Dusty-like shenanigans (cont'd)

Reds manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that the plan is for Aroldis Chapman to start "someday." (The inference being that it won't be happening anytime soon. Chapman has posted a dominant 0.00 ERA and 32/5 K/BB ratio in 18 1/3 innings of relief this season and deserves a long-form look. But Baker is as stubborn as they get and seems to think he has the Cuban left-hander pegged correctly as a setup man.)
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Mom not pleased wiff Uncle Cholly

Why does the stupid manager take Hamels out for the bullpen when he is
pitching a near perfect game?
Lidge did his best to lose it. How many has the bullpen lost for him
this year?
They still have 10 more games to win!

~

And only 118 pitches tonight...

The Giants have decided to keep Tim Lincecum on four days' rest next week to give him two more starts after tonight. Getting a Cy Young Award apparently trumps the hopes of the Giants' franchise going forward. Lincecum should have pitched only once more because of the Giants' off day Monday, but he'll go Tuesday and Sunday. Jonathan Sanchez loses a start as a result. This likely means that Lincecum will finish with the year at 225-230 innings pitched. The Giants shut him down after 177 1/3 innings in 2007.
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Mama Smiff doesn't believe in pitch counts...

"Why did Charlie Manuel take Cole Hamels out when he was pitching so well? Surely he could have gone one more inning to get to Brad Lidge. What a waste of good pitching. What bad managing. What a bunch of clod relievers."

Clod relievers led by terminal SUCKS sufferer Ryan Madson, who totally, totally SUCKED!
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When someone as stupid as Ed Wade is involved, it's hard to say who's to blame...

Shawn Chacon, who was suspended indefinitely by the Astros, said he threw Ed Wade to the floor Wednesday after being asked to attend a meeting with the general manager and manager Cecil Cooper. Chacon said he was told sternly by Wade that he was going to have the meeting, something he didn't want to do. "He started yelling and cussing," Chacon said of Wade. "I’m sitting there and I said to him very calmly, ‘Ed, you need to stop yelling (at) me. Then I stood up and said 'you better stop yelling at me.' I stood up. He continued and was basically yelling and stuff and was like, ‘You need to (expletive) look in the mirror.’ So at that point I lost my cool and I grabbed him by the neck and threw him to the ground. I jumped on top of him because at that point I wanted to beat his (butt). Words were exchanged." Chacon was pulled away from Wade by a teammate before he could do any damage, which may end up saving his career. It's still hard to imagine another team being eager to give him a chance this year.

Maybe Bevington is next...

Cito Gaston named manager of Toronto... perhaps they should have kept Big Frank and let go John Gibbons go earlier.

Things That Suck: The New York Mets

Scott Schoeneweis, Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph. Remember when Schoeneweis totally sucked with the White Sox? He later sucked with the Reds, but the Mets still signed him to a 3 year, 10.8 mEEEEEELLLLion dollar contract (career ERA: 4.94). And then he proceeded to SUCK in his 1st year with the Muts. Was Omar Minaya on crack? There must be dozens of lefties in the minors who can do what he does (SUCK) for the league minimum. So... you have a pitcher that can't find the plate in a tie game (and you leave him in?), and then you intentionally walk the bases loaded. Yes, it sets up a force play, but if he can't throw a strike, what phokking difference does it make?

Paul McAnulty had a walkoff HBP against the Mets' Scott Schoeneweis in the Padres' 2-1 victory on Thursday. After entering a tie game, Schoeneweis walked the first two batters he faced and then failed on his first attempt to corral Adrian Gonzalez's shot up the middle, forcing him to settle for getting one out at first. An intentional walk to load the bases followed, and Schoeneweis' first pitch to McAnulty hit him up by his shoulder. It made a winner of Trevor Hoffman, who pitched a scoreless top of the ninth.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (cont'd)

Adam Dunn is hitting seventh Monday for the first time since 2005. Meanwhile, Ken Griffey Jr. continues to get a free pass. Dunn has the better OPS of the two by 55 points and has the same exact number of runs+RBI as Griffey despite using just 85 percent as many outs and always batting lower in the order. That Dusty Baker won't even try hitting Dunn second or third in an effort to get him going speaks poorly of him as a manager.

Now, the real test for Dusty will be when he tries to double switch Dunn out for defense in the 8th, and we'll see if he mistakingly puts the pitcher in batting 5th where Dunn normally hits.

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.

The Face of Evil

perhaps Smiff would care to weigh in on this question

Jonny Gomes hit his second home run of the season on Monday night for the Rays.

Our View: Gomes now has two HR and five RBI in just eight AB on the year which begs the question; why does he have only eight AB on the year?

Joe Torre practicing his love with 'proven veterans' across America...

I pfink even Dusty is starting to get jealous:

Juan Pierre is starting over Matt Kemp for a third straight game Monday and the fourth time in seven games this season. It'd be one thing if Pierre was actually producing, but he's 1-for-11 at the plate. He also played a huge role in a loss last Wednesday when he botched a sac bunt in the ninth and got caught stealing to end the game. We were worried for Kemp owners after Andre Ethier was named a starter over Pierre, but we never imagined it'd get this bad so quickly.

There's one word for this and dat word is: Idiotic.

[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?

Good God (see previous post)

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said he told Nomar Garciaparra that he'd have the inside track at winning the starting job at third base over Andy LaRoche.
Figures. "I talked to him the other day," Torre said. "I explained to him that being the veteran guy, he has the inside track as far as being the starting third baseman. But we will (start the season) with the best 25 (players) we can get." Torre's love of veterans also figures to be good news for Juan Pierre. The Dodgers have shot themselves in the foot a lot the last couple of years with their playing time decisions. Torre has his strengths, but breaking in youngsters isn't one of them.

How to suck at managing, part 785

Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced Wednesday that Miguel Cabrera would open the season batting fifth. Leyland will use a lineup of: CF Curtis Granderson, 2B Placido Polanco, DH Gary Sheffield, RF Magglio Ordonez, 3B Cabrera, 1B Carlos Guillen, SS Edgar Renteria, C Ivan Rodriguez and LF Jacque Jones. Marcus Thames is expected to start over Jones versus lefties.

Yes, batting your best hitter 5th - great idea, Jimmy. Fortunetly for "Smoke 'Em if You Got 'Em" Leyland, Sheff will miss about half the year with a bad hammy and pouting over his contract, his agent, the media, Joe Torre, his hair stylist, the Detroit nightlife, etc.

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!

now off the menu in L.A. : squirrel fricassee*

Grady Little "resigns" as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

*3800 google hits (now 3801)

SQUIRREL FRICASSEE

2 dressed young squirrels (2 lbs.)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
Pepper
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 - 3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. grated onion (optional)

Wipe squirrel thoroughly with a damp cloth. Remove any hair and scent glands. Examine carefully to locate imbedded shot and remove with a sharp pointed knife. Wash thoroughly inside and out in warm water. Drain well and cut into serving pieces. (Never wash after cutting up.) Combine salt, pepper, and flour. Dredge meat and coat well. Heat shortening in a heavy skillet; brown meat slowly on all sides to a rich brown (about 15 minutes). Add 1/4 cup of water; cover tightly; reduce heat and simmer gently until tender (about 30 minutes). Add remaining water as needed.

Squirrel should be very tender when done. Remove squirrel to a hot platter; cover and keep hot. Blend any leftover seasoned flour into the fat remaining in skillet. Add milk gradually and cook until gravy boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Serve at once with squirrel. Add the grated onion for additional flavor, if desired. 4 servings.

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.

Dusty Baker School of Managing

Top 7th: Colorado
- R. Spilborghs walked
- Y. Torrealba flied out to right
- J. Francis grounded out to second, R. Spilborghs to second
- T. Gordon relieved C. Hamels
- K. Matsui struck out swinging

Bottom 7th: Philadelphia
- L. Hawkins relieved J. Francis

Uh, why not pinch hit for Francis if he was coming out? Hurdle...never a fan.

3 days rest: is this ever a good idea?

Carlos Zambrano was ineffective working on three days' rest Tuesday, giving up four runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Reds. Zambrano walked three and struck out just one while falling to 1-4 against Cincinnati this season. As tough of an opponent as the Reds have been for him, this was more of a case of Zambrano just not being any good tonight. Manager Lou Piniella might have made a crucial mistake choosing to bring both Big Z and Ted Lilly back on three days' rest this week.