Are you kidding? Baker is one of the worst managers alive. The Met's could not have lucked out more then this.
There are few managers you can root for; Dusty Baker is one of them.
1
Dusty wins a lot of games and can get you to the playoffs. He's not real flexible though. Out here in SF we had a guy named Marvin Bernard who was a favorite of Dusty's. Dusty kept Marvin in the leadoff spot one year for two months and I believe Marvin was still hitting below .100 (not .200, .100) when he finally got moved down. Our current manager, Bochy, is great because he generates good clubhouse karma, like Dusty, but is absolutely ruthless in game situations.
Good luck with that choice DC. As a life long Cubs fan I was excited to get Dusty in 2003. He is by far my least favorite Cubs manager of all - and we've had a lot of bad ones. Incredibly thin skinned/defensive and unable to explain logic of his game decisions. But all teams are different and maybe he'll excel there as you have a nice team. Cincinnati did not care much for him either. By contrast, Lou Pinella could explain in great detail his decisions, thought processes and various other options he was considering regarding even the most controversial game decisions - and he was LOVED here. We are also very happy with Joe Maddon.
I like Baker but players win games. The mgr can inspire, coddle and stroke but the players have to hit, run, throw and catch the ball.
Dusty is an absolute gem, and the Nats made an excellent choice. He's come so close, and overcome many challenges, including to his health. Does America need an African-American manager in baseball? Hell Yes! I was sad when he parted ways with the Giants, but we all move on eventually. I'll be hoping for a Giants-Nationals NLCS in 2016. Congrats Dusty!
I can't wait for the Mets first visit to DC. We can have Terry and Dusty running instead of the Presidents!
If you say so Mr. Rhoden, Dusty Baker is a good manager, not a great one though. The Washington team has the players across the board no doubt about that but can "Dusty" tame Bryce Harpe The Washington team plays in the most underwhelming fan based population in the country other then the press,the support for the team is underwhelming, football is the passion in the D.C. area. I wish Mr. Baker luck but I wish that he would have gotten the L.A. Dodger job, he deserves that honor.
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Not everyone here is passionate about the Washington football team (I refuse to use their name). Baseball has always been, and will always be, my number one sport...
The NL east will be tougher next season
Good hire by the Nationals...Baker good guy and good manager and is motivated to win a World Series .
Miami will be better as well...
Mets will have to be smart this off season if they want to make the playoffs in 2016
Miss the mets already....
Good hire by the Nationals...Baker good guy and good manager and is motivated to win a World Series .
Miami will be better as well...
Mets will have to be smart this off season if they want to make the playoffs in 2016
Miss the mets already....
Good luck to Dusty who will deal with a locker room full of massive egos and malcontents. He may be the man for the job, considering he was able to weather the Bonds-Kent explosions. His first order of business should be to sit down the main whippersnapper, Harper, and tell him to grow up. Even if Baker gets things under control, he has an uphill battle against the team to beat in their division: The NEW YORK METS!!!
Will Dusty bring his kids to press conferences after tough losses so the reporters will go easy on him? Will he try to shift blame to fans (i.e. Bartman) again?
I'm sure he is a solid manager but blaming Bartman was so cowardly. Gee whiz.
I'm sure he is a solid manager but blaming Bartman was so cowardly. Gee whiz.
Dusty Baker is on more than just a book tour. His memoir, "Kiss The Sky: My Weekend in Monterey for the Greatest Rock Concert Ever (Music That Changed My Life), talks about how he attended - and was affected by - the legendary 1967 concert.
He loves baseball, blues and rock n roll. He's a winner. How could he have been anyone's second choice?
He loves baseball, blues and rock n roll. He's a winner. How could he have been anyone's second choice?
3
The Nationals may have finally done something right.
Although Dusty has a respectable record as manager over 20 seasons,
This guy is a true baseball purist. He just loves the game of baseball.
Perhaps his knowledge and love for the game, not just money and fame,
will help the underachieving Gnats.
As far as he being the only black manger in game today, what about black baseball players? they are not taking up the game like in the past. There are several reasons, economics among them, but another big one is that they are taking up basketball and football.
Although Dusty has a respectable record as manager over 20 seasons,
This guy is a true baseball purist. He just loves the game of baseball.
Perhaps his knowledge and love for the game, not just money and fame,
will help the underachieving Gnats.
As far as he being the only black manger in game today, what about black baseball players? they are not taking up the game like in the past. There are several reasons, economics among them, but another big one is that they are taking up basketball and football.
Dusty a winner!!!
Where?
What is last joint he won a championship as manager?
20 years career as manager in SF,Cubs,and Cincy, her never won anything.
But Rhoden see him as “a winner”.
You mean winner like Joe Torre?
Where?
What is last joint he won a championship as manager?
20 years career as manager in SF,Cubs,and Cincy, her never won anything.
But Rhoden see him as “a winner”.
You mean winner like Joe Torre?
1
Dusty's news conference completely won over this Nats' fan. I had been a bit concerned because of his age, but wow, what a gentleman, what a savvy baseball mind. The Nats should've hired him two years ago in their last search for a manager. Mets better watch our next year. Dusty and Harper are coming for you!
A little too much adulation for Mx Baker I think, who has yet to prove himself against the high expectations in Washington and the pressure to win right here right now. Stephen Strasburg is a free agent at the end of the season. And why do I think that part of the reason for the media lying down and panting at the thought of Baker is the minority issue?
Win it all Johnie B, win it all!
Dusty Baker is indeed a successful manager, but his teams have shown an unfortunate tendency to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Baker's first team , the 1993 Giants, won 103 games but blew a ten game lead over the Atlanta Braves and missed the playoffs by a game. His 2002 Giants were eight outs from winning the World Series before they blew a 5-0 lead in Game 6 and were beaten soundly in Game 7.
The less said about the 2003 Cubs, the better. Let's sum things up charitably and observe they had leads in both Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS before succumbing to the Florida Marlins.
Baker's three playoff appearances with Cincinnati all ended in disaster. His 2010 club was no-hit in Game 1 of the NLDS and exited quietly in three games. In 2012 the Reds needed to win just one home game against the Giants to advance to the NLCS. They lost all three. And a losing streak at the end of 2013 cost first home field in the wild card game versus Pittsburgh, then said game itself, and finally Baker's job.
Given the Nationals' similarly bleak history since 2012, this could be a match made in some lower realm than heaven.
Baker's first team , the 1993 Giants, won 103 games but blew a ten game lead over the Atlanta Braves and missed the playoffs by a game. His 2002 Giants were eight outs from winning the World Series before they blew a 5-0 lead in Game 6 and were beaten soundly in Game 7.
The less said about the 2003 Cubs, the better. Let's sum things up charitably and observe they had leads in both Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS before succumbing to the Florida Marlins.
Baker's three playoff appearances with Cincinnati all ended in disaster. His 2010 club was no-hit in Game 1 of the NLDS and exited quietly in three games. In 2012 the Reds needed to win just one home game against the Giants to advance to the NLCS. They lost all three. And a losing streak at the end of 2013 cost first home field in the wild card game versus Pittsburgh, then said game itself, and finally Baker's job.
Given the Nationals' similarly bleak history since 2012, this could be a match made in some lower realm than heaven.
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Dusty is the perfect choice for that team. They need someone that has a steady hand and is not intimidated by great players. He is the polar opposite of Matt Williams.
1
Dang! What's next, a decent Philadelphia team?