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Injured pitcher doesn't blame Baker for his elbow issues
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
SARASOTA, Fla. — Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker likes all types of music, and Monday morning he had rapper Tupac Shakur playing in his office at 8 a.m.
Somehow it seemed apropos because Baker carries a rap — a bad rap, he and others say — about mishandling pitchers, overusing them until they break down.
Extras
When Baker managed in Chicago he had Chad Fox in 2005 and used him four times in five days in April. Fox's elbow broke down and Baker was blamed in many quarters.
Now Fox is trying to make a comeback with the Cubs, and when he was asked by the Arlington Heights Daily Herald if Baker was at fault for his breakdown, Fox vehemently defended his former manager.
In fact, Fox said he and Baker cried together after Fox's elbow exploded.
"I'm so sick of hearing that," said Fox. "I'm a grown man. If there was something wrong with me, then that's my stupidity. I've heard that from other reporters. I've heard that from other people and I'm so sick and tired of hearing it.
"Dusty had nothing to do with that," Fox added. "It's in God's hands, and that's how things were to play out. ... Dusty shared tears with me that night and felt as bad as did. It's easy to sit and blame, sure it is. Come on, let's be real. It was just the way it was going to happen, and it had nothing to do with Dusty Baker."
Said Baker, "I love Chad Fox. In fact, I tried to get him for here but he already had signed with the Cubs."
Habla Espanol
Baker was born in Riverside, Calif., and lives in Sacramento, but he speaks fluent Spanish and uses it to speak to the Hispanic players.
"My mother (Christine) made me take it in school," said Baker. "I didn't like it, but my mother was right, as she so often is. She taught it, along with black studies.
"I played winter ball in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Venezuela," he added. "My uncle married a Mexican lady when I was a kid and she used to talk Spanish with me. My sister was a missionary in Colombia for 10 years and married a man from Colombia."
Bottom line, "Everybody in my family speaks Spanish."
Quotes of the day
Not only does Baker need to get to know his players, he needs to get to know their families and said, "I met Mrs. Dunn (Adam's wife) in the parking lot and didn't know who she was. Right now she is still Mrs. Dunn because I don't know her first name."
Speaking of Dunn, he was taking bunting practice off a machine and was asked by a coach why he wasn't wearing a helmet. Said Dunn, "If I hit myself in the head, it's my own fault."
Contact this reporter at hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Back on the air waves
The Reds on Radio returns for another season on Wednesday, Feb. 27, with the broadcast of the first spring training game against the Phillies at 1:05 p.m.
Games will be on radio the next two weekends. Daily broadcasts begin on March 15. Reds games can be heard on WLW-AM 700 (Cincinnati), WONE-AM 980 (Dayton) and WIZE-AM 1340 (Springfield).
FSN Ohio will televise spring games on March 10 vs. the Yankees at 7:15 p.m.; March 17 vs. the Tigers at 1:05 p.m. and March 24 vs. the Bluejays at 7:05 p.m.
For the complete spring radio/TV schedule, visit mlb.mlb.com/schedule/broadcast.jsp?c_id=cin.
