The Real McCoy: A man and his dog

To nick an old Brink & Belzer routine…

A - Dusty Baker is nuts!
2 - Dusty Baker is nuts!

Asked about being back in baseball after a year off, Dusty said, “I enjoyed spending time with my son, my wife, my daughter and my dog. My dog is 11-years-old and I miss my dog. That’s the best woman in my life.” Baker’s 9-year-old son heard that comment and quickly said, “I’m going to call mom and tell her.”

“I love my mom, my sisters, my daughters, everybody, and it’s no slight on anybody, but my dog (Bailey, a German short-haired pointer) - well, my wife knows how I feel about my dog. My wife ain’t never run and got no pheasant for me. Best hunting dog I ever had and don’t they always talk about man and his dog? Ain’t no slight on any women in my wife.

...Baker went on to talk about his two young pitching sensations - Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez - and how he relates to them.

“These guys know what is at stake and they’re hungry and I like hungry guys,” said Baker. “Do you know the pressure that is on these guys? They’re from another country (Dominican Republic) and probably their parents and family don’t have much. It’s the first time in their lives they have a chance to make some money. There is something to hunger - and need.”