Comments on: Kirk Gibson explains “heated exchange” with Dusty Baker

By: grumpyoleman

grumpyoleman — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 01:21:24 +0000

Wouldn’t those situations effect everyone’s WAR

By: sabathiawouldbegoodattheeighthtoo

sabathiawouldbegoodattheeighthtoo — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:37:43 +0000

Just getting the pitcher used to the idea. Used to the idea that the #8 hitter is walkable if the #9 hitter is a pitcher and adjusting his pitch-selection accordingly. Used to the idea that a bunt is coming if the pitcher is up w/MOB and <2out. Or even just building confidence a little by pitching to another pitcher instead of Choo.

By all accounts, Gibson was well within his rights as the home team. Baker asked for something extra, but Gibson should be then be obliged to provide it. It is not Gibson's job to nurse Choo along when Baker had other alternatives to do that if it was important.

By: vincentbojackson

vincentbojackson — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:16:20 +0000

I’m a Reds fan, but gotta side with Gibson on this one. It was his call and he chose what was best for his team. He wanted to get his pitcher some at bats. Dusty must have been having a bad day to make such a big deal out of it.

It’s disgusting that two grown men can’t even shake hands before a damn exhibition game. Grow the hell up fellas!

By: grumpyoleman

grumpyoleman — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:56:07 +0000

Gibby has a higher WAR

By: kicksave1980

kicksave1980 — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:58:05 +0000

Both of these guys are first class d-bags. This isn’t new.

Gibson has the right to do what he did, but he’s still a pr*ck.

By: kicksave1980

kicksave1980 — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:56:48 +0000

“No, Walter, you’re not wrong, you’re just an a**h*le!”

By: boltbacker

boltbacker — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:54:53 +0000

Gibson has every right to decide if there will be a DH in his own ballpark. Where does Baker get off trying to bully Gibson into doing things his way? Pitchers need to practice hitting too.

By: imthedudedude

imthedudedude — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:33:34 +0000

Has the whole world gone crazy?! Am I the only one who gives a S*it about the rules! This isn’t Nam, dusty, there are rules.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:52:13 +0000

Once again, really? Like there isn’t enough Minor League hitters in a spring training game for McCarthy to practice on? Also, ANYONE can hit a hard liner up the middle, even Nick Punto, so building confidence isn’t an argument. Those are the pretty weak reasons to stick with the rule especially when you have far more to gain by not. The ONLY reason to stick with the rule is because Gibson wanted to. He wanted to even in the face of logic for not doing so. That’s some pretty small minded and rigid thinking right there.

By: bh192012

bh192012 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:15:59 +0000

He could be trying to build McCarthy’s confidence. He’s less likely to be drilled by a hard line drive from a pitcher than a CF. He’s also less likey to be shelled by earned runs. McCarthy could experiment more with his pitches against a poor batter than a player like Shin-Soo Choo.

Also, it’s the rule, he followed the rule, what’s to complain about? Gibson offered his hand, Dusty responded by being a prick. It’s like if I came to your house to play poker, but I wanted 3′s and 5s to be wild, then I get all bent out of shape because you don’t want to play that way.

By: bradmoss1

bradmoss1 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:49:29 +0000

Two weeks into the season (4-16 through 4-18) the Diamondbacks visit the Yankees.

By: redbirdfan81

redbirdfan81 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:30:36 +0000

Grow up Dusty, you little whiner! You’re why the Reds and Cubs and Giants never won anything with you at the helm.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:33:29 +0000

Dude, serious question: what strategy is in “batting and managing an opposing lineup with a pitcher in it”? D-Backs need experience facing a single A hitter? Really? Maybe Gibson needs experience managing AROUND a single A hitter? How is Gibson having his D facing a hitter of pitcher-quality doing ANYTHING for the D-Backs?

By: aceshigh11

aceshigh11 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:28:18 +0000

Kirk Gibson = Walter Sobchak:

“Has the whole world gone crazy? Am I the only one around here who gives a shit about the rules? Mark it zero!”

By: sabathiawouldbegoodattheeighthtoo

sabathiawouldbegoodattheeighthtoo — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:40:22 +0000

Lord have mercy. Has there ever been more controversy over a non-handshake?

Honestly, I am with Gibson on this. He wanted McCarthy to get the NL experience, which includes batting and managing an opposing lineup with a pitcher in it. If this is a big deal to Dusty, he should have sent Choo to minor league camp to get some AB’s. It is not McCarthy’s job the throw BP to Dusty’s injured player, and not Gibson’s job to accommodate Dusty. Gibson is giving his player what he needs to prepare for the season. That is Gibson’s job. He couldn’t know that McCarthy would only get one AB.

By: jl9830

jl9830 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:22:44 +0000

Honestly, I can’t blame him for wanting his team to play the way they’re going to play all season. Gibson is perfectly within his rights to say, sorry, we’d like to play an NL game and get our pitchers at-bats, practice late game strategy, etc. For whatever reason, Gibson has the right to play the NL game.

By: ch0psuey

ch0psuey — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:11:25 +0000

Hand on the right looks strangely feminine, now is it Gibbie or Dusty, hrmm..

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:11:01 +0000

If Gibson was really concerned about getting McCarthy ABs, then why not bat him leadoff? That way he could have come to the plate twice instead of only once….unless, of course, it had nothing to do with McCarthy getting to see 1 pitch in his 1 AB.

By: ryanrockzzz

ryanrockzzz — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:48:38 +0000

Don’t worry, we are only in March LOL.

By: jeffbbf

jeffbbf — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:30:05 +0000

why not have Choo hit 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in the linuep and take him out after his at bat to get some live reps somewhere else? the whole “it’s only spring training” argument has to work both ways. Gibson seemed to do the right thing in letting everyone know up front and in advance what the rules would be. Just because Baker can’t take no for an answer doesn’t mean Gibson is at fault.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:18:36 +0000

Mom’s a righty and she’s pretty fond of lefties. I know, ’cause my 3 year old nephew is a lefty and she can’t seem to see enough of that guy.

Phillies, eh? Well, why not. I’m certain she’d get along great with Cholly. Between her West Indian accent and whatever the hell it is Cholly uses for a dialect, they’ll have a great time misunderstanding each other. I bet the Phanatic would love her, too. And don’t worry about that prescription for adderall. She takes it as “flax seed” in her porridge with blueberries and she has prescriptions for EVERYTHING, wether she’s taking it or not.

By: shaggylocks

shaggylocks — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:17:50 +0000

Of course they didn’t shake hands: look, in our helpful little reenactment photo he’s extending his left hand!

By: vox vetus

vox vetus — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:15:21 +0000

Gibson is turning into a root against very quickly.

By: ch0psuey

ch0psuey — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:14:11 +0000

Spring Training Drama, Like it.

By: Sign Ahead

Sign Ahead — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:10:49 +0000

It’s already been a long season here in Arizona, but at least we can proudly say that Kirk Gibson won a conversation with Dusty Baker.

By: unclemosesgreen

unclemosesgreen — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:09:28 +0000

He definitely drilled dad with a tailing fastball to the ribs – nothing wrong with that, it was a gritty performance. He’s supposed to do that.

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:04:38 +0000

Old school. Well, maybe his son hit him with a pitch when he got home.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:00:30 +0000

With you 100% Ryan. But of course…this line of thinking makes it impossible to rail on Kirk Gibson. But I agree with you nonetheless.
RAGE! RAGE! RAGE!

By: unclemosesgreen

unclemosesgreen — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:46:36 +0000

Just attempting to provide some context on the character and grittiness of Kirk Gibson, here is a little nugget from USA TODAY, June 15, 2012. Something to bear in mind as you ask yourself “Self, is Kirk Gibson just a complete asshole?”

“Kirk Gibson appeared to have a choice to make Thursday – manage the Arizona Diamondbacks’ game against the Texas Rangers, or attend his son Cameron’s high school graduation.

Apparently, the choice wasn’t that hard at all.

“You’re supposed to graduate,” Gibson said, according to The Associated Press. “His mom and the rest of his family will be there. He’s coming to see me next week.”

Well, OK.”

By: chacochicken

chacochicken — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:46:06 +0000

I was really worried that McCarthy wasn’t going to get that one at bat yesterday. That AB should really help his hitting this season.