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| Leadership can be hard to define, but Dusty Baker knows what he’s doing | Leadership can be hard to define, but Dusty Baker knows what he’s doing |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Baseball and leadership have an uneasy relationship, a marriage of inconvenience. Once, when I was too young to know better, I asked Earl Weaver about the role of leadership, intangibles and chemistry in building a great team. “Horse[bleep],” the Orioles manager said. “I’d rather have nine guys named Robinson.” | |
| Eventually, the rabidly competitive Weaver joined two guys named Robinson — nice, modest Brooks and fierce, inspirational Frank — in the Baseball Hall of Fame, which does not specifically require leadership skills, so long as you beat everybody’s brains out for 20 years or so. | Eventually, the rabidly competitive Weaver joined two guys named Robinson — nice, modest Brooks and fierce, inspirational Frank — in the Baseball Hall of Fame, which does not specifically require leadership skills, so long as you beat everybody’s brains out for 20 years or so. |
| Weaver was indisputably a leader, as are almost all of the best managers, though the exact mechanism and manner of that skill has never been defined or measured. Brooks Robinson didn’t lead or not lead; he just won 16 straight Gold Gloves, drove in 1,357 runs and, to my knowledge, never called a clubhouse meeting, held a Kangaroo Court, screamed at a teammate or started a brawl to wake his team from a slump. Frank Robinson did that stuff. | Weaver was indisputably a leader, as are almost all of the best managers, though the exact mechanism and manner of that skill has never been defined or measured. Brooks Robinson didn’t lead or not lead; he just won 16 straight Gold Gloves, drove in 1,357 runs and, to my knowledge, never called a clubhouse meeting, held a Kangaroo Court, screamed at a teammate or started a brawl to wake his team from a slump. Frank Robinson did that stuff. |
| Out of curiosity, or perversity, I thought about more than 100 players who have made, or will reach, Cooperstown in the time I’ve covered baseball. Some were a bit before my time, but I learned their reputations from The Elders. I put them in three leadership categories: Yes, Not Really and No Way. My count — everyone else’s would be different — was 29-65-11. | Out of curiosity, or perversity, I thought about more than 100 players who have made, or will reach, Cooperstown in the time I’ve covered baseball. Some were a bit before my time, but I learned their reputations from The Elders. I put them in three leadership categories: Yes, Not Really and No Way. My count — everyone else’s would be different — was 29-65-11. |
| We could have fun arguing about who belongs where. But I doubt that many in the game would disagree with the general premise: Maybe 30 percent of the greats are seen as important leaders by their peers. | We could have fun arguing about who belongs where. But I doubt that many in the game would disagree with the general premise: Maybe 30 percent of the greats are seen as important leaders by their peers. |
| The large majority only led by their example of hard work or studying the details of their craft. Or simply by “leading” 120 runs to home plate with balls blasted over or off outfield walls. | The large majority only led by their example of hard work or studying the details of their craft. Or simply by “leading” 120 runs to home plate with balls blasted over or off outfield walls. |
| [With Ian Desmond gone, Anthony Rendon is stepping up] | [With Ian Desmond gone, Anthony Rendon is stepping up] |
| What’s meant by “team leader” in the NFL, NBA or NHL is quite different than MLB’s talent-focused dream of nine Robinsons; it’s more vocal and territorially aggressive. An NFL quarterback is expected to do considerably more than just mutter and stare at the ground in the huddle during a 90-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the last two minutes. | What’s meant by “team leader” in the NFL, NBA or NHL is quite different than MLB’s talent-focused dream of nine Robinsons; it’s more vocal and territorially aggressive. An NFL quarterback is expected to do considerably more than just mutter and stare at the ground in the huddle during a 90-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the last two minutes. |
| Baseball is often described as the only “individual team game.” You’re alone to pitch, hit or field. Your production, even superstardom, depends little on others. There’s teamwork on double plays and such. But Ted Williams titled his autobiography “My Turn at Bat.” He didn’t call it “How My Great Red Sox Teammates Helped Me Get on Base 48.2 Percent of the Time.” | Baseball is often described as the only “individual team game.” You’re alone to pitch, hit or field. Your production, even superstardom, depends little on others. There’s teamwork on double plays and such. But Ted Williams titled his autobiography “My Turn at Bat.” He didn’t call it “How My Great Red Sox Teammates Helped Me Get on Base 48.2 Percent of the Time.” |
| As a consequence, baseball leadership often falls to players with the strongest personal qualities, rather than the most ability. And to managers who are patriarchs of a big unruly clan. | As a consequence, baseball leadership often falls to players with the strongest personal qualities, rather than the most ability. And to managers who are patriarchs of a big unruly clan. |
| The recent trend toward hiring bland corporate types as baseball managers is a sharp break with tradition. Perhaps it reflects the belief of executives who work in suits that face-to-face leadership can’t be terribly important because it’s not part of their job. | The recent trend toward hiring bland corporate types as baseball managers is a sharp break with tradition. Perhaps it reflects the belief of executives who work in suits that face-to-face leadership can’t be terribly important because it’s not part of their job. |
| The 2016 Washington Nationals will be a fascinating experiment in the impact of subtracting one of the better player-leaders in baseball, Ian Desmond, while simultaneously hiring one of the most colorful personal-touch managers in Dusty Baker. To add flavor, Baker is also a gut-trusting, confidence-boosting, people-person skipper who grasps, but does not always trust, decisions based primarily on numbers. For example, Dusty always plays every man on his birthday. Why? “It’s your day,” he said. “You’re going to play better.” Was that in “Moneyball”? | The 2016 Washington Nationals will be a fascinating experiment in the impact of subtracting one of the better player-leaders in baseball, Ian Desmond, while simultaneously hiring one of the most colorful personal-touch managers in Dusty Baker. To add flavor, Baker is also a gut-trusting, confidence-boosting, people-person skipper who grasps, but does not always trust, decisions based primarily on numbers. For example, Dusty always plays every man on his birthday. Why? “It’s your day,” he said. “You’re going to play better.” Was that in “Moneyball”? |
| Baker replaces stoic Matt Williams, an organization man. Random funny chit-chats, spontaneous heart-to-hearts, invitations to have dinner or go fishing — all Baker staples — just weren’t Williams, whose idea of camaraderie was to run three miles with his coaches. This spring, one member of the Nats said, “Isn’t the idea to motivate the players to run three miles?” | Baker replaces stoic Matt Williams, an organization man. Random funny chit-chats, spontaneous heart-to-hearts, invitations to have dinner or go fishing — all Baker staples — just weren’t Williams, whose idea of camaraderie was to run three miles with his coaches. This spring, one member of the Nats said, “Isn’t the idea to motivate the players to run three miles?” |
| The loss of Desmond illustrates in how many areas a person with leadership qualities, rather than just baseball ability, can have an impact. Some players lead in the clubhouse with the right word at the proper moment. Some do it in the dugout with fire (or ice). Some add defensive cohesion or composure. Some are a link between teammates of different economic backgrounds, races, temperaments, cultures or languages, the way Tony Perez, Joe Morgan and Pete Rose were leaders who united the Big Red Machine while Johnny Bench just did his job. Some players even lead on the airplane, with tone-setting behavior or private chats with a man in a slump. Some help connect players to the manager, general manager or ownership. Some help counsel young players. Some face the media, deliver the team perspective in defeat, while others hide. | The loss of Desmond illustrates in how many areas a person with leadership qualities, rather than just baseball ability, can have an impact. Some players lead in the clubhouse with the right word at the proper moment. Some do it in the dugout with fire (or ice). Some add defensive cohesion or composure. Some are a link between teammates of different economic backgrounds, races, temperaments, cultures or languages, the way Tony Perez, Joe Morgan and Pete Rose were leaders who united the Big Red Machine while Johnny Bench just did his job. Some players even lead on the airplane, with tone-setting behavior or private chats with a man in a slump. Some help connect players to the manager, general manager or ownership. Some help counsel young players. Some face the media, deliver the team perspective in defeat, while others hide. |
| I’ve seldom seen one player who ranked higher in more of those areas than Desmond. He only had one leadership failing — he felt pressure and sometimes showed it, both with jittery hands at shortstop and an over-anxious bat at the plate. Yet, all in all, every National thinks Desmond’s leadership was a large plus, will be missed and must be replaced. | |
| How? “I don’t know,” Anthony Rendon said. | How? “I don’t know,” Anthony Rendon said. |
| “The thing I’m most proud of about Desi was seeing him grow up into the leader he became,” Ryan Zimmerman said. | “The thing I’m most proud of about Desi was seeing him grow up into the leader he became,” Ryan Zimmerman said. |
| The Nats have leaders by example (Zimmerman); veterans who demand tough, hard-ball effort (Jayson Werth); a pitching staff ace (Max Scherzer) and a charismatic young MVP who is wise enough to realize that it’s not quite time for the Nats to be “his team” (Bryce Harper). | The Nats have leaders by example (Zimmerman); veterans who demand tough, hard-ball effort (Jayson Werth); a pitching staff ace (Max Scherzer) and a charismatic young MVP who is wise enough to realize that it’s not quite time for the Nats to be “his team” (Bryce Harper). |
| Whose team are they? Baker’s. It has already happened. | Whose team are they? Baker’s. It has already happened. |
| “Dusty is like Davey Johnson — he breeds confidence. In batting practice, he might lie and tell you ‘You’re hot,’ when maybe you’re not,” Zimmerman said. “His player is always right — in public. In private, in his office, he might say, ‘Hey, man, you gotta clean this up.’ ” | “Dusty is like Davey Johnson — he breeds confidence. In batting practice, he might lie and tell you ‘You’re hot,’ when maybe you’re not,” Zimmerman said. “His player is always right — in public. In private, in his office, he might say, ‘Hey, man, you gotta clean this up.’ ” |
| After 47 years in the game, Baker recognizes some slice of his own experience in the difficulties of every player. “In this game, everybody is going to get a ‘jacket,’ ” Baker said last week, meaning a reputation. “Like I tell these guys — night runner, a womanizer. You like to drink. You’re dumb. Something. That’s a shame. That’s okay. But in the meantime, let’s pretend I’ll kick your [butt].” | After 47 years in the game, Baker recognizes some slice of his own experience in the difficulties of every player. “In this game, everybody is going to get a ‘jacket,’ ” Baker said last week, meaning a reputation. “Like I tell these guys — night runner, a womanizer. You like to drink. You’re dumb. Something. That’s a shame. That’s okay. But in the meantime, let’s pretend I’ll kick your [butt].” |
| Find the player’s hot button. Empathize with him. Then push that button. | Find the player’s hot button. Empathize with him. Then push that button. |
| This month, Baker has given many players an unexpected gift of a day off when every other player still reports to work. “A pack day, a wife day, a beach day. Whatever,” he said. | This month, Baker has given many players an unexpected gift of a day off when every other player still reports to work. “A pack day, a wife day, a beach day. Whatever,” he said. |
| Baker not only keeps track of birthdays but also of home towns and relatives in the stands. “Every time we go to Jupiter [Fla.] I always play Michael Taylor. Seems like he’s hit a homer every time,” Baker said. Once, he told Taylor to skip the long ride back to Viera. “Stay home, don’t come back,” Baker said, knowing Taylor wasn’t scheduled to play in the next day’s game anyway. The Nats returned to Jupiter 48 hours later. Taylor, after staying two nights with family, played. | Baker not only keeps track of birthdays but also of home towns and relatives in the stands. “Every time we go to Jupiter [Fla.] I always play Michael Taylor. Seems like he’s hit a homer every time,” Baker said. Once, he told Taylor to skip the long ride back to Viera. “Stay home, don’t come back,” Baker said, knowing Taylor wasn’t scheduled to play in the next day’s game anyway. The Nats returned to Jupiter 48 hours later. Taylor, after staying two nights with family, played. |
| The opposite side of this coin is that, once the season starts, when Baker says, “You’re taking a day off today to rest,” he doesn’t want the usual baseball I-wanna-play whine-fest. “You’ve got to trust me,” he said. | The opposite side of this coin is that, once the season starts, when Baker says, “You’re taking a day off today to rest,” he doesn’t want the usual baseball I-wanna-play whine-fest. “You’ve got to trust me,” he said. |
| At this point, every sabermetrician has fainted. Or begun a five-year study of the standard deviation of performance when playing on birthdays or in home towns. But what if performance isn’t Dusty’s core issue at all? What if he simply understands that chemistry, that famous, good-clubhouse vibe, is built, in part, on a boss who pays attention to small kindnesses and personal consideration? | |
| [Boswell: Dusty Baker makes the Nationals his team without trying] | [Boswell: Dusty Baker makes the Nationals his team without trying] |
| In February, when asked about his players, Baker said, “I don’t know them yet. Just watching.” By March, he asked reporters, after Stephen Strasburg had pitched well but seemed upset, “Is Stephen ever really happy?” Told such sightings were rare, Baker said, “Well, we’re trying to make him happier.” | In February, when asked about his players, Baker said, “I don’t know them yet. Just watching.” By March, he asked reporters, after Stephen Strasburg had pitched well but seemed upset, “Is Stephen ever really happy?” Told such sightings were rare, Baker said, “Well, we’re trying to make him happier.” |
| What is one of the new frontiers in baseball analytics? You guessed it: Group psychology, interaction between different personality types and how to build a roster that might tend to have . . . hold your breath . . . team chemistry. How can you foster it? Maybe somebody should ask Baker. | What is one of the new frontiers in baseball analytics? You guessed it: Group psychology, interaction between different personality types and how to build a roster that might tend to have . . . hold your breath . . . team chemistry. How can you foster it? Maybe somebody should ask Baker. |
| “Leaders are anointed, not appointed,” he said. “Leaders are like a magnet. Other people gravitate to you.” Is that magnetic force or gravitational force, Dusty? Oh, whatever. | “Leaders are anointed, not appointed,” he said. “Leaders are like a magnet. Other people gravitate to you.” Is that magnetic force or gravitational force, Dusty? Oh, whatever. |
| Sometimes leaders, if not quite appointed, do have to be cultivated. With Desmond gone, Baker needs an infield leader. That’s usually the shortstop or catcher. “My catcher is kind of shy,” Baker said. “I tell [Wilson] Ramos that he is an extension of me now. I don’t want to go out [to the mound] all the time. He should go out there when he sees something’s not right.” | Sometimes leaders, if not quite appointed, do have to be cultivated. With Desmond gone, Baker needs an infield leader. That’s usually the shortstop or catcher. “My catcher is kind of shy,” Baker said. “I tell [Wilson] Ramos that he is an extension of me now. I don’t want to go out [to the mound] all the time. He should go out there when he sees something’s not right.” |
| How is that working? After a Ramos homer last week, Baker, who tolerates but doesn’t endorse post-homer dugout dance routines, waited to give Ramos a simple fist bump. “Instead, he stopped in front of me and saluted!” said Baker, who grew up in a career military family and later became a Marine himself. | How is that working? After a Ramos homer last week, Baker, who tolerates but doesn’t endorse post-homer dugout dance routines, waited to give Ramos a simple fist bump. “Instead, he stopped in front of me and saluted!” said Baker, who grew up in a career military family and later became a Marine himself. |
| Nobody knows exactly what baseball leadership is, perhaps because it comes in so many forms and has a value that’s impossible to weigh. But those in the game know it when they see it. | Nobody knows exactly what baseball leadership is, perhaps because it comes in so many forms and has a value that’s impossible to weigh. But those in the game know it when they see it. |
| And they tend to salute it, too. | And they tend to salute it, too. |