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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 > May > 23 > Entry
Baker reacts to suspension
Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker will sit out tonight and Saturday after he was suspended for two games by Bob Watson, baseball’s Lord of Discipline.
Baker was suspended for “inappropriate actions that included the bumping of umpire Eric Cooper.”
Baker also was fined $1,500.
Baker was ejected for the first time as manager of the Reds Thursday night between the top and the bottom of the seventh inning after he ran onto the field in protest of the ejection of third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.
Encarnacion was called out on strikes in the top of the seventh and dropped his bat at his feet.
“The umpire (Cooper) told him to pick up the bat or he would throw him out of the game,” said Baker. “Edwin picked up his bat, but when he went to his position after the inning he made the peace sign at Cooper, meaning he thought Cooper missed two pitches.
“That’s when Cooper ejected him and he said Edwin said something to him,” Baker added. “The umpire was far away from Edwin and Eddie hardly ever says anything and when he does you can only understand what he says half the time. That’s when I got angry.”
Baker ran onto the field, removed his red and black Reds cap and threw it up in the air before he allegedly bumped Cooper.
While players can appeal suspensions and fines and put them on delay until a hearing, the managers have no union and have no source of appeal.
Baker was angry enough about being suspended for something he believes he didn’t do, but the fact there is no appeal process turns up the dial on his anger button.
What rankles Baker is that the two-day suspension was determined before Watson called Baker Friday afternoon, “And ruined my lunch. I’m p.o’d now, I’ll be more p.o.’d later and I’ll really be p.o.’d when the game begins.”
Bench coach Chris Speier serves as interim manager Friday and tonight but Baker was permitted to watch the game on TV from his clubhouse office.
“Isn’t this America? What kind of judicial system do we have when we don’t have an appeal?” Baker asked. “Players get appeals (because of a strong union), but coaches and managers don’t get an appeal. You shouldn’t have to have a union to get an appeal. Everybody gets to go to court, right? That’s the part I don’t understand.”
Baker smiled and said, “I’ve only been suspended twice in my whole life, 58 years, and never in school or anywhere else — just twice in 58 years by the same man (Watson).”
Baker said he was suspended when he managed the Cubs for inciting the Wrigley Field crowd and when somebody said the Wrigley fans came to the park already incited, he said, “That’s what I told him.”
This suspension was touched off when Cooper ejected third baseman Edwin Encarnacion between the top and bottom of the seventh inning after Encarnacion disputed Cooper’s calls.
Baker ran out to defend Encarnacion and appeared to do no more than remove his Reds hat and throw it to the ground.
“He (Cooper) told me I bumped him, but I didn’t see it and I didn’t feel it. And he told me I sprayed him with dip and tobacco and that I grazed him, made contact. I was trying everything I could not to make contact.”
After Cooper said, “You bumped me,” Baker did the moon walk to stay out of Cooper’s way.
Baker said he didn’t watch a replay and told his wife to watch it on ESPN. And he is surprised he hasn’t heard from his father, “For cussing on TV.”
Baker’s son, Darren, was in the room and said, “I saw it on TV.”
Did your dad bump the ump?
“No,” said Darren.
Baker said he told Watson, “Edwin never says anything to anybody and when he does he is so quiet that you can’t understand what he’s saying, plus he mumbles.”
And he asked Cooper why he ejected Encarnacion and Cooper said he made a gesture (the peace sign, signifying he thought Cooper missed two calls on him).
“I talked to Edwin and he said Cooper looked at him from the time he left the dugout all the way to his position and kept looking at him and that’s when Edwin made the sign that got him kicked out,” Baker added.
“I have to go defend Edwin and I don’t go out to argue unless I think I’m right and now they have me to the point where they are about to make a good man bad.”
Baker did inject a bit of humor when he said, “And I got fined $1,500.” Told it was usually $500 a day, he said, “Inflation. Everything else is going up.”
Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment | Categories: Dusty Baker
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By Y-
May 24, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
Baker’s greatest downfall is he refuses to be objective. He thinks speed is the only criteria for a leadoff hitter and centerfielder and ignores the ability to get on base and instincts.
By Gary Maloy Jr
May 24, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
Eric Cooper - Judge, Jury and Executioner. Gotta say I agree with Dusty here, gentlemen. And Frank Robinson and now Bob Watson - both former players dishing out punishment like some kind of demi-gods. Back in the day, Kenesaw Mountain Landis dished out punishment himself. But Buddy Selig is so spineless, ha can’t even discipline himself. Dusty’s line-ups aren’t the problem, it’s the players he’s using. We need to rid ourselves of Patterson - we all know that. Bring up Bruce, put him between Dunn and Griffey. His bat will help solidify the line-up, giving the guy in front of him better pitches to see. Something HAS to be done when they come home to GABP. I’d just love to see Jay Bruce in the clubhouse when the team gets back from the west coast. Patterson? Just don’t tell him the correct flight information. Let him languish in San Diego until he realizes how bad he is. Maybe he’ll retire and not ruin any other teams, either.
By Steve T.
May 24, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Absolutely correct shockmonkey. This guy has failed miserably. Bad in all areas of baseball except for the occasional long ball and how much coaching goes into that? Defense, baserunning and little ball fundamentals. Where is the adeptness in these areas. You can’t tell me the Cardinals are a better team on paper. But you can tell me that Tony Larussa is a major league manager and Dusty Baker is a JOKE!!
By ShockMonkey
May 24, 2008 7:25 AM | Link to this
With Dusty suspended for two games, we actually have a chance to put a modest win streak together: like two games! Sorry Hal, but I think he’s an awful skipper. His lineups defy logic.
By buddy
May 24, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
Corey Patterson doesn’t have a clue about fundamental baseball.He has pulled more bonehead plays than a little leaguer.He can’t be that dumb.Can’t get a runner to third from second,gets thrown out trying to steal third for the third out,plus some other knuckleheaded boners I’ve tried to burn out of my brain.Buy him a ticket to anywhere.
By rusty
May 24, 2008 12:56 AM | Link to this
hal how was your ice cream during the rain delay
By Jeremy
May 23, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
1500 divide by 2 IS 750. But thats not the point of the article. They said it is “usually” $500 a day. Then Dusty had a joke. Make sense? Great interview on FSN Hal.
By Gerry
May 23, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
Um…isn’t $1500 divided by two $750?
By Ron
May 23, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this
Is there a way that the fine can go to pay for Cory Patterson’s salary so he can be gone? I think that the Reds should fine Baker for bringing this guy in. Granted nothing will happen this year, but I would much rather have Bruce get the experience this year at the major league level than continuing to punish triple A pitchers. He could hit the ground running next year. Where is Pete McKinnon when we need him?
By donb51
May 23, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this
Oh well, but, as you pointed out 4 games ago, Hal, Dunn is enroute to hit his 40 HR and 100 RBIs, whoop-de-doo. Oh, and Griff will most assuredly get his 600th soon. All is swell in Muddville.
By Sigh Yung
May 23, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
Yep, then we could bring Bruce up for two games; then send him back down to Louisville when Rusty Dusty gets back—and inserts Corey back in centerfield!
By Coach
May 23, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
I think Corey Patterson should be elevated to Manager for two games!