Is Chicago Cubs Dusty Baker Unhappy With Pay? - Sun Times

Baker denies being 'annoyed' over contract

May 11, 2006

BY MIKE KILEY Staff Reporter Chicago Sun Times

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins, who wrote last year that manager Dusty Baker would walk away from the Cubs when his four-year contract expired this year, wrote in Wednesday's editions that Baker was "mildly annoyed'' that he hadn't been offered a contract extension by the organization.

"I didn't tell him that,'' Baker said. "That's his opinion. I can't control what somebody writes.

"At this point, when you're losing, you can't be annoyed about nothing but losing. How do you expect to be offered a contract when the team just lost eight in a row? Honestly. I'm being as honest as I can be.''

Let the record show that Baker was laughing heartily when he said this. He is staying true to himself and not allowing himself to get mad or get caught up in controversial, media-generated issues.

General manager Jim Hendry received a two-year extension last month, and it's still anticipated that Baker will be offered an extension this year. That issue isn't a priority for anybody, however, with last place in the division not far away.