Fire Dusty Baker!

[baldkid]

The anti Dusty stuff is highly amusing, the Nats are quite fortunate to have him. The guy has unified a dysfunctional group and given DC two great seasons. The Reds have completely sucked after he departed.

[varoadking]

I will like Rusty a whole lot more if we get into the NLCS...

[Ray D]

I didn't say articulate.  My point was he comes across as being thoughtful in his decisions.  On a scale of 10, I'd consider him an 8 or 9, Davey a 6 or 7, Riggleman a 5, letting an xbox make your decisions a 3, and Matt Williams a 1.

Where do Frank and Manny fit on your scale?

I generally agree with these ratings except Williams, He was a little better than 1, maybe 2 or 3 (after all, he was about as good as an Xbox).

[mimontero88]

Where do Frank and Manny fit on your scale?

I generally agree with these ratings except Williams, He was a little better than 1, maybe 2 or 3 (after all, he was about as good as an Xbox).

I actually miss Frank.  He was never really given a team that gave him much of a chance.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Where do Frank and Manny fit on your scale?

I generally agree with these ratings except Williams, He was a little better than 1, maybe 2 or 3 (after all, he was about as good as an Xbox).

Acta was right around Paboe Sandoval, Red Sox time.  -2.6, just like Panda's WAR.

[RobDibblesGhost]

So apparently Bryce is going to be off tonight. Less than a week after the ASB. With an off day tomorrow. In an AL park where he could DH. For a game that's nationally televised.

[dcpatti]

So apparently Bryce is going to be off tonight. Less than a week after the ASB. With an off day tomorrow. In an AL park where he could DH. For a game that's nationally televised.

There's a long debate going on about this on Twitter but Chelsea Janes raises an excellent point: a day off in general is equally about a mental break as a physical break, and if you're DH'ing, you only get a partial physical break and you don't get any mental break at all. While you can definitely question the timing, you can't say "well he can always DH" because that doesn't substitute for a day off.

[RobDibblesGhost]

There's a long debate going on about this on Twitter but Chelsea Janes raises an excellent point: a day off in general is equally about a mental break as a physical break, and if you're DH'ing, you only get a partial physical break and you don't get any mental break at all. While you can definitely question the timing, you can't say "well he can always DH" because that doesn't substitute for a day off.

I also just read that Harper requested his day off (Dusty has given all his all-stars a day off) to be in LA instead of Cincy so he could spend it with family. Fair enough.

[NatsAllThe Way]

Safe to assume if the Nats were 1.5 games ahead of the Mets instead of 15 this wouldn't be happening.  As long as Royce & co. are blasting no doubters in the NLCS I'm alright with it.

[whytev]

So apparently Bryce is going to be off tonight. Less than a week after the ASB. With an off day tomorrow. In an AL park where he could DH. For a game that's nationally televised.

This is actually the worst argument in this entire thread. Do you guys want the entire team starting 162 like Ripken when we are up this much? That's just as dumb as throwing Max 110 pitches up 20-0.

[RobDibblesGhost]

This is actually the worst argument in this entire thread. Do you guys want the entire team starting 162 like Ripken when we are up this much? That's just as dumb as throwing Max 110 pitches up 20-0.

See my later post. I just hate seeing the big bats getting so many days off - many years ago it simply never happened - but Dusty's actually managed it pretty well.

[whytev]

See my later post. I just hate seeing the big bats getting so many days off - many years ago it simply never happened - but Dusty's actually managed it pretty well.

You just never know what day a pitch is going to hit a wrist or an ankle is going to turn. He also rests guys more on the road because he figures the fans at home wanna see their guys. He's doing a great job in this regard.

[dshawg77]

For the record, I am very upset Dusty hasn't been signed to a deal yet (and may not be if rumors are correct). VERY MAD!

Love me some Dusty.

[Ray D]

Yeah but the whole point of all this is entertainment.  At least for me it is, and it is for many of us.  Last night was a sensational spectacle.  I stayed up and watched it all (I usually go to sleep before 10).   Harper and Trout in the same game, and both with homeruns in the first inning. Can't script it better than that.  Tonight is nationally televised and there is a chance for a similar sensational spectacle.  Except Harper won't be playing.

[HalfSmokes]

For the record, I am very upset Dusty hasn't been signed to a deal yet (and may not be if rumors are correct). VERY MAD!

Love me some Dusty.

Let him advance a team in the playoffs first

[dcpatti]

Safe to assume if the Nats were 1.5 games ahead of the Mets instead of 15 this wouldn't be happening.  As long as Royce & co. are blasting no doubters in the NLCS I'm alright with it.

Or if they were playing the Dodgers and not the Angels.

[tenken627]

Get off his balls until he wins something. N tell him to stop with this 2nd hole lineup nonsense

[whytev]

The Difo thread makes me wonder.

Is Dusty a prodigy when it comes to motivating toolsy but fringey/lost young players?

He lit a fire under Taylor's ass and Difo and Goodwin are both breaking out.

The man has some flaws, but this might be an aspect which is really helping us.

[mitlen]

The Difo thread makes me wonder.

Is Dusty a prodigy when it comes to motivating toolsy but fringey/lost young players?

He lit a fire under Taylor's ass and Difo and Goodwin are both breaking out.

The man has some flaws, but this might be an aspect which is really helping us.

Dusty may have been one of those guys for the first few years in pro ball.    He knows what it takes.    Lookin' at baseball-reference, he was  younger than the fellas you mention on the Nats.    Of course, he had Henry Aaron to teach him.   

[baldkid]

Hopefully Bob Boone or Billy Gardner Junior will be really solid in the manager chair in 2018, Dusty will be sipping wine in Sacramento

[spidernat]

Hopefully Bob Boone or Billy Gardner Junior will be really solid in the manager chair in 2018, Dusty will be sipping wine in Sacramento

Darren, shouldn't you be preparing for college?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Hopefully Bob Boone or Billy Gardner Junior will be really solid in the manager chair in 2018, Dusty will be sipping wine in Sacramento

if he is, I'm hoping he's admiring a ring.  Maybe getting the stones appraised in case the Lerner use zirconium instead of diamonds.

[expos1994]

The Difo thread makes me wonder.

Is Dusty a prodigy when it comes to motivating toolsy but fringey/lost young players?

He lit a fire under Taylor's ass and Difo and Goodwin are both breaking out.

The man has some flaws, but this might be an aspect which is really helping us.

I think he's good with black guys. They relate to him and vice versa. He always seems to have good encouraging things to say about them. And he doesn't seem to be as hard on them when they make mistakes. (like when Taylor used to strike out 4 times in a game)..
You know how gay guys are sometimes 'openly gay'? Well George Carlin once did a bit about how black guys can be 'openly black'.
Dusty Baker is 'openly black'... He invented the freakin high-five!

[skippy1999]

I think he's good with black guys. They relate to him and vice versa. He always seems to have good encouraging things to say about them. And he doesn't seem to be as hard on them when they make mistakes. (like when Taylor used to strike out 4 times in a game)..
You know how gay guys are sometimes 'openly gay'? Well George Carlin once did a bit about how black guys can be 'openly black'.
Dusty Baker is 'openly black'... He invented the freakin high-five!

Difo's Hispanic.

[Ray D]

I think he's good with black guys. They relate to him and vice versa. He always seems to have good encouraging things to say about them. And he doesn't seem to be as hard on them when they make mistakes.

I've never seen a shred of an indication that he plays favorites, along racial lines or otherwise, or relates better to black players than white.