for being an “RBI guy,” while Hanigan’s ability to avoid outs is seen as a novelty act.

Dusty seems to ignore the fact that baseball is a team sport on-field as well as off. His lineups and depth chart belies zero understanding of how to maximize run potential.

I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jun 22, 2009 7:30 PM EDT reply actions

how many "good" pitches is hanigan going to see batting 8th ??

most pitchers would rather pitch to the pitcher….

so he might press a little maybe w/ RISP…knowing if he doesn’t drive the runners in, the nine hitter isn’t going to…

Nobody listens to Andrew

by nlt-andrew68 on Jun 22, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Honestly

I think sometimes Dusty just babbles.

He said earlier in the season (about Janish) that a SS can play any infield position – first, second, third – and the outfield positions, too.

But does how often Janish get to play anywhere but SS?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jun 22, 2009 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

fixed

But does how often Janish get to play anywhere ~~but SS~~?

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Jun 22, 2009 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

fixed

But ~~does how often~~ who’s Janish ~~get to play anywhere but SS~~?

by Cy Schourek on Jun 22, 2009 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

fixed

Baseball worshiped here.

by Daedalus on Jun 24, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Reds

A good catcher can always play at first base. I am not a catcher so have no idea why this is a fact but at a munor level I have moved many young catchers to first with good sucdess. Third is a different story & I believe this is just more of dusty’s imaginings. It certainly didn’t work with Johnny Bench posibly the all around best catcher of all-time & I just never even tried such a thing..

Janisch is a shortstop and now that Gonzales is pretty well throughj for the season should be at the position every day. Hairston is a utility man and needs time off, like maybe one game per week . He can play the entire left side ;lus some outfield so is woth retaining .

Arroyo is gone before the trading deadline so Bailley. Maloney & /or Justin Lehr become full-time starters. Volquez is gone for the season & should not even be playing Winter Ball. His injury is serious and can only be helped by rest and therapy . Yeah yeah the guy can run & work in a gym but he should not be throwing .

Dusty’s job depends on how many runs Joey Votto can drive in and just how much he gets Chris Dickerson into CF. Taveras is Jocketty’s mistake but a man who can’t get to first is not a leadoff hitter Think Pete Rose !! This guy led off in front of Joe Morgan.
Sparky had it right and Joe is H.O.F.

Hope this makes the post !!!

by jaimito on Jun 26, 2009 1:15 AM EDT reply actions

Rose led off more often in front of Ken Griffey Sr.

Although Sparky had no qualms about switching Senior and Little Joe in the order when he felt the situation so dictated. Both players were way faster than Pete. In Dusty’s world Caesar Geronimo would have led off with Davey Concepcion in the 2 slot. The man may be loved by his players but your honor, this man has no no ~~dick~~ creativity.

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin

by Madville on Jun 26, 2009 7:27 AM EDT up reply actions