Loading ...Corey Patterson had a really nice series against the Marlins last month. In three games, he went 7 for 13, with a double and 2 SB (.538 .538 .615 1.153)
But I come here not to praise Corey Patterson, but to bury him. Because if you take those three games out of his season, it looks even worse.
For the season (before today’s 0 for 1):
.195 .234 .342 .576, 8/12 on SB
Minus three good days:
.161 .208 .316 .524, 6/12 on SB
That’s simply atrocious. And yes, I’m cherry-picking, but I challenge you to eliminate a three-game series from any other player’s line and see a 10% drop in all their numbers.
I was there for two of those games. The one where VolK’s pitched and the other one Harang pitched. Several of those hits were actually bunts. The Reds have only lost one game of 10 I have been to and are 7-1 when I’ve seen them at Washington, Phili and Pittsburg so I’ll take the credit for him even doing good in those games. He’s horrible…did Dusty think at a minimum he should try hitting him lower in the lineup because CP can’t handle the pressure? That’s his rationale for Votto and others right? Why in the hell is BP batting 4th and not Dunn…Dunn is the classic 4th place hitter much like the Phillies’ Ron Howard who K’s a lot too…and you can see who is scoring more runs. A lot of the Reds problems are not the players, maybe not even CP’s but rather the continued poor management of Crusty Baker. There is plenty of Raw talent on the team but it’s not being utilized correctly, the players know it and that has their morale in the toilet…rid the team of Dusty Baker and I guarantee you they’ll win…just look at what the managment change did in 2007!!! 1st half 2007=20 games under .500 2nd 1/2 of 2007 = 2 games over .500 WITH A HURT TEAM WITH LESS TALENT THAN THIS YEAR, CHANGE MANAGER AND THINGS WILL BE MUCH BETTER DUSTY BAKER IS THE PROBLEM!!!!
I also believe Dusty Baker is more of a hindrance than help. He’s too stubborn (refuses to bat Outterson out of the top of the lineup), loyal (Hairston, Outterson and Bako) and too old school (“you don’t walk across home plate”). I would think he hurts the young players more than he helps with his free swining, keep the bases unclogged way of managing.
The good new is if Todd Coffey can finish the 9th right now in Louisville, the Bats will be tied with the Toledo Mudhens for 1st place!!!! If they only had Corey Patterson! Oh, what’s wrong with Rick Sweet as the Reds manager? He just won #1300 last night in Louisville!!
What about RICK SWEET of Louisville as a NEW MANAGER of the Reds?? He just won #1300 last night at Louisville!!! He has to have more sense than DUSTY BAKER!!
Didn’t work out with Dave Miley.
While I agree that Dusty has been MUCH too loyal to Patterson, I can’t really complain about Hairston. As long as he’s hitting the ball and fielding like he has been, he’s definitely a better option than Janish or that “other” Phillips…
Bako was a high spot for the Reds early in the year. He isn’t hitting anymore but really swapping him and Ross out isn’t too much of a difference, just probably pitcher preference.Nothing you can do about that.
The Reds don’t need a new manager. They need some damn luck for once.
Also people are still bringing up his whole try to hit not walk crap that he spouts. But is anyone seeing this out of these guys?
Last year through April/March/May the Reds drew 206 total walks. This year they have 240 walks already. The OPS+ has been higher this year overall as well.
Here is the thing: I don’t think Dusty has any idea Patterson is that bad. I’m not really sure Dusty reads stats or has any conception of how much Patterson has struggled for the last six weeks. He just keeps putting him out there because he perceives that Patterson is trying hard and frustrated when he makes outs and goshdarnit, with that attitude, things will come around!!!!!
Of course, I think there is another rather obvious reason Baker plays Patterson so much. But I’m not going to mention it.
I hadn’t thought of the angle you are not going to mention. You could be right if won’t you aren’t going to mention is what I am thinking.
I am not sure what you guys are getting at, but I will say that Dusty Baker has shown crazy attachments to a very wide variety of bad players – Patterson, Neifi, and Bako couldn’t be more different (aside from the fact that none of them can hit).
If that were the reason, he’d have Patterson playing in all the day games.
ESPN has an article on Dusty Baker with Dusty saying he is not a “veteran guy”.
I think in his short time here, I would agree with that. Looking back at his San Francisco rosters, doesn’t look like they had a lot of young talent to play. And those who were there (Aurilia stands out) did play.
I’m still in hopes that one day Tony LaRussa will be the Reds manager with Castalinni and Jockety here. I noticed in the Phils game that Rollins sat for that very game for not running on a fly ball, no questions asked. When you are working with young men with big heads and high athleticism a manager needs to exercise control, leadership and sound judgment. Tony LaRussa exudes this and that is why they are doing well with a team not as talented as the Reds.It is as though Dusty is toying with the lineup, etc. with no rhyme nor reason and making decisions that are not the best for the team. I believe that when Dusty went over the managers head to the owner to get Patterson he stuck his neck out and sold Castallini on the idea he would be a great lead off hitter in the Reds ballpark (which makes a lot of sense in theory I might add!!!!), now if Patterson does not produce Dusty has to eat dirt and admit that he is wrong. That, coupled with his friendship and the “other” issue that is unmentionable in 2008 I believe Dusty is hard-headed and doesn’t like to admit when he’s wrong. This is the only logic, other than thinking the man is actually crazy. I WILL AGREE THAT THE REDS COULD USE SOME LUCK THOUGH!
This from Hal McCoy:
It was reported that way (not by me), but it just ain’t so. He never volunteered. When he was asked if he volunteered, he said, “No, I never volunteered. I was in Dusty Baker’s office and he told me I was going back. I expected it, but I didn’t ask for it.”
Actually, I applaud Patterson even more than if he had volunteered. He could have let the story ride and said, “Yep, I said, ‘Send my miserable butt back to Louisville, or maybe even Chattanooga,’” and made himself look good.
But he told the truth. He didn’t volunteer. He was told he was Louisvill-bound.