Dusty Baker was on the losing side of one of the most exciting postseason games in recent memory, and the man wasn’t exactly magnanimous after the defeat.
Following his Washington Nationals’ 4-3 Game 5 loss to the Dodgers, Baker didn’t strictly applaud his opponents and the gutsy maneuvering of opposing manager Dave Roberts, but rather he pointed out the downside to Roberts’ moves.
Dusty Baker: "I’d be interested to see — they won the war — but the effects of Jansen and Kershaw when they get to Chicago."
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) October 14, 2016
Sour grapes, Dusty? We know he’s never been shy to speak his mind, but that remark is still a surprise.
Roberts’ pitching staff may be overworked at this point, but at least his team is moving on to the NLCS rather than going home, which is sort of the objective, not making sure your staff is well rested and set up for games they’re not going to play.
Roberts is being lauded for his creativity with managing the Dodgers in the decisive game. He pulled his starter in the third; went to his setup man that inning; used a 20-year-old in relief; put his closer in for the 7th; and then used his ace, Clayton Kershaw, on short rest in the ninth. Baker says that managing in that manner, which is going against the proverbial “book,” is not something he’ll be doing any time soon.
I asked Baker if the Dodgers' use of Jansen tonight could turn into a trend: "It’s not a trend that I’d like to be a part of anytime."
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) October 14, 2016
Maybe it’s Baker’s failure to adapt that’s preventing the Nats from going further. The team still has yet to win a playoff series.
