Dodgers Scariest Offseason Scenarios

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

1. Hiring Dusty Baker or Mike Scioscia

Scioscia is already committed to the Angels for next season, so he isn’t the important part of this slide. Of all the manager rumors out there, Baker would be the one that gives me nightmares.

Baker checks off a lot of boxes that many want to see in the Dodgers’ next skipper, but of all the available managers Baker would be the worst option by far. Matt Williams gets an honorable mention, but I would even prefer him to Baker.

Baker has 20 years of managing experience, half of which came with the Giants. Red flag number one. Baker-managed teams finished above .500 in 12 of his 20 seasons and he owns a career 1671-1504 record, which is undeniably good. All 20 of his seasons came in the National League, and he played eight seasons with the Dodger.

All baseball fans should remember Kerry Wood, and some should remember Mark Prior. Baker has a bit of reputation as a pitcher killer. According to a HardBall Times post from 2006, Baker had left pitchers in games for more than 122 pitches 88 different times that millennium up to that point. For reference, as far as I can tell Mattingly only had a starter throw that many pitches twice last year, both times being Clayton Kershaw. Wood and Prior each had the downslope of their careers happen with Baker at the helm. Looking past Kershaw, the Dodgers have a ton of starting pitching prospects (Julio Urias, Jose De Leon, Grant Holmes, Walker Buehler, Yadier Alvarez, Jharel Cotton, among others) and having Baker control their arms could be the worst case scenario.

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