Baker on youth, patience and staying above .500
Posted by JohnFay at 6/14/2009 2:10 PM EDT on Cincinnati.com
Dusty Baker was talking about Willy Taveras but it bled into talk about the team in general:
“Sometimes you want it right now,” Baker said. “But sometimes it takes longer than people want to give it. This is where teaching part comes in.
“Everyone wants in first place by five games,” Baker said. “We said this is going to be an ongoing process. Do we want it now? Oh heck, yeah. We have to realize we’re in process of teaching and making guys better. That’s the whole realization of the organization here. We want to do it for the long run. We’ve got a young team and we’re going to be inconsistent. We said that right in the very beginning.
“You don’t like it, but it’s the situation we’re in. We’re not the Yankees with a whole bunch of veteran guys and a few kids.”
“Quite frankly, some of kids aren’t kids. They’re inexperienced as far as the big leagues. In reality, Jay Bruce and (Johnny) Cueto are the only real kids.”
“You have a bunch 26 to 28 year olds who don’t have much big league experience.”
It was pointed out that the Reds drafted eight players older than Bruce this week.
“Bruce is playing with all upper classmen,” Baker said. “By the time his graduating class gets here, he’ll have four or five years of big league failures and successes. That’s when he’ll really blossom – when they can’t trick him anymore.”
“Patience is hard to sell,” Baker said. “It’s something I need continue to be. Stay with the long-term plan. But we need short-term success to satisfy me and everyone esle.”
Baker know the Reds coudl be buried in the standing rather than 2 1/2 games out.
"If Everyone else wasn't losing . . . We're fortunate to be where we are (in the standings). That's why today’s game is big.” Baker said. “We fought and fought to get to .500. We want to stay above it.”
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