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Sunday, February 17, 2008

The Real McCoy: Those were ballplayers

Dusty Baker on ballplayers and Jay Bruce who, obviously…is not.

Dusty Baker walked the City of Sarasota Sports Complex Friday and saw that each of the practice fields were named for Cincinnati Reds legends — Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez.

“I’m always talking about baseball players and people ask me, ‘What are baseball players?’” Baker said. “Those guys are baseball players - Rose, Morgan, Bench, Perez. They could go 0 for 4 and still beat you. They seldom did anything to cost you a game. Those are what I call ballplayers.”

...If Lofton arrives, what happens to rookie Jay Bruce?

“Bruce already has told me he can bat leadoff,” Baker said with a laugh. “I haven’t seen Bruce play, but I’ve head a lot. He is a star of the future and, who knows, he may be a start of the present. But there is more to the game than just hitting.”

Repoz Posted: February 17, 2008 at 03:46 PM | 9 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, Cincinnati

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1. hscs Posted: February 17, 2008 at 04:10 PM (#2693011)

Lofton, and Patterson, and injury prevention! Oh my!

I give Dusty 1 season.

2. 100 Years is Nothing Posted: February 17, 2008 at 04:16 PM (#2693015)

“Bruce already has told me he can bat leadoff,” Baker said with a laugh. “I haven’t seen Bruce play, but I’ve head a lot. He is a star of the future and, who knows, he may be a start of the present. But there is more to the game than just hitting.”

"Boy, don't even think of being up here until you are a proven veteran."

Dusty loves those complete players like Neifi!! Perez, who know how to hit a sacrifice bunt with two outs in the ninth with the tying and winning runs on base. That is how you play baseball!

3. Cowboy Popup Posted: February 17, 2008 at 04:52 PM (#2693032)

As someone who roots for the Reds in passing, I will be very upset if Jay Bruce, and to a lesser extent Encarnacion and Votto do not see the playing field as often as they should this year. Then again, I don't think he ever really had the young talent the Reds have this year, so maybe he'll change his MO with the Reds. Early signs do not look good though.

4. HGM Posted: February 17, 2008 at 05:04 PM (#2693040)

Ugh. I hate this "baseball player" crap. If you play baseball, you're, by definition, a baseball freaking player.

5. H_Vaughn08 Posted: February 17, 2008 at 11:19 PM (#2693240)

Don't be telling Dusty what makes someone a ballplayer. His mom was a schoolteacher.

6. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: February 17, 2008 at 11:40 PM (#2693254)

“I’m always talking about baseball players and people ask me, ‘What are baseball players?’”

No they don't.

7. Rough Carrigan

Posted: February 17, 2008 at 11:51 PM (#2693262)

Gee, Dusty, one way to go 0-4 and still beat you is to take a couple walks. You might want to preach that to the guys.

8. HGM Posted: February 18, 2008 at 02:15 AM (#2693351)

Hell no. Taking walks clogs the bases, thus, beating yourself. The only way to go 0-4 and still do good is to be a leader.

9. Belfry Bob Posted: February 18, 2008 at 07:43 AM (#2693539)

They seldom did anything to cost you a game.

Well, except maybe for all those years Rose inserted himself into the lineup at first base. Other than that...

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Sunday, February 17, 2008

The Real McCoy: Those were ballplayers

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