MLB Manager: Fans’ Spoiled Attitude Pushed Me to Retire
Legendary MLB Manager Says Fans Became Spoiled, Helped Drive Him Into Retirement
“Winning solves everything,” is a common saying in sports, but for one legendary MLB skipper, that adage might be a little overrated.
Dusty Baker, a two-time All Star and two-time World Series winner (one as a player, one as a manager), appeared on the “Steam Room” podcast hosted by sportscaster Ernie Johnson and NBA legend Charles Barkley.
The episode, which debuted on Wednesday, included Baker as part of a rotating cast of guests for Johnson and Barkley, including outspoken Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green.
But despite Green’s penchant for creating newsworthy soundbites, it was the 74-year-old Baker who garnered the most attention for his blistering assessment of a certain type of fan.
You can watch the whole episode below:
Notably, Baker addressed the final stop of his illustrious career, when he managed the Houston Astros. He had previously managed the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. He retired after the Astros ended their playoff run this year, losing the American League Championship Series to the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers.
It was that final managerial stint that secured Baker his much sought-after and coveted championship ring as a skipper — but it also brought him some nasty headaches.
“You know, we had a lot of success here, Ernie and Charles,” Baker said. “And then the last couple of months here, you know, weren’t very pleasant, because we weren’t 10 games ahead.”
Indeed, the Astros had built something of a reputation for themselves in the last decade or so, firmly establishing the team as a perennial powerhouse competing for World Series championships.
Despite some sign-stealing controversy along the way, the Astros, and their fans, had set the bar high.
While Baker didn’t appear to have an issue with the sky-high expectations per se, he was certainly bothered by the way people were handling the disappointments stemming from them.
“You spoil people,” Baker said. ”They think you’re supposed to win this every year running away. That’s not like that.
“You know, every year’s different. There was a whole bunch of criticism from 30-year-olds and bloggers and tweeters that I’m not doing this, and I don’t know that.”
The attention drove him into retiring earlier than he might have otherwise, he said.
“And I told my wife, I said ‘You know, I’m kind of tired of this and tired of the scrutiny, and if I could go manage and show up at … 6:30 for a 7 o’clock game and leave 30 minutes after the game, don’t do the pre and post stuff (interviews), I could manage for another four or five years.’
“You know what I mean? After a while, you just get tired of just answering questions.”
Baker also addressed his general health, which also played a role in his retirement.
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How has social media changed the way fans interact with athletes and coaches?
The field, manage, and not have to talk to anybody, I’d still be doing it,'” Baker said.
But the constant criticism and pressure from fans and media took its toll on the veteran manager.
“You know, I’ve been doing this for 53 years, you know, since I was a kid,” Baker explained. “And so, it wasn’t just the Houston fans, it was a cumulative total of, you know, the last few years and all the arguments and all the expectations.”
Baker also discussed how fans have changed over the years, and not necessarily for the better.
“Times have changed, man,” he said. “I really hate to say it, but the fans have changed. You know, like young people have changed, social media has changed, and the way people deal with each other has changed.”
He added that social media has given fans a platform to voice their opinions, often in a negative and disrespectful manner.
“It’s different, man. I’m telling you, it’s way different than when I grew up,” Baker said. “When I grew up, you know, fans had your back. Now they put knives in your back and turn them.”
Baker’s sentiments are not unique to him, as many athletes and coaches have expressed frustration with the current state of fan culture. The ability for fans to instantly criticize and judge players and coaches on social media has created a toxic environment that can be detrimental to mental health and well-being.
While some may argue that criticism comes with the territory of being a public figure, it is important to remember that athletes and coaches are still human beings who deserve respect and empathy.
As the legendary Dusty Baker steps away from the game he loves, his words serve as a reminder that fans have a responsibility to support their teams and their favorite players and coaches in a positive and constructive manner.
Winning may solve everything on the field, but it’s the fans’ attitudes and actions that can make or break the experience off the field.
Perhaps it’s time for fans to reflect on their behavior and strive to be the supportive and respectful fans that athletes and coaches deserve.
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