Dusty Baker Teaches Hitting

The more things change, the more they are Dusty

Manager Dusty Baker confirmed Thursday that Willy Taveras will be the Reds' leadoff hitter.
Naturally, Baker focuses on Taveras' speed rather than his .331 career on-base percentage. "His role is he's our center fielder and our leadoff man," Baker said. "The fact that he's so young, he's going to get better. A lot of people talk about his on-base percentage. I like to think in terms of him getting into scoring position." If you're curious, the "so young" Taveras turned 27 last month.
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because he hasn't totally killed him off yet

Reds' Dusty Baker wants to manage Kerry Wootz again

"We have a closer already in [Francisco] Cordero, who we have under contract for a few more years," Baker said Monday. "But somebody can use Kerry Wootz. I am going to call him. I like Kerry Wootz as a person, not just as a ballplayer, but as a person. I will give him a call and see what's up... man"

Plus, Dusty got him confused with a ball boy and kept calling him Jose...had to go

Reds optioned LHP Danny Herrera to Triple-A Louisville. A diminutive left-hander with great numbers despite mediocre stuff and a 45th-round pedigree, Herrera is a good story. Unfortunately, his first stay in the majors lasts all of two days and one scoreless inning.

One of these years Dusty Baker will figure out the double switch, you'll see...

But until then he will still be compensated with MEEEEEEllllllions of dollars a year, so don't feel to bad for him...

Though Corey Patterson was supposed to be at the plate, David Ross batted out of order in the ninth inning of an 8-3 loss to the Mets on Sunday. What is this, Little League? Per MLB rules, Ross has to complete his at-bat to be ruled out, and the outcome of his at-bat is then discarded with no runners allowed to advance. The Mets allowed him to do so, and since he lined out to right there was little harm done. Ross was the batter listed in the order after Patterson, so he was forced to come back to the plate for his 'real' at-bat and Patterson was charged the out. Ross singled after returning to the batter's box. There's almost too many jokes here for us to enjoy. Corey Patterson making outs even when he's not at-bat is just one of them. As if their wasn't already overwhelming evidence that Dusty Baker is a horrible manager, this just adds more fuel to the fire.

Dusty Special

From FireJoeMorgan:

I Don't Think That's a Good Thing, Necessarily
From reader Evan comes this excellent Dustyism about Edwin Encarnación:

Encarnacion's homer kick-started the Reds' rally against Eric Gagne. Encarnacion is the most volatile player in the Reds' lineup - his early season defensive woes and his slump at the plate have been counter-balanced by a few clutch homers, often in the same game.

Fortunately for him, Reds manager Dusty Baker seems to be more patient with Encarnacion than previous manager Jerry Narron. "I'm happy for him because this guy bleeds internally, big-time," Baker said.

Of all the attributes of gritty players, "hemorrhaging" is rarely given its due. Especially internal hemorrhaging. Dudes who internally hemorrhage...man. Give me 8 guys like that, and a pitcher with anemia, and a couple bench guys with rotaviruses, and a closer with a leaky heart valve, and maybe a LOOGY with Polycythemia vera, and I'll win the division every time.

don't try this at home, kids

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Dusty Baker is planning on significant roster changes, and that Jerry Hairston Jr. or Jolbert Cabrera could be called up. Hairston is thought to have an out clause in his contract after a month, and is hitting .429 in Triple-A. One thing is for sure, Dusty Baker plans on making some moves. "I’ve got to get home and talk to Wayne (Krivsky) first... You’ve got some guys doing well down there. Guys we liked in spring training," Baker said.

Dusty is a whole new stupid

"I said to [coach] Chris Speier, 'I hope he doesn't get the bunt down so he can hit a game-winning home run.'"
--Dusty Baker, on Edwin Encarnacion's game-winning home-run last week, creating questions over why he called for a bunt in the first place.

He called the bunt because that's what he does. He bunts. And he sticks with the vets. And he doesn't believe in pitch counts or getting on base or any of that nonsense. He believes in the bunt, the "smart" play that creates openings and holes and gets the other team thinking. He hasn't had a thought in his head since 1979 and he is the goddamn worst.

[insert your own funny response here]

Funny, FUNNY stuff:

Reds manager Dusty Baker has already decided he doesn't like Joey Votto's approach at the plate. The approach that led to a .321/.360/.548 line and 17 RBI in 84 at-bats following his callup last season. "He needs to swing some more," Baker said. "I talked to him about that. Strikeouts aren't the only criteria. I'd like to see him more aggressive." Baker doesn't want Votto, Adam Dunn or anyone else taking called third strikes. "I really, really hate the called third strike," Baker said. "I hate that. You're guess and you ain't ready to hit." That Scott Hatteberg rarely strikes out makes Votto a particularly risky pick this year.

Hatteberg also takes a lot of pitches though. Dusty might be driven insane. Anyone seen Randall Simon lately?

OBP? Dusty still doesn't roll that way...

Reds manager Dusty Baker indicated on Monday that he'd likely keep Brandon Phillips in the cleanup spot this season. "Brandon will probably hit third someday*," Baker said. "But, right now, I need to him break up Junior and (Adam) Dunn." Ken Griffey Jr. always hits third whether he deserves to or not, suggesting that Phillips will clean up and Dunn's superior OBP will again land in the fifth spot. Baker could have gotten more creative given his lack of prototypical top-of-the-order guys, but that's not his style.

*Funny!

tough one for the next three years

Dusty Baker is taking a three-year deal to manage the Reds, ESPN.com is reporting. The Reds got the big name they wanted. That’s about the only nice thing we can say about this. The Reds may be more likely to dump Adam Dunn now, as he does nothing more than clog up the bases with his walks. Also, we worry about what will happen to Joey Votto if he doesn’t get off to a hot start next year. Baker values experience about as much as any manager in baseball, and he loves speed, which could mean that Ryan Freel will get a lot of at-bats at the expense of Josh Hamilton or Edwin Encarnacion.

In an anticipatory move, Homer Bailey has been placed on the 60 day DL.