Dusty already screwing up Reds

[seaver41]

Exhibit A:
sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AlujvkqL8XZ22DgjmwWiaiMW0bYF?slug=jp-redsbaker022108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

"Every time the name of Jay Bruce surfaces in conversation – and with Bruce passing sliced bread and quickly approaching ice cream as the best thing ever in the prospect-mad baseball world, this happens quite often – Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker brings up another player: Norris Hopper."

Yes, he prefers a career minor leaguer up until last year to a highly touted prospect.


Exhibit B:
mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080223&content_id=2385630&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

Baker has repeatedly talked about the desire to have a do-it-all leadoff hitter with speed. What kinds of hitters is he looking for further down the lineup? Does he want guys with lofty on-base percentages? The answer will likely not sit well with fans of the book "Moneyball," because Baker said he believes the OBP statistic is overvalued.

"I'm big on driving in runs and scoring runs," Baker said. "Guys in the middle should score about close to equal to what they drive in. On-base percentage, that's fine and dandy. But a lot of times guys get so much into on-base percentage that they cease to swing. It's becoming a little bit out of control.

"What you do is run the pitcher's count up, that helps," Baker said. "You put him in the stretch, that helps. But your job in the middle is to either score them or drive them in. The name of the game is scoring runs. Sometimes, you get so caught up in on-base percentage that you're clogging up the bases."

How dare those bases be clogged with potential runs!

[Fuck Mike Brown]

why do you go out of your way to criticize Baker? Look at Hoppers stats from last year. He's a high-energy player who batted over .300 with some SB and good defense. What's the problem with him being in the conversation. He won't be handed the job, but he's done more than Bruce has.Now I know that hopper has been a career ML. He never got a chance, and it's not like he's 32. I'd like to see Bruce win, but it wouldn't be a big deal if Hopper was to start for 2 months and Bruce got more polished in AAA. I know it sounds crazy, but the Reds are actually trying to win this year, and aren't in a rebuilding process.

[Fuck Mike Brown]

my opinion is basically that why should a manger not like a 28 year old that put up those numbers. It'd be foolish to not put him in the conversation, because last year could have not been a fluke(he did start from late-June on). i get upset when Ryan Freel is in the conversation, because he's clearly a utility player. But not Hopper

[Zack Attack Troll]

Anyone who says "clogging up the bases"...I just can't put a lot of faith in.

I'd like too...I'd love to see the Reds do fairly well. They should do well, but I just don't trust Baker.

[seaver41]

Hopper has a career .678 OPS and .341 OPB in the minors. I just don't see him being anything more than a bench player.

[Fuck Mike Brown]

ya, but there's no reason to not see if he can keep it up. He made the Reds lineup completely different last year. I agree with you, eventually I see him being a 4th outfielder. But, I think it's perfectly capable of holding down a spot for a month or two

[Marlins]

Bruce should start, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if he went back to the minors for a month or 2. I don't see this as a big deal. Bruce will be starting this season-it's just a matter of when.