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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2010 > May > 30 > Entry
Baker on criticism, a new contract
USUALLY WHEN the media meets with Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker in his office before game he is dressed in his uniform. On Sunday, Baker was behind his desk in his civilian clothes and I asked him, “Are you pulling a Connie Mack on us?”
For those of you who don’t know it, former Philadelphia Athletics owner/manager Connie Mack used to manage the team from the dugout wearing a fedora, a suit and a tie.
“I don’t have hat,” said Baker. “But you know, that makes sense. Baseball uniforms aren’t designed for 60-year-old bodies. My weight is the same, it is just distributed differently.
The conversation Sunday drifted to how Baker handles criticism from fans, radio, TV and newspapers and the fact his contract expires after the season.
“How is criticism gonna bother you if you don’t listen to it?” he said. “I don’t listen to the radio or read the newspapers. And I tell my family not to tell me about what is said or written, good or bad. And I don’t have to deal with until somebody like you (a writer, not me) asks me about it every two seconds.”
Baker said there has been no discussion about a contract extension, despite a national report earlier this year that Baker had asked for one. Baker did say there was brief talk after last season.
Insiders said Baker was told the team had to show big improvement, probably finish over .500 for Baker to get an extension.
“The way I look at it, if LeBron (James) ain’t signed to a contract, who am I? I don’t worry about things any more. God has taken good care of me in my life, so why worry about things now,” Baker said.
Adding to the criticism conversation, Baker said, “One thing I couldn’t understand the last two years is that we were maligned while we were building this thing. We were in the process and people expect you have it built while you are in the process of building stuff. You have to go through some growing pains with some of the young guys’ ups and downs.
“All we heard about last year was to send Jay Bruce out,” Baker added. “This year it was send Drew Stubbs out. If you believe in them, you have to give them a shot, at the expense of some games and your own reputation, which is second to progress.
“When I first got here we had Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn and they did the best they could at the time,” said Baker. “We wanted to get younger, get more speed, get more athletic, a little better defense.”
About his arrival in Cincinnati, Baker said, “They came after me. And I wasn’t finished yet. I didn’t like how things ended in Chicago with the Cubs. It was intriguing to come back into this division. And I didn’t come here to help build and then leave. These are my boys - young and old and in between.”
Baker said he is so comfortable with himself that he doesn’t even think about anything but doing the job and annexing as many wins as it takes to get to the playoffs.
“What people forget is that I had five two-year contracts in San Francisco, so if anybody knows how to be a lame duck it’s me?” he said with a laugh.
Baker said the way things went in Chicago and Cincinnati, “It hurt my reputation the last two years in Chicago and the first two years here. I got dumb pretty quick. But I’ve been criticized my whole life, being the only black kid in my town. There was a period in Chicago where everything that went wrong, I was responsible. That’s impossible.”
JOEY VOTTO was out of the lineup for the fifth straight game Sunday with a stiff neck. Baker said Votto ran and threw Saturday,”And he hadn’t done that before,” but didn’t hit. “I’m just inclined to wait at least one day longer when they say they’re ready because there is something different about when they are working out and when they are playing.” When a writer said, “So, Votto won’t play Monday in St. Louis.” Baker said, “I didn’t say that. We’ll see.”
During Votto’s absence, Miguel Cairo has played first base and gone 10 for 18 with two doubles, two homers, three RBIs and eight runs scored.
“This is what what you hope extra guys will do, but no matter how hot they are, sooner or later you have to back to The Man,” said Baker. “Cairo has done his job and now it makes it easier for me to rest Scott Rolen or Brandon Phillips, who hasn’t had a rest yet. Plus Cairo will be sharper pinch-hitting because he has had a number of at-bats.”
Third baseman Scott Rolen and center fielder Drew Stubbs were given Sunday off, too, replaced by Paul Janish and Laynce Nix.
THE REDS didn’t offer Jonny Gomes a contract after last season and he spent the winter looking for a job before re-upping with the Reds early in spring training and look at him now.
“We helped Jonny and Jonny helped Jonny,” said Baker. “Jonny was in Tampa and hadn’t had a good year in three or four seasons. It wasn’t like everybody was knocking on Jonny’s door. I don’t think anybody was knocking on Jonny’s door.
“So I get total gratification out of helping a guy’s career,” Baker added.
WHENEVER A TEAM is going good, you always hear them say, “Somebody different contributes every day, not just one or two players.” Pitcher Aaron Harang came up with a new one after his teammates scored him 12 runs Saturday night.
“With this team, everybody contributes every night,” he said.
AND WHO WOULD you think would be the first Reds player to own the new iPad? One of the young guys, right? Wrong. The first player spotted in the clubhouse with an iPad on his lap was 40-year-old Arthur Rhodes.
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By Scott
June 1, 2010 3:31 PM | Link to this
I find it funny when someone with the Reds always uses the rebuilding excuse. They have not been competitive snce 1990. Are they building the baseball equivalent of the Hoover Dam, and when will it be finished?
By Believe It
May 31, 2010 11:15 PM | Link to this
Hey Dude: Were you one of last years pooh poohers about Hanigan and Janish never hitting in the majors??? If so, one is proving you incorrect—Quit reading your bubble gum cards—they aren’t always correct!!! Sometimes players develope late; lights click on;they fit better as major league players,as opposed to Minor league; coaching improves!
By Believe It
May 31, 2010 10:41 PM | Link to this
Dude: I’ve given Dusty credit where due.I have also qualified my statements about Janish playing late innings mostly, and getting spot starts at SS. You apparently only see what you want to see in my writing—I suggest you read more closely. I’m afraid, however, that once again today, Rusty Dusty has failed as a manager—whether you want to see it, or not: Cabrera{our worst defender at SS}in the 5th inning{even with runner at 1st starting early towards second}fielded a ground ball, and tried to throw to Phillips underhanded{he was too far from second base to do so}, when he should have thrown overhanded to get the force play{runner ruled safe at second—and would score on hit by next batter—to make the score 5-3}the relay throw by Phillips to first would have ended the inning had Cabrera gotten the ball to second quicker! Cabrera has three errors,in the past two games!He’s terrible.Defensively he is as much of a liability, as he is a plus on offense. My point is this: Even at the end of this game, when the score was 12 -4, there was still no sign of Janish at SS—that’s poor managing!In the 6th inning when the game was still in reach, we had Stubbs on first with one out—why was Fisher sent up to bunt? Why didn’t Stubbs steal second, instead? Poor managing!Who cares if a lefty is on the mound—you have to go for it, with that kind of speed on first.Dusty says they work on bunting ‘everyday’. Better look for a new bunting coach! Fisher didn’t even foul a bunt ‘attempt’! Poor managing. Dusty even looked bad, in those Doofy hats they were wearing.I stand by my 11:24 PM statements.Please see Steven Ross at 11:01 AM!Lots of bad mistakes by Baker today! He isn’t a very good manager; because he is making mistakes nearly every game, primarily because of “his thing” for veterans—Like, have we seen enough yet of his irrational devotion to Lincoln and Fisher???
By Kyle
May 31, 2010 2:41 PM | Link to this
Arthur, I’m reading this on my iPad. Give me a call and we’ll talk apps. Go Reds. As for Dusty, I blame him when it goes bad, gotta give it to him 9 over 500. Congrats.
By dude
May 31, 2010 2:28 PM | Link to this
Believe it or not really has a thing for Janish.. Listen my man. The thing that is holding Janish back is his bat. He had trouble hitting at every level. Leave him in the lineup long enough and that would have even you crying. If Janish had hit in the second half of last seaon when he was in there all the time, the job would have been his the year. Sundays game was missing 1/3 of the regular offense. I didn’t agree with that. But, they are well over .500 and playing pretty darn good. All this due to Baker? No, but some credit has to be given to him. If you are gonna blame him when they play bad, then you have to give credit when they play good. Some people on here don’t seem to understand that. Votto? No idea what is wrong, they say neck, then it’s the neck. Didn’t seem to skip a beat without him the last few days.
By Daytonian in Texas
May 31, 2010 11:32 AM | Link to this
Even with the loss Sunday, it is good to see the Reds with one of the best records in Baseball. I don’t like how Dusty gave Rolen the day off with Votto already out, but Dusty has done a pretty nice job this year. Most credit is due to the players finally stepping up. First to third, good defense, finally some run support for our staff, and our starting pitching is smoking right now. Get Massett straightened out and tweak a couple of things here or there, and we finally will have a team to root for in October!
By steven ross
May 31, 2010 11:01 AM | Link to this
I’m sure it’s happened but you never hear a current or former player rip Dusty. They love playing for him because he’s a player’s manager. However, that doesn’t mean he’s a good manager. I’m just not sold on his judgement and lineups most of the time. Another two or three years of Dusty would be a tough pill to swallow.
By baseballguy-1
May 31, 2010 10:05 AM | Link to this
Isn’t it a little strange that Votto has been out this long with a “stiff neck?” All too similar to last year when he mysteriously stopped playing for a very extended period of time. Anyone wanna bet there’s more to this story than a “stiff neck?”
By Max
May 31, 2010 9:35 AM | Link to this
Dusty seems like a nice guy but this Reds fan has had enough of ‘nice.’ I am first to criticize Reds pitching but the pitching is restricted by the bench, not the catcher, calling the pitches. That’s why a catcher like St. Louis’ Molina is a gem is calling the game.
By Believe It
May 30, 2010 11:24 PM | Link to this
There are still moves that Baker makes that, to me, indicate just plain old stubborness: Like playing two shortstops side by side today, but playing the best fielding one, at third base, and the worst fielding one, at SS. If you are not playing favoritism with “veteran players”, then this should never have happened! I believe Cabrera has had three errors in the past two days playing SS. Whenever Janish is in the game, HE, not Cabrera, should be the SS. To not do this, is not playing your best defensive lineup—and there is no amount of BS that Dusty can give me, or the press,to change that FACT. Lead Cabrera off, but play him at third base, when Janish is in the lineup! Cabrera is not the equal of Janish on the infield!Notice where Janish tag was today on the runner at third, on the throw from Nix in center? At the bag, in between the sliders foot and the bag. Cabrera’s tags are always at the runners knee or higher! Or, often he misses the tag altogether. You are doing well in most areas Dusty—but man you are missing this one, “BIG TIME”!
By Mike-Cinci
May 30, 2010 9:56 PM | Link to this
Gosh, this is another great blog from Hal who is as hot as the Reds. Good stuff on Dusty, Gomes,and Arthur’s iPad.
By AP-FLORIDA
May 30, 2010 8:26 PM | Link to this
Don’t let him fool you guys, he is still Rusty Baker!!!!!
By Martha
May 30, 2010 3:53 PM | Link to this
At least Dusty can proudly say, “My BP doesn’t Leake.”
By michael
May 30, 2010 3:34 PM | Link to this
Although I have questioned some moves, I have never blamed it on Dusty. The Reds were bad long before Dusty. He has done a decent job with what he has. The Reds need Votto in the lineup, and I will keep my thoughts about his week-long stiff neck to myself.
By Colgar
May 30, 2010 1:59 PM | Link to this
Baker seems straitforward and honest. A good leader stands behind his people when things aren’t going right rather than blame them for making them look bad. There should be more sales managers like that then maybe the economy wouldn’t spin its wheels so much. I always thought managers and coaches get too much credit for wins and too much blame for losses.