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Monday, December 4, 2000
Baker just one Dusty Baker spent much of yesterday in the batting cage at Rainbow Stadium soft tossing baseballs to group after group of youngsters taking their cuts under the watchful eye of the San Francisco Giants' manager.
of the kids
Giants manager spends time
at Rainbow Stadium helping
with youth clinicBy Al Chase
Star-BulletinAffable, down to earth, quick with a humorous comment, Baker was enjoying his time with the 155 players, age 13- to 18, at the 2000 Hawaii Winter Baseball Camp.
The Giants' presence included coaches Carlos Alfonso, Sonny Jackson, Juan Lopez, Ron Wotus, Pat Dobson and Lenn Sakata, manager of the San Jose Giants in the California League.
Aiding this group during the two-day camp was just about every Oahu high school baseball coach.
Baker, who was voted the National League Manager of the Year for a record third time this past season, does from six to a dozen camps in the off-season when he isn't enjoying his hobbies of hunting and fishing.
"I like being around kids. I like making a camp fun for them, making it productive and work for them at the same time. I think that's the secret," Baker said.
"Hopefully they will get something out of it. I urge then to play as far as they can play.
"High school, if that's your limit, then play through high school. If you have enough ability, play in college, but you have to have to have a goal and a dream.
"All of us had a goal and a dream. Most of us made it. Some of us didn't, but you should go as far as you can go.
"You don't want to look back and say I didn't play long enough or I didn't go far enough."
Baker spent 16 full seasons in the major leagues with Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland. He finished his career with a .280 batting average, 224 home runs and 942 runs batted in.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound outfielder was selected to the NL All-Star team in 1981 and 1982. He was a member of four Los Angeles league championship series teams and earned a World Series ring with the 1981 Dodgers.
Baker says working camps and clinics is a two-way street.
"It's a learning experience for us too. It's helps us in our job dealing with the new generation. You want to keep things modern. At the same time it reinforces and reteaches you and what you are teaching," he said.
"You end up repeating things you were told and taught. Every generation has its own language but they are saying the same things different ways. Nothing has changed about the game."
The 51-year-old California native enjoys the strategy involved in baseball and he takes pleasure in watching players mature on and off the field.
"I enjoy seeing progress in the players. You see boyfriend-girlfriend and they are driving a Toyota. Then you see a man with kids and diving a Mercedes."
What doesn't he like about the game?
"I wish I didn't have to deal with the media as much as I do," he said.
Baker hasn't had the opportunity to see right-hander Jerome Williams, Waipahu High School's contribution to the Giants' future, pitch yet, but expects that will happen in spring training.
Williams finished the 2000 season at Shreveport, La., the Giants' Double A farm team, and Baker acknowledged that's a big jump for a player in his second year of professional baseball.
"That means his control must be pretty good. The reports on Jerome are excellent and his attitude is excellent," Baker said.
The Giants finished the 2000 season with the best record in the major leagues. They were ousted by the New York Mets in the first round of the playoffs.
So what needs tweaking to improve his team for next season?
Replacing outfielder Ellis Burk is the No.1 priorty. Also, he wants to see progress from his young pitching staff.
Baker signed a new, two-year contract in October. He is 655-577 (.532) in eight seasons at the helm.