I'll Be your canary in the coal mine

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man @ Red Reporter on Oct 16, 2007 6:18 PM EDT

I will be your early warning system.

As a Cubs fan, I was given a warning, but didn't pay attention. I was sure Dusty was the man!

So, in Mesa, AZ in the Spring of 2003, I attended a Cubs/Giants game. It was Dusty's first match against the team he (almost) led to a World Series Championship. I sat next to some Giants fans (they travel well, like Cubs fans) and all I heard was a steady stream of negativity toward Dusty Baker. It was constant. (The more they drank, the worse it got.) I had to say -- "Hey, you got to the World Series. That's somthing. I haven't seen that in my lifetime as a Cubs fan."

They chuckled and said -- "We should have won that final game. After all, we were leading." I said, "Well, things happen. You got there."

The Cubs beat up on the Giants that day, and this group stayed the entire game. More criticism was directed at Dusty, and especially his infamous third base coach, Wendell Kim, who joined Dusty with the Cubs. As they left -- one guy said (And I will always remember this) "You'll see what I mean. I'm sure you'll eventually get it. The Cubs will improve, but you'll see what I mean."

At the time, I took this commentary as a diatribe from a disgruntled, angry Giants fan who camethisclose to winning a World Series. But, I remembered his words.

So, as the Cubs won the Central in 2003, I still remembered his opinion, and said, 'yeah, right -- the best thing that ever happened to this team was to hire Dusty.' He was a sore loser, perhaps -- but understandable. I still was optimistic -- "Hey, a great improvement. We're on our way!"

By the time 2006 rolled around...after a miserable 2005...In full flower...All of Dusty's excuses...Neifi Perez, over and over and over again...."players with dark skin have some problems in cold weather..." the "I don't know how we lost, Dude" press conferences... "Guess we didn't get the breaks, Dude." In the world of Dusty Baker, it was obvious that it was always somebody else's fault. Left unsaid was -- "it sure wasn't mine..." The dark side of Dusty Baker. Accountability? Where? Who?

In 2003, the Giants fans in Mesa knew. Now I knew.

Now you know.

Visiting From Bleed Cubbie Blue

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Comments

Oh, I forgot

I can get you some "In Dusty We Trusty" T-Shirts dirt cheap.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man @ Red Reporter on Oct 16, 2007 6:20 PM EDT reply actions

that's awesome

canary in a coal mine... classic stuff. Thanks for the heads up

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Oct 16, 2007 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll take one

n/t

The Reds will finish above the Cubs in the NL Central.

by wicubfan on Oct 18, 2007 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

A new terror

So, if Dusty has a thing for terrible third base coaches... are we in for another year of Mark Berry? Lord, beer me strength.

by Brendanukkah on Oct 16, 2007 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

beer

always gives me strength

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Oct 16, 2007 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Yay! Go Reds!

Killer Tucans all the way!!!

by Zach K on Oct 16, 2007 6:38 PM EDT reply actions

ha

i liked this here comment

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on Oct 16, 2007 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

It's amazing how far Dusty's stock has fallen

When the Cubs hired him I was very worried. I thought that would mean a stranglehold on the division.

Will Carroll said something I like in regards to this the other day. "I don't want to hire Bobby Cox. I want to hire the next Bobby Cox." He went on to say that we all clearly know who Dusty Baker, Larry Bowa, et al are.

by Red Menace on Oct 16, 2007 7:33 PM EDT reply actions

Confidence is high

I repeat Confidence is High!

Go Reds

the post season pre-season choice to win the NL Central in 2008.

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on Oct 16, 2007 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions

there's a difference

the Reds aren't cursed, they've just had incompetent ownership until the last couple years.

by Blue on Oct 16, 2007 8:04 PM EDT reply actions

The Tribune Company

hasn't exactly been the second coming of George Steinbrenner.

And there's no such thing as a curse.

There is such a force as Bad Baseball. And, therin lies the problem.

If there is a curse, we should be talking about --

"The Curse Of A-Rod"

"The Curse Of The Golden Gate"

"The Curse Of Chavez Ravine"

"The Curse of The Lone Star State"

"The Curse of Mt. Ranier"

"The Curse of Tampa/St. Pete"

"The Curse of Chief Wahoo"

But these aren't as sexy as the same ol, same ol,
which the MSM just can't get enough of.

But you get my point.

Visiting From Bleed Cubbie Blue

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man @ Red Reporter on Oct 16, 2007 10:52 PM EDT reply actions

Curses!

Hey, who let this Cub fan in here talking all this curse talk!

"The NFL really needs a team in Canada then it would be the perfect sports league." ~Zach

by Fat Vegas Alan on Oct 16, 2007 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Yawn...WTF - the deal is done, get over it.

How long 'til Spring Training?

by Madville on Oct 16, 2007 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

Other comments from Cubs' fans

Being a Northwestern grad, I also frequent an NU athletics message board. Knowing full well that a number of fellow posters there are big Cubs' fans, I sought out their thoughts on Dusty.

Here are a few choice quotes:

Your players will love him, and will want to play for him. He will stick up for his players against the world, and they will appreciate it.

Hmm... so far, so good.

The youth thing may turn out differently in Cincy, though - you have pretty much nothing but, so that will help force Dusty's hand. He may be excited about ridding himself of this charge. Still, worry if Neifi Perez shows up anywhere near Cincinnati once his steroids suspension is complete.... Whatever characteristic fundamental weaknesses the team starts with, expect to see for the year. He doesn't appear to make demands of his guys for improvement.

Are you doomed with 3 years of Dusty? I don't think so. Reputations are earned for a reason, but that doesn't mean Dusty is incapable of learning from past mistakes.

But others were more harsh...

I came to hate the man with a passion. His piss ass excuses for things angered me beyond belief! He is not the worst manager to have, but he wore out his welcome in Chicago quickly. To put it bluntly, he's a pussy.

Just a few thoughts from some die-hard Cubs fans. Not that it means much now, but its still fun to talk about.

Thoughts from Northwestern Cubs Fans

Quick! Somebody make a Cincinnati loves Ken Griffey Jr. too! video

by TheC on Oct 17, 2007 12:05 PM EDT reply actions

While we're at it

Maybe Householder can do a quick run down of what we at Red Reporter have had to say about Cub fans. That's always fun to talk about.

by Brian B on Oct 17, 2007 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

speaking of

Big 10 Network was showing this game last Saturday. Good stuff.

by Red Menace on Oct 18, 2007 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Love that game!

I was actually in Evanston this past weekend for Minnesota 35 - NU 14 Part II. The end result was pretty much the same!!

Quick! Somebody make a Cincinnati loves Ken Griffey Jr. too! video

by TheC on Oct 18, 2007 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Dusty Baker

Rest assured Reds fans that Johnnie B. Baker does not deserve half the criticism he gets from Cubs fans. Remember, this team hasn't sniffed a World Series in over 60 years and few are left alive from the last time they actually won one. Many Cubs fans wouldn't know a good manager if he bit them in the...

Baker led the Cubs to their first back to back winning seasons in over 30 years. This accomplishment alone should be enough to replace the statue of the broadcaster with Dusty.

How the man handles the press really has little to do with how the team performs on the field. That said, Dusty is well known for defending his players and NOT calling them out in the media. I personally don't think this is a bad thing. I believe he does hold his players responsible behind closed doors. Obviously this is unknowable without actually being there.

How well a team performs is larely due to the talent on the roster. Many will argue that Dusty stayed with veterans too long and didn't play the young players. Meanwhile they led the league in rookie pitchers in 2006 with predictable results. The talent on the 2006 team was light years removed from what they fielded in 2003.

Finally, the most relevant thing one can argue about a manager is in regard to in game strategy. Baker tended to stay with his starters longer than most Cub fans would like. I happen to be a bit of an old school fan and liked that Baker stuck with his starters. He really didn't have a bullpen that was very strong anyway.

Anyway, reasonable people can disagree. Good luck to the Reds, except when they play the Cubs of course!

The Reds will finish above the Cubs in the NL Central.

by wicubfan on Oct 18, 2007 1:07 PM EDT reply actions