Yes, yes, I have called for his head numerous times, but if he gets blamed when the team struggles, he most certainly deserves praise when the RedLegs are hot.
And boy, Cincy is finally playing well.
It’s Time to Fire Dusty
April 27, 2010 By 5 Comments
Last year, one Ohio team finally got the message and fired their skipper; now that idea needs to roll down I-71 southwest to the banks of the Ohio River and into the Cincinnati Reds’ front office.
The Dusty Baker era has been a disaster and must end, and here’s why:
Fire Dusty Baker: Epic Failure of Reds Since All Star Break Should Result in Manager’s Dismissal
July 30, 2009 By 6 Comments
After the Cincinnati Reds lost all six games on their recent, “key” road trip, they came home to take on the 2nd worst team in baseball — and lost 3 of 4.
They’re 5-16 in the last 21 games, and just 3-11 since the all star break.
Dusty Baker should be fired tomorrow. Period. Just like Eric Wedge.
If not, and of course he won’t be fired, true fans should not attend Reds games the rest of the season.
Just a thought.
Indians Actually Sweep Mariners; Reds Fall Closer to NL Central Cellar
July 27, 2009 By 2 Comments
I’m headed down to Cincinnati after work this evening to catch the Padres take on the Reds. Yes, you read that correctly: I am driving 120 miles each way, on a work night, to watch a 38-61 team take on a 44-53 squad (coming off an 0-6 road trip) on a Monday night. And to top it off, both teams are throwing their 5th starters, who are a combined 2-8 with ERAs closer to ten than zero. Why you ask?
Well, I have free seats courtesy of a friend who works for the Padres; I was raised in SD and still cheer for this pitiful team; I also like the Reds; it’s sunny out; and a friend from Washington DC is in town, therefore this is the closest big league park to my home in central Indiana; and I love baseball.
No, I don’t know which team I want to win. At least both cannot lose, right?
The Reds had a key road trip last week, whereupon I mused they needed to win four of six versus two good teams. They lost them all, prompting even the usually sanguine Hal McCoy to rip the team, declare the season over, and spend the first half of his Sunday afternoon post, writing about steak instead of baseball. Can you really blame the legendary Dayton writer? He claimed:
“They might as well be waving a white surrender flag when they get off the team charter in Cincinnati tonight. They are dead. They are buried. They weren’t a very good team to start with and you have to give credit for them hanging around so long. But now with some underachievers and a whole lot of minor-leaguers, they are barely a notch above Triple-A and there may be some better Triple-A teams out there. Would you believe Double-A?
They simply cannot compete with the big boys and now can barely hold their own against teams of their own ilk.”
Wow, Hal, I love the honesty!
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians swept Seattle over the weekend. This is quite miraculous, considering the Mariners are one of the pleasant surprises of 2009, while the Tribe is arguably baseball’s biggest disappointment. Nonetheless, despite four wins in a row, the Cleveland Indians still sit 17 games under .500 and 12 back of first-place Detroit. At least they’re out of the cellar.
The Reds, on the other hand, might be there soon if they don’t take care of the Pads this week before the streaking Rockies (54-44, and an incredible 36-16 under Jim Tracy) hit town this weekend.
Maybe then I can start demanding Dusty Baker to be fired, much like Eric Wedge on the other side of the Buckeye State.
Ohio Baseball Report: Indians Should Keep Cliff Lee, Reds and Dusty Baker Prepare for Key Road Trip
July 21, 2009 By 1 Comment
With the Indians still playing as poorly as anyone in baseball, this column will now be devoted to the Cincinnati Reds, even as they fade and ponder trading top players despite being just five and a half games back of first-place St. Louis with close to half the season remaining.
But before I leave the Tribe, two points:
1. Cleveland would be foolish to trade Cliff Lee. He is their only reliable starter. Period. Cliffy won the Cy Young last season, and despite a 5-9 record in 2009, still has a very respectable 3.31 ERA. Only one other pitcher in the majors this season has a better ERA with a losing record: STL’s Joel Pineiro (8-9, 3.09).
Mark Shapiro, however, seems intent upon not only rebuilding the team for the second time this decade, but perhaps being the first GM to trade THREE former Cy Young winners: Bartolo Colon, C.C. Sabathia and Lee.
2. I should also add that while I was not a fan of Casey Blake during his years in C-town, he has certainly been more than capable out in LA the past calendar year. This is not to say the Tribe shouldn’t have unloaded him, but the third baseman has 22 homers and 80 RBIs during his 146 game Dodger career. His batting average is around .270, for a career .266 hitter.
For the Reds of Cincinnati, they stand in a similar spot in terms of unloading veterans before the July 31 deadline, but considering their steady spot in the standings (even at 44-48, just 5.5 back), one wonders why.
This week’s road trip will tell a lot about whether or not guys like the durable Bronson Arroyo – 16 straight scoreless innings, team leader in victories – will be dealt. And apparently Dusty Baker and GM Walt Jocketty told the team that before last night’s game.
They responded Monday night with three in the first off a rusty Jason Schmidt, despite another pouting episode by Brandon Phillips. Unfortunately, Micah Owings – whose time in the rotation should thankfully end when Edinson Volquez returns — imploded by allowing four runs back in the bottom frame, then two more in the second and the Reds fell 7-5. Though only five and a half back, the Reds do have four teams — all playing better ball than they this month too – ahead of them in the mediocre central.
Homer Bailey should take Owings spot as, aside from his last outing, has finally been serviceable. Aaron Harang — just 11 wins the past two seasons and none since May — has not. Nor has Johnny Cueto, sporting an ERA over 8 in July.
So, the struggling Reds have two more against the best team in baseball, then a weekend in Chicago. They need to win three of the next five I think, or else the proverbial “bottom might fall out.”
Needless to say, it’ll be players leaving, not skipper Dusty Baker, who’s underachieving again in a weak division. Next year won’t be so easy.
One thing Dusty might want to learn is to play hot hitters with the best stats, rather than the obsessive righty-lefty mentality so prevalent in baseball. Case in point, Dusty continues to play the horrid lefty Laynce Nix against righties, while sitting righty Johnny Gomes, who actually hits righties better as is.
There’s more I could note, but it’s unnecessary until next time….Â
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* – Cliff Lee photo credit: Miller Park Drunk
* – Dusty Baker photo credit: Mouthpiece Sports
