Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr.is an American Major League Baseball manager and former player. He is currently the manager for the Washington Nationals. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, primarily with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. He helped the Dodgers to pennants in 1977 and 1978 and to the championship in 1981. He then enjoyed a 20-year career as a manager with the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and now Washington Nationals. He...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth15 June 1949
CityRiverside, CA
CountryUnited States of America
It's better now than later. He's been working out real hard on his lower half all winter, so fortunately this is the time of year when he shouldn't be set back too far.
This is judgment time for who's going to be playing next year too. You're not only playing for now. You're playing for 2006 as well.
I have three years, ... I don't have anything to do with the other 100 or something years. That's how I look at it. It's not a burden to me. I have three years and I'm hoping to turn it around in year No. 4.
I've always been told, 'You start the year hurt, it makes for a long year.
This is the youngest team I've had, which is what I've been yearning for really for years now. The younger the team, sometimes the more mistakes, but the more open and willing they are to be taught how to play. It seems like the older players are set in their ways.
The Cardinals have a fine team, a real good team. We'll come out next year and try to get the lead or at least stay close -- and stay healthy. They're No. 1 or 2 in pitching, and that shows you how important pitching is. We get our starting pitching healthy and we'll be all right.
I would say he's not where he was last year at this time, yet. Sometimes you have to hit with your mind. I'm sure he can do it.
Pressure is what you put on yourself. You can't do anything about what the Sox did. And you can't do anything about the last year of your contract.
I'll just take the same. Everybody asked if last year was a career year. I don't believe in career years. Once you do it once and find your formula, you should be able to do similar. He knows what he's doing now. He has an idea. He knows how to make adjustments quickly. He's very consistent. He recognizes very quickly what the opposition is trying to do to him and he knows his own limitations.
It's not definite, but it's not very possible. I'm open-minded to changes, but that's usually a very accomplished hitter's spot. I never dreamed I'd be batting fifth in my rookie year behind Hank Aaron, either.
Back in our day, they called this 'salary drive,' ... Try and continue to have a good year and win as many games as you can win. You are playing for respectability right now. What I'm looking for is you play hard and play for love of the game and respect and try to finish as high as you can.
You've got to make sure he's OK so this thing doesn't linger all year long. You saw the difference some last year in the second half after he hurt it.
I understand how they feel. I was sitting there last year seeing things I haven't seen since junior high school. I completely agree with them.
He has been knocking on 99 for a while and never had 100. He was knocking on it last year and got cold at the end.