Cubs not playing blame game with Baker

Links (5)

Chicago Tribune: How will Dusty Baker be remembered in Chicago?
Published 4/13/2008 at BBTF's Baseball Primer Newsblog
Chicago Tribune: How will Dusty Baker be remembered in Chicago? Two years after Baker’s dismissal, the mere mention of his name still ignites heated conversations about his ultimate place in franchise history. Should Baker be remembered as the manager who forever changed the Cubs loveable losers image? The manager who sat idly by while his players lost focus during the ‘04 stretch run? Or a victim of circumstance in the injury-riddled seasons of ‘05 and ‘06? ... Ruined Kerry Wood and Mark Prior… “Nothing that happened to me was because of that man,” Wood said. “You have ...

CCO Radio Presents....Brian and Shaun Talk Baseball
Published 4/14/2008 by Chicago Cubs Online at ChicagoCubsOnline.com
... of the icons to listen to the podcast. If there is any topic you would like to have discussed during an upcoming installment of the podcast, drop one of us an email.... Also, in keeping with the weekly theme on the podcast.... Who is the Cubs' MVP after the first twelve games of the season? Is it Derrek Lee ? Kosuke Fukudome ? Ryan Dempster ? Kerry Wood ? Reed Johnson ? Finally....with Dusty Baker returning to the North Side for the first time as the Reds manager on Tuesday, the Chicago Tribune was the first to mention his return .... be ready for more from the ...

ZONER’S MONDAY MORSELS
Published 4/14/2008 by The Zoner at Zoner Sports
... Paul Sullivan of the Trib has a piece today quoting players that try to exonerate Dusty Baker from any of the Cubs woes. But these players aren’t stupid. They know how Dusty is with loyalty and when they are 38 and want one more juicy paycheck they can call him and maybe even start. So I take all of it with a grain of salt. ...

Dusty’s greatest hits
Published 4/14/2008 by Andy Dolan at desipio.com
... On Tuesday night, Dusty Baker, Corey Patterson, Kent Mercker and Gabor Bako will make their triumphant returns to Chicago when the Reds open the Cubs’ homestand. The media are already starting their “don’t blame Dusty” crap, and it’ll only intensify. (And exactly why would the players admit to blaming Dusty? If they did, the media would go nuts.) So I thought we’d take a look back at one of the great years of the Dusty “era” in Chicago. 2005. Remember how we followed along and kept track of that team’s ...

Dusty Baker Returns to Wrigley
Published 4/15/2008 by Jack Cobra at Cobra Brigade
... While in Chicago, Baker was confusing and intriguing all at the same time. He had a very good relationship with his players and you could tell they wanted to do well for him but a lot of times he would stick with veteran players in situations where he should have gone with youngsters. Even though a lot of people want to blame Baker for the poor health of the pitching staff, specifically Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, injuries happen in baseball all the time. Baker was a 'win now at all costs' manager and operated as such with everyone from his pitchers to his catchers. ...