MPS blog wasn’t around for the beginning of last season, so it missed a sacred spring tradition: making fun of the dumb stuff that comes out of Dusty Baker’s mouth. Fortunately, Dusty’s a reliable annual tradition — like my pledge to exercise more — and in 2009, he refuses to disappoint:

“We have a whole wall full of guys who at one time were good players expected to be star-calibre players,” said Baker. “You look at Jonny Gomes - he was almost rookie of the year. There is Jacque Jones, a star at USC and a big-time player at Minnesota just a couple of years ago. Look at Darnell McDonald - a first round draft pick (Baltimore, 1997). Then there is Laynce Nix - he was a high-round draft pick (Rangers, fourth round, 2000).

“At any give time or day, they could play like they were touted,” said Baker. “It is just a matter of if they can put it all together for an extended period of time. I keep looking for a guy like (Ryan) Ludwick - a No. 1 draft pick and highly touted and it took him a while, four or five organizations, then ‘bam,’ he got it. And it’s possible. Because if it is in there, it’s in there. They just have to get it out.”

That is mind-blowing stuff. Think about this. Dusty Baker is saying that if you were at one point good at baseball, but that your skills have since atrophied, you can still reclaim that talent in full. That talent is still “in you.” It doesn’t go away; it hibernates.

Keep reading →

Kerry Wood is one of the most beloved sports figures in modern Chicago history. No, seriously. He’s covered every base: He was a rising prodigy who flirted with (and eventually tied) records, then he was a tragic icon, disfigured mentally and physically by the evil Dusty Baker. He was always the charitable figure in the community, and finally, he was basically let go — against his wishes — by the organization that he fought back to join.

And now, he’s close to signing with the Cleveland Indians. Sigh.

Talks with free-agent right-hander Kerry Wood have gained momentum this week, MLB.com has learned, and the two sides are close to coming to agreement on a two-year contract with an option for a third year.

The financial terms being discussed were not immediately known. But multiple sources confirmed the talks are substantive and a deal might be consummated soon — perhaps as early as Tuesday. Wood, of course, would have to pass a physical before the deal is officially done.

Keep reading →

So, we know the Kerry Wood saga is over in Chicago. Jim Hendry, a very close friend of Wood’s, realized it would be better for Wood — after having quite a comeback year — to move on, find more money in a long-term deal and be able to buy an even bigger ranch for himself back in Texas someday. The Cubs made the best player personal move for themselves with others waiting in the wing (or via trade) for the closer’s role, even if was at the expense of a guy that had always come back to the organization, always tried his best even when it looked like his career might have been done and gone. Both parties ended it amicably. It’s a nice story about loyalty and friendship, really.

Oh, but remember that Dusty Baker guy that was here for that magical year in 2003 when Wood and Mark Prior were on top of the world? Yeah, he might have a little interest in old Woodie.

Keep reading →

I am a tremendous Mark Prior fan. Or was, since his career doesn’t really exist anymore. And for that fact, I blame Dusty Baker. I am not alone in this. The city of Chicago, I feel, has some distinct hatred towards Mr. Toothpick, and most of it comes with good reason.

He did, after all, kill their World Series chances for a few years by blowing out the arms of Prior and Kerry Wood. Well, Dusty had his sights set on some more youngsters this past weekend. And fortunately, Deadspin’s Rick Chandler was there to cover the whole thing.

“This is a lot of fun, and something I never thought I’d be able to do until Darren was older,” said Baker, who may have disappointed many fans by not wearing wristbands for the gig. Instead he rocked the track suit and the Nike Air Maxs. “My dad coached me in Riverside when I was 15, so it’s great to be able to do this with Darren. I’m enjoying it; being back in the San Francisco area and all that. The kids are great.”

The biggest challenge in coaching nine-year-olds?

“Getting them to focus,” Baker said. “Sometimes you wonder if they’re listening.”

Keep reading →