Offensive Offenses - Cincinnati Edition
I read about this on firejoemorgan.com. It is proof that Dusty Baker is a moron and pretty much my nightmare of what Dave Trembley will turn the Orioles into.
Dusty Baker, fresh off his successful manufacturing of Edwin Encarnacion's game-winning home run earlier this season by making him try to bunt the tying run to third (or something like that), tried it again with the same results. With ADAM DUNN!
The Reds had guys on first and second with one out in the ninth inning of their Saturday game against the Indians and Adam Dunn at the plate. Dusty decided that was a great time to bunt them over so Paul Bako could hit one the other way and bring them in. To either his credit or discredit (you decide) Dunn gave it a shot and tried to lay down a couple of bunts, neither of which were successful. He then decided maybe hitting the pitch like a grown man was in order and launched one into the seats for a home run.
Now despite my extreme reservations, I am willing to believe (especially in the National League), there are times when a bunt, perhaps even a sacrifice bunt, is in order. I don't think that was one of those times. I've heard that the Cincinnati announcers and reporters really have it in for Dunn, so I can imagine him being given truckloads of shit for not being able to lay one down. Perhaps that's even continued after his home run. Also, apparently Dusty has been batting Dunn in the sixth or seventh spot. I know batting orders aren't supposed to have a huge effect, but what the fuck? I'll bet dollars for donuts that Dusty thinks Dunn is a lousy player and wishes he could trade him in for another Corey Patterson or some other player who does the little things and plays the game right the right way.
As some of you may recall, I am a bit in love with the idea of having Adam Dunn on the Orioles. A year or so ago we discussed about how awesome it would be to have both Adam Dunn and Mark Teixeira on the O's. I would love both, but I'm in the minority on having a bigger crush on Dunn because I think he's a better cleanup hitter and because because he's so disliked by the Joe Morgans and Tim McCarvers (and probably Dusty Bakers) of the world.
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yeah...
i think trembley, is not that ridiculous, but i don’t get the dunn hate. i would love to have that dude in b’more.
foghat goes with everything--birdman, 5/16/08
by j.q. higgins on May 19, 2008 4:59 PM EDT 0 recs
I wish I could remember the exact quote
Last year somebody on this site who was able to watch Cincinnati home games said the local announcers would say things along the line of “Dunn doesn’t run out to his position like a winner”.
I don’t think Dave would pull a Dusty either, but I wake up in cold sweats worrying that he might do something like that.
by yurizanow on
May 19, 2008 5:09 PM EDT
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I saw this
on ESPN News. Adam Dunn bunting? I’m sorry, but that’s pure insanity. Especially with Bako and the pitcher/pinch hitter coming up behind him. Absolutely awful. He’s Adam freaking Dunn.
"We’re not concerned about what other teams think. I know teams come in here thinking we’re playing the Orioles. And then 9 innings later, they got the loss, they know what we’re about." ~Adam Jones
by Stacey on May 19, 2008 5:11 PM EDT 0 recs
Saw it too
and meant to post, then figured someone more geared to stats could explain better that this idea was absolutely batshit insane.
"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby
by duck on
May 19, 2008 8:41 PM EDT
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i'd pay to see ...
prince fielder lay down a bunt.
manny ramirez and/or david ortiz…
melvin m…
by Y Not on
May 19, 2008 8:54 PM EDT
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sometimes
The redlegs really are a fascinating team to follow, from afar at least. I have a friend who is a ginormous reds fan so we lament about our pathetic franchises on a regular basis. Not only do they have CPat leading off, but they also have Jerry Hairston. And Paul Bako. No word if Mike DeJean has resurfaced. Anyway, the reds announcers are a family, marty and thom brennamen and I think that Adam Dunn goes over their respective houses each off day and shits on their lawns. It’s fucking criminal to listen to them (and Jeff Brantley, total fucking bafoon) rip on these guys, Dunn especially. As yurizanow suggests, there was thing last year where Dunn was being ripped on because he didn’t run to his position after each half inning (maybe it could be found on bbtf or www.redszone.com). Seriously, the guy hits forty fucking homers. I know he clogs up the bases and kills rallies with all those goddamned homers and all, but criminy!
What my friend doesn’t get is why Dunn is batting seventh. I guess they are in the NL central where insane lineups abound (seriously TLR, why the fuck is the pitcher batting eighth?).
My biggest fear for my friend is that goddamn stadium and its affect on their pitchers…will the success of Volquez last? Or is it a mirage because that bandbox (and an actual bandbox, not like a ‘run neutral band box’ like Camden Yards is).
Librarians are hiding something
by dfa on May 20, 2008 1:58 AM EDT 0 recs
The batting seventh thing perplexes me too
Like I said, from what I understand batting order doesn’t have a huge impact on things at the end of the day, but Dusty should at least keep up appearances. Taking a quick look at the Reds lineup, I can understand why Keppinger, Phillips, maybe even Votto and Encarnacion might bat in front of Adam Dunn. Griffey no longer pulls his weight and Corey Patterson is worthless, as we all remember well.
The other thing I love that you hear coming out of Cincinnati is how the Reds have to get rid of Dunn so they can start rebuilding around youth. Dunn is 28, which makes him the same age as Jeff Keppinger, one year older than Brandon Phillips, and three and four years older than Edwin Encarnacion and Joey Votto respectively. Get out old man! You’re clogging up the bases with your rally killing home runs! Good call Reds, the guy is 28 with 249 career home runs, you don’t want to build around that.
I’ll give LaRussa (who I’m not nuts about as a manager) a pass for batting the pitcher eighth. I guess he figures he might as well make the last guy something other than a designated out so that the guys at the top of the order might have someone on base for them. That at least shows he’s remembering that you have to have more runs than the other team to win, which something not all managers do.
by yurizanow on
May 20, 2008 10:20 AM EDT
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What about being aggressive in trades the other way?
Adam Dunn is a great example of players we’d have to give up prospects/cash or position players to get… I hope McPhail is exploring those types of trades also. I wonder besides him and Teixeira, who could we actually go get at the deadline? Especially if we are still in contention in a month?
Or should we just pack it in and trade BRob and the rest for young un’s no matter what.
by Birdland in NC on May 20, 2008 8:24 AM EDT 0 recs
Even if we're a game in front on July 31
DO NOT deviate from the plan!
We’re in this to be competitive for YEARS ON END, not make a run at a wild-card and trade away young players to do that.
Think long-term. Every trade, in my opinion, must begin with this question – “Will this trade help the orioles win in 2010 and for a few years after that?” If the answer’s not yes, don’t make the trade.
"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby
by duck on
May 20, 2008 9:48 AM EDT
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Both of them will be free agents after this year
So trading anything for them doesn’t make sense. Teixeira will be a hot commodity, so maybe he’d be worth trading for to assure getting him as long as the O’s could sign him to a long-term deal. Dunn less so, but he would still be popular. The dumbass Reds would probably part with him for somebody who knows how to play the game the right way tomorrow if you asked them.
It’s a total fantasy that isn’t going to happen, but a lineup of Roberts, Markakis, Teixeira, and Dunn suddenly becomes one the other teams in the AL East have to worry about.
by yurizanow on
May 20, 2008 9:53 AM EDT
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you think, though?
wouldn’t they be entitled to a couple compensatory draft picks? i imagine both dunn and tex are “a” players.
foghat goes with everything--birdman, 5/16/08
by j.q. higgins on
May 20, 2008 10:13 AM EDT
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I was at the reds/indians game on sunday
when Dunn hit another. I thought the real story was how bad Junior looked. I’m not The Crow but man, it seemed like he is pulling his right shoulder out 5 seconds before he swings. Every cut he had he ended up looking at the 1st base dugout.
On another note Great America is an awesome place to see a ball game. I like how you can still watch the game while you’re in line to get a beer.
"Daddy, is Hevan like BIRDLAND?"
"No son, Hevan is BIRDLAND."
by BENNY BIRDMAN on May 20, 2008 11:40 AM EDT 0 recs












