We aren’t big fans of Dusty Baker around here.  There is no need to go into the details of his idiocy here, but I am an adult and can admit when something flies in the face of conventional wisdom and preconceived notions about a person.  Dusty Baker has always been known as a player’s manager, even if he wasn’t exactly an X’s and O’s guy.  That reputation never really made sense to me, seeing as how badly he mishandled the Sammy Sosa situation and other stupid shit he did as a manager of the Cubs.  It does seem like players do love him though, which mystified me.  Until now that is.  In recent comments about Joey Votto, who had to leave the Reds for “stress-related” reasons, Dusty unearthed some of that understanding and wisdom that gave him his reputation among players:

“Nobody knows who it is going to affect and when it is going to affect anybody,” he said. “You deal with pressure every day in this game. People throw the money issue in your face all the time. There is a lot more coverage. It’s a high-pressure world.

“Sports is one of the few professionals where you reach your goal at a very young age,” Baker added. “Most guys reach their goals between their 40s and 50s. Maintaining a balance in your life can be a very tough thing. The game can become all-encompassing, day and night. It wakes you up in the middle of the night. It does me and I’m not even playing.”

“It’s tough to explain, tough to understand, tough to deal with,” he said.

Asked if he thought Votto some day would come forward and reveal his issues, Baker said, “That’s something I haven’t approached him with and I probably never would.”

That is actually a very interesting and deep take on baseball players situations.  It may be the most intelligent thing I have ever heard from Dusty.  And the way he handles Votto, just to be understanding, not call him out in the media, and of course to let him battle his own demons without making him come forward and reveal them, it kind of makes sense why the players love him.  Not only is he on their side, but this shows a compassionate, and wise, side of him that I’m sure many players can respect and look up to.

You’re not off the hook with me yet, Dusty, but it seems like you are at least a good guy.  None of this exonerates you for ruining Prior and Wood’s careers though.  Just so you know.

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Tags: Dusty Baker, Joey Votto, Players' Manager, Wisdom