I want to like the Reds.

I don't like Dusty Baker.

Tampa over Cincy in WS.

Capiche, Paisano?

I'll tolerate the Reds in the World Series just as long as it is Dusty's managing that costs them the championship.

Given that the Reds have to make the playoffs in order for Dusty to blow the World Series, I'll take it. Of course, I'd much rather have a World Series win, but at this point I'll take what I can get. A mere playoff appearance would go a long way toward undoing the damage that Al Leiter dealt me in 1999 when I was at the 1-game playoff.

I want to see the Reds in the post-season -- because it probably means the Cards are out.

And then we can blame it on Glen Beck.

Well, now you can't cheer for Cincy or St. Louis. First round loss is all you can hope for.

Do Cincy or St Louis have the bullpens to get out of the first round?

Aroldis Chapman hit 105 last night in Louisville, while throwing 11 strikes out of 14 pitches. Add that to Masset, Rhodes, and CoCo...and I'll take my chances.

The weak link in the Cincy bullpen is Cordero.

As much as everyone around here, including myself, likes to poke fun at Dusty; he's really been on fire this year. He has been mixing in gut feel with platoon splits all season to maximize the effectiveness of the bench. Go look at some of the production for the Reds from players not named Votto, Rolen, & Phillips. Either they are just having career SSS and Dusty has been lucky, or he has been very effective at picking the best spots to use the bench.

Dusty has been lucky in that Dusty is lucky that his GM probably doesn't listen to him.

But seriously the team has caught lightning in a bottle and that is about it. Or do you really think it is Dusty's touch that is making Cairo a 105 OPS+ hitter this year? Dusty has never been known for a good bench and this year he has one. The guy has been managing big leauge teams now for around 15 years and I don't think he has ever had a good one so I don't think I would be so quick to credit Dusty for that. Especially after seeing what his influence does to roster construction up close and personal in Chicago.

Secondly, Baker historically has been inept at bullpen and pitching management. In San Fran he wasn't in charge of pitching and in Chicago they had Rothschild. The Reds

Or do you really think it is Dusty's touch that is making Cairo a 105 OPS+ hitter this year

Not Dusty's touch, but only playing Cairo in spots where it's beneficial to Cairo helps. He played Gomes forever during his hot streak. Then over the last month when Gomes has been tanking, he's been playing Nix against tough RHP and Heisey more against RHP while Gomes mainly playing against LHP. Nix was hot for a while a few weeks ago, and Dusty capitalized on that and played him a lot and put him in front of Votto during that stretch. Dusty has been very quick to rotate the hot guys in the OF, playing streaks and platoon splits and making the most of a horrible offensive OF from the Reds. This is something I hadn't noticed much from Dusty in years past (continuously running out Patterson/Tavares despite each being one of the worst everyday players in the majors). He's also helped Rolen by sitting him nearly every Sunday day game while playing Cairo on a regular 1 start a week schedule.

It's not rocket science what he's doing, but even I'm willing to give dusty some credit for the bench production in Cincinnati. He's putting his players in situations to succeed much better than I've ever seen him in years past.

Not Dusty's touch, but only playing Cairo in spots where it's beneficial to Cairo helps

Ok, look at Cairo's usage and tell me how is it any different than all the other seasons of Cairo's.


It's not rocket science what he's doing, but even I'm willing to give dusty some credit for the bench production in Cincinnati. He's putting his players in situations to succeed much better than I've ever seen him in years past.

But why credit him for doing something he has absolutely no history of? Right now it is either a fluke, Dusty, or someone higher up than he calling the shots. My money isn't on Dusty.

Gomes has started 16 of the 23 games this month and 23 of 26 in July and the games he didn't start were in the beginning of July. Gomes started tanking in the middle of June and has kept on tanking for the rest of the season. As for Nix getting hot and playing in front of Votto I simply cannot find that data. He played one game at the 2 spot in June and has played 6 times in the 2 spot in August with 3 of them being in the last week.

But why credit him for doing something he has absolutely no history of? Right now it is either a fluke, Dusty, or someone higher up than he calling the shots. My money isn't on Dusty.

You're probably right McCoy. I've spent 2 posts defending dusty and I'm already sick to my stomach (doesn't help that I'm in the office on a Saturday trying to get a project done by deadline).

I have noticed that dusty's bench + lineup construction has been much better this year, but it's entirely possible I'm just being blinded by having a 4 game lead in the division at the end of August. I know it did take him a while to realize that Gomes was toast and it was driving me mad. The emergence of Heisey and Nix have helped give Dusty options for limiting Gomes to LHP, so maybe it is dumb luck.

I think a manager that gets good use out of a bench should get credit for mixing and matching. I don't know much of his history before Cincinnati, but his first 2 years here he was not very good at utilizing the bench. So maybe it is dumb luck, someone from Walt's office in his ear, or Dusty's IQ has increased. I could care less the cause, the results have been phenomenal.

Especially after seeing what his influence does to roster construction up close and personal in Chicago.

Yes, we all know Baker's Svengali-like powers can only be resisted by a 12-level intellect.

But seriously the team has caught lightning in a bottle and that is about it.

Ah, the old 'I've already decided the guy sucks, what's happening now doesn't fit the narrative, so let's just write it off to luck' argument. A close-minded favorite.

Ah, the old 'I've already decided the guy sucks, what's happening now doesn't fit the narrative, so let's just write it off to luck' argument. A close-minded favorite.

Okay so what about this season is typical Dusty? The guy has been managing for 17 years now and he absolutely sucks at roster management. He absolutely sucks at handling pitchers. Suddenly this season he has a bench putting up numbers that would make most of them starters. Do you think that is because of Dusty's skill? You think he can do it again next year?

The Reds play in a weak division and have a lot of players playing at the top of their game. To argue that a ton of that is not luck would be pretty naive.

First, I am a die hard Cubs fan, so I have little love left for Dusty and his Neifi-fetish.
But, take a look at some of his benches--especially the Giants teams from 1996-2002--he does (did) have a knack for putting "washed-up" veterans in position to perform--(rick wilkins, shawon dunston, galaragga, armando rios, and yea, Neifi).

But i'm with you mccoy, i'd much rather make fun of him than admit he might have a managerial "skill" or two.

now if he'd just stop clogging the bases....

The Reds play in a weak division and have a lot of players playing at the top of their game. To argue that a ton of that is not luck would be pretty naive.

Describes the 2003 and 2008 Cubs pretty well also.

I would say that Jocketty and whoever he brought with him should be getting soem credit. He ran winnoing teams in St. Louis and at the moment, is running a winning team that few expected to to succeed.

especially the Giants teams from 1996-2002--he does (did) have a knack for putting "washed-up" veterans in position to perform--(rick wilkins, shawon dunston, galaragga, armando rios, and yea, Neifi).

Dunston played parts of three seasons with the Giants and he was absolutely terrible in two of them. The other season was saved because a few balls got over the fence in Texas and Colorado one week. If that doesn't happen all three of his seasons in SanFran look absolutely horrible. Neifi Perez was horrible in SanFran. Rick Wilkins had a third of a season that was great and a third of season that was terrible for SanFran. Armando Rios was signed and developed by the Giants. Galaragga wasn't some washed up vereran when he got traded to SF.



Describes the 2003 and 2008 Cubs pretty well also.

And the 1984 and 1989 Cubs as well.

But i'm with you mccoy, i'd much rather make fun of him than admit he might have a managerial "skill" or two.

I'm sure he has a skill or two. We all do. But what are his skills that are above replacement level for major league managers?

Who would you rather have for the next 5 years, Jay Bruce or Colby Rasmus ? Both in age 23 season but Rasmus is 6-7 months older

By the way, before BBall ref updates

Career

Bruce .252/.320/.457 .777OPS 102 OPS+ in 1338 PA's, 119 BB 302 K's

Ramus .258/.327/.448 .775OPS 105 OPS+ in 922 PA's, 82 BB, 209 K''s

Strikeout/BB %
Bruce 22.6%/8.9%
Rasmus 22.7%/8.9%

Thats pretty cool....talk about close

Both are FB hitters......Rasmus a bit more extreme

GB/FB , Bruce 0.69, Rasmus 0.52

Of course Bruce came up younger and his 2nd year BA and OBP hurt his triple slash. But going into yesterday, for 2010 Rasmus had 128 OPS+ to Bruces 109.

Rasmus is a CF and Bruce is a RF, so it would seem the edge should be with Rasmus on that basis...but man these guys are eerily similar.

Dusty has handled the staff okay this year. There are occassions where he uses Cordero on consecutives days that I'd rather not see, but for the most part the bullpen has been managed well. He's also been good about not letting his starters go too deep.

I think he's also been good with the younger guys, contrary to his rep. He's stuck with Bruce through thick and thin this year. Hopefully the other night was a sign that Bruce's power is returning after last year's wrist injury. Joey Votto has voiced his support for Baker, and after triumphantly returning from the anxiety/depression stuff last year I'm willing to say that Baker has managed his star very well. He still makes idiotic in-game moves on occassion, but what manager doesn't?

I think he's also been good with the younger guys, contrary to his rep. He's stuck with Bruce through thick and thin this year.

I have been pleased with this. Dusty Baker has been very patient with Bruce, not just this year, but for the last several years.

The Reds are getting league average or better production out of all but a couple of spots in the lineup. Both catchers are hitting. Phillips is having a good year. Stubbs and Cabrera haven't hit very well, but if only two of your starters are below average, and several of your starters are well above average you are doing really well.

Cordero worries me. And Travis Wood has been getting by with smoke and mirrors so far. But let's face it, this team isn't winning because of their pitching.