Dusty Baker Forgets He Has Memory Issues

Posted by Patrick Imig, May 14, 2008

Sunday afternoon in New York, the Reds lost to the Metropolitans 8-3. The highlight occurred when catcher David Ross batted out of order in Corey Patterson's 8 slot, causing a 10 minute delay.

Reds manager Dusty Baker said the batting order was correct on the dugout board and on his scorecard. "The guys hit out of order, and it's my job to catch that. So I take full responsibility."

Baker said his only other experience with a team batting out of order came when he was a player and he was the one who hit when he wasn't supposed to. When he came up the second time, he hit a three-run homer. "Batting out of order can be one of the more confusing rules. You have to really think it through. We wanted to make sure we were doing it right."

Uh huh. Dusty apparently forgot a few instances with Cubbies a few years ago when some of his players did the same thing - mainly because Baker pulled a double switch but failed to tell home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor.

From a game in 2004:

When the Cubs batted in the bottom of the inning, shortstop Ramon Martinez came to the plate in the ninth spot in the order and doubled. The Reds protested that the Cubs were batting out of order. Pitcher Kent Mercker, the proper batter, was called out. Baker argued with the umpires but was told that the call stood. Yelling & screaming, he tossed his lineup card on the ground and was ejected by Bucknor. Baker threw his hat, walked away and returned; he tossed his hat again, stomped to the dugout and kicked some items in the on deck circle before finally leaving the field.

Yes, the manager made a double switch and failed to alert the appropriate people - and doesn't even "remember" it. And you wonder how he continues to find work in Major League Baseball.

Read More: MLB

Brandon Isleib, May 14, 2008 05:05 PM

I went to the winter meetings in Nashville last December to meet up with a few people I know and spot "celebrities." Of all the people I didn't know, which was all but 4 people, Dusty Baker was the only one to say anything to me, a casual "hi" as I was walking by him. (I had words for Joe Girardi but kept them to myself.) Baker also seemed entirely at ease and genuinely nice at the meetings, unlike EVERY OTHER manager or bigshot who wanted to walk away from the old ladies waiting for the Opryland Pam Tillis concert ASAP.I suspect that niceness has gotten him far more time as a manager than it should, but I'd rather my team have a genuinely likeable incompetent manager than a nasty incompetent manager.Btw, I shook Peter Gammons's hand at the meetings. I did not bother for Harold Reynolds or Steve Phillips.

Patrick, May 14, 2008 01:05 PM

I wish I looked that good.

JB, May 14, 2008 10:05 AM

Good lord, that is absolutely frightening. Don Cherry is a character there is no doubt about that. Too bad he doesn't make his way onto American TV more often.

kegler804, May 14, 2008 08:05 AM

I just had to share that with you! See what you are missing by not covering the NHL?? You guys would have a field day with Don Cherry!!

kegler804, May 14, 2008 08:05 AM

Bacott... Not Bacoot. sorry

kegler804, May 14, 2008 08:05 AM

Imig, Bacoot, Sebek!!!! I implore you to follow this link: http://stltoday.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=18855128

bk, May 14, 2008 06:05 AM

He still has a job because he is one of the rare people who can accurately measure heart and the perfect swing. We can all thank him for giving us Corey Patterson, who has both.