Mark Prior

"They always want to blame somebody. It's usually someone at the top." - Dusty Baker on allegations that he overused Prior and ruined his career 

Hank Aaron

On this date in 1957, Hank Aaron wins the NL MVP Award.

"He was doing that Muhammad Ali thing but nobody knew it." - Dusty Baker on how Aaron would call his home run shots in advance including number 715

Dusty Baker

On this date in 1997, Dusty Baker of the Giants is named the NL Manager of the Year.

"On-base percentage is great if you can score runs and do something with that. On-base percentage just to clog up the bases is not great to me."

Reds release Mark Prior

 

Apparently Dusty was considering calling him up from AAA so he could throw 140 pitches in a farewell start for old-times sake but thought better of it.

Dusty Baker

Born on this date, Dusty Baker.

"Just put them in a room, let them box and let it be over with, know what I mean? I always said this. Let it be like hockey. Let them fight, somebody hits the ground and then it'll be over." - on fighting in baseball 

Dusty Baker

On this date in 1992, 44-year-old Dusty Baker is named the manager of the Giants.

"For five years in the minor leagues, I wore the same underwear and still hit .250, so no, I don't believe in that stuff." - on superstitions

Dusty Baker to manage 3000th game tonight!

"I know everybody wants me to play the guy who's hot, but what happens when the guy who's hot gets cold and the cold guy never gets lukewarm because he's not playing?"

Politics vs Baseball

If we ever start arguing whether Ozzie Guillen or Dusty Baker made fun of someone in high school, just kill me.

(You know darn well they both did)

Dusty Baker

On this date in 1992, Dusty baker is selected as manager of the Giants starting his ten year stint with the team.

"On-base percentage is great if you can score runs and do something with that. On-base percentage just to clog up the bases isn't that great to me."

Profound clubhouse thoughts

"We had a number of chances and they had a number of chances."

1 star out of 5 on the "cliche-meter": The only game this doesn't apply to is a "perfect game".

Hey, it just took 3 hits to score Pablo Sandoval from second!

Dusty Baker was right after all!

Baserunners DO just "clog" up the bases.

I take back everything I said!

Bobby Valentine mentions that due to improper positioning while holding runners on first base....

....Joey Votto is unable to make a tag on any runner on a pick-off attempt. Is essentially just playing catch with the pitcher. The runner gets a free trip back to the bag.

Who is the manager over there?!

Oh yeah, that's right.

"He just needs somebody to give him an opportunity"

Dusty Baker on Dontrelle Willis.

Four teams in ten months.

Hey Bruce!

If you have to take Timmy out tonight with the lead, do not, I repeat DO NOT let him keep the ball as a memento.

Been there, done that. (Well someone)

Dusty Baker given two year extension

I really think major league teams just cycle through managers and when it is their turn to win (gotta win sometime), they decide that the guy in the seat at the time is who they were searching for all along and all their problems are solved.

Is Dusty Baker anyone's idea of a good manager?

Just sayin'.

Mike Leake bypasses minors entirely and throws 107 pitches in his first major league start

Dusty tells him, "Don't worry, I managed Mark Prior, Kerry Wood and Jason Schmidt too. By the way, the ice bath is over there. It's even got a built-in arm rest. They built it just for us. Wait until Arroyo is done though."

Ok, we can't blame Dusty........yet

So I see that 22 year old phenomenon pitcher Aroldis Chapman was pulled in yesterday's Reds game against the Rockies after pitching only 1 2/3 of an inning due to back pain.

Ok, it is probably a little early to blame this on Dusty but.......it's a start anyway.

I am a little surprised that he let him come out though.

Next time, he is pitching through it I am sure.

Gotta think of the beer vendors too you know!

What's a pitch count?

So the Reds managed by Dusty Baker have signed a young, raw prospect from Cuba with apparently a great deal of potential to a long-term contract.

Anybody seeing anything wrong with this picture?

I know that Mark Prior and Jason Schmidt, just to name a few, object.

"Can't you just lose a game?"

Dusty Baker in response to the endless whining, complaining and conspiracy theories coming from Tony LaRussa, John Smoltz and Dave Duncan on the Bronson Arroyo pine tar incident.

Priceless!