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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > April > 12 > Entry
Father knows best
From early returns, it doesn’t appear Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker is the screaming and hollering type, not a guy who is going to throw post-game pasta against the wall or stick his face into a filled whirlpool tub.
The last two nights he has had every right to peel the walls with expletives and shatter some ear drums with epithets.
But his cool demeanor is steadily in place.
They have lost twice by one run to the Pittsburgh Pirates, picked by the entire baseball world to finish last in the NL Central. The Reds have accomplished this by stranding 23 runners over the two games and going 5 for 27 with runners in scoring position.
My teenage neighbor, Chris Hooker, could drive in some of those runs.
Baker doesn’t like it, of course, but so far he takes it philosophically, which is the way you might expect a manager who uses words like photosynthesis.
Baker said it is in the genes. Comes from his father.
Baker doesn’t often get asked by the umpires to take leave, doesn’t get told to take his act to the clubhouse, mostly because he fears his father.
His father, John, is 83 and he will be in San Francisco on the next trip when Baker takes his Cincinnati Reds there.
John Baker may be 83, but he gets Dusty’s attention - and wasn’t/isn’t that the way it is for all of us with our fathers, until the day he dies? The Fear Factor.
Baker says it is why he seldom argues loud enough with an umpire to get ejected.
“Temper control,” said Baker. “Hey, man, that’s what people don’t understand about me. I don’t get ejected much and the times I have I heard from my dad. He has been on me since high school.
“I was kicked out of games for fighting,” Baker added. “He told me, ‘One more time, boy, and I’m through with you.’ The next game, the other team sent this kid out to pick a fight with me off the bench. I put my fists up, but I dropped ‘em quickly, didn’t fight, but we both got kicked out.”
And what happened?
“Suddenly I looked in the stands and I saw one face, my dad’s, and he just shook his head,” Baker said. “I said, ‘Oh, man, I don’t want to get kicked out ever again. It’s like Death Row at my house.”
And it hasn’t stopped. Baker said the few games he has been kicked out when the games were on TV, his dad could read his lips Dusty heard from him.
“He’s all over me and I can hear him now, ‘You’re just making a fool out of yourself, son,’” said Baker. “That’s his favorite saying, ‘You’re makin’ a fool of yourself, son.’ And he says, ‘You shouldn’t be cursing on TV. People and kids read your lips.’”
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Dusty Baker
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By Bob
April 17, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
I have spoken repeatedly of poor choices with trades. Most commenters were glad Hamilton was traded. I’m of the opinion his three games winning hits, 15 RBIs and .311 BA would look good in the box scores along with .333,3 HRS and 9 RBIs of Bruce. Maybe it’s just me. If you’ve looked the way the Reds have for 8 yrs, what’s wrong with a young movement?
By Bob
April 17, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
While it is only a rumor, Piazza would fit right in the “age” slot. Dusty or Krivsky don’t like youngsters. That’s why Bruce is in L-ville and Patterson in CF and hitting .220. Now, there is a leadoff man for the ages. Youthful pitchers are a waste of time, also. Gets in the way of our 8 yr. pennant drive
By Mike
April 14, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
I’m not sure that EE is anointed or not.. But sure looks like he is..so was Brandon Larsen (look where he is) ..but he and Todd Coffee are like cats..they have 9 lives! They keep coming back.Time to make a change at 3B..Now! 0 hits with bases loaded 4 times..evidence enough!. He killin the middle of the line-up and not protecting Dunn..By the way..leave Bako alone!
By Jerry Steineman
April 13, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Hi Hal, Do you think it’s time to switch Backo and EE in the lineup?
By Deaner
April 13, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Great story Hal.