--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was with the Giants, I played for…" description: "\"When I was with the Giants, I played for Dusty Baker, and I love Dusty to death. I think he's a great manager and great person, but he platooned me. Hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/dave-martinez-11956_baseball_when-i-was-with-the-giants-i-played-for_425094.jpg" --- # When I was with the Giants, I played for Dusty Baker, and… ![“When I was with the Giants, I played for Dusty Baker, and I love Dusty to death. I think he's a great manager and great person, but he platooned me. His reasoning was to get everybody in the lineup. It wasn't that I couldn't play every day.” quote by Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/dave-martinez-11956_baseball_when-i-was-with-the-giants-i-played-for_425094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/dave-martinez-11956_baseball_when-i-was-with-the-giants-i-played-for_425094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/dave-martinez-11956_baseball_when-i-was-with-the-giants-i-played-for_425094.jpg) > “When I was with the Giants, I played for Dusty Baker, and I love Dusty to death. I think he's a great manager and great person, but he platooned me. His reasoning was to get everybody in the lineup. It wasn't that I couldn't play every day.” [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The manager valued team depth over individual playing time, rotating players to keep the lineup fresh. **In simple terms:** He prioritized team balance, not personal minutes. Key Takeaway Accept that role changes serve the greater team goal. Themes teamwork leadership strategy Mood pragmatic reflective Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - sports coaching - career management - team building - performance optimization Key Concepts rotation depth chart player development Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay motivated when not starting? - What can a manager do to communicate the purpose of rotations? A Different Perspective Some players may feel undervalued despite the strategic intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) ## Related quotes > [If you are a great manager you have to have a great personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkay-gundogan/if-you-are-a-great-manager-you-have-to-have-a-great-personality/) [Ilkay Gundogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkay-gundogan/) > [Wenger is a great manager, a great person, someone who knows the league here in England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/wenger-is-a-great-manager-a-great-person-someone-who-knows-the-league/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [Everybody knows that Jurgen Klopp is a great manager and a great guy as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emre-can/everybody-knows-that-jurgen-klopp-is-a-great-manager-and-a-great-guy/) [Emre Can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emre-can/) > [If there's a big problem and you've got the right people with you, usually the answer emerges and you do what's the obvious thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brilliant/if-there-s-a-big-problem-and-you-ve-got-the-right-people-with-you/) [Larry Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brilliant/) > [I'll tell you what makes a great manager: A great manager has a knack for making ballplayers think they are better than they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-jackson/i-ll-tell-you-what-makes-a-great-manager-a-great-manager-has-a-knack/) [Reggie Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-jackson/) > [I lay a lot of blame at the feet of Dusty Baker for not being more strict about fundamentals, which I think would give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-lay-a-lot-of-blame-at-the-feet-of-dusty-baker-for-not-being-more/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [Ancelotti, for me, is a great person - a great manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/ancelotti-for-me-is-a-great-person-a-great-manager/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [A manager can have a great idea but if the players don't understand it, or don't follow you, your idea doesn't have much use.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/a-manager-can-have-a-great-idea-but-if-the-players-don-t-understand/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [I admired Lampard and all the main leaders of the team when I was a kid. Every other game, he would score a brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/i-admired-lampard-and-all-the-main-leaders-of-the-team-when-i-was-a/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [Wenger is an immense manager and a great man. He takes care of his players, maybe too much. He's not a man of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-nasri/wenger-is-an-immense-manager-and-a-great-man-he-takes-care-of-his/) [Samir Nasri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-nasri/) > [It took me 35 years of being involved at a decent level of football to become manager at a great club like Celtic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-strachan/it-took-me-35-years-of-being-involved-at-a-decent-level-of-football/) [Gordon Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-strachan/) > [Pochettino's a great manager, and he puts a lot of trust in young English players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dele-alli/pochettino-s-a-great-manager-and-he-puts-a-lot-of-trust-in-young/) [Dele Alli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dele-alli/) > [He's arrogant, he's vein, he's concieted...What can I say, I think I'm a great manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-s-arrogant-he-s-vein-he-s-concieted-what-can-i-say-i-think-i-m-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was once asked what it takes to be a great manager...my response? Great players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/i-was-once-asked-what-it-takes-to-be-a-great-manager-my-response/) [Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/) > [I had a great manager in Jose Mourinho, who really helped me. He was always there when I needed him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mesut-ozil/i-had-a-great-manager-in-jose-mourinho-who-really-helped-me-he-was/) [Mesut Ozil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mesut-ozil/) ## More by Dave Martinez > [My kids would watch from the window and wave to me during batting practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/my-kids-would-watch-from-the-window-and-wave-to-me-during-batting/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [When you go up there in the batter's box, you're engaged to hit. It's the same thing with baserunning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/when-you-go-up-there-in-the-batter-s-box-you-re-engaged-to-hit-it-s/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [In my career, I finished in second place six times. I played on teams that were in it to the very end. It's frustrating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/in-my-career-i-finished-in-second-place-six-times-i-played-on-teams/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [Honestly, I'd rather not talk about my health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/honestly-i-d-rather-not-talk-about-my-health/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [Yeah, I grew a goatee, and the next year, everybody had them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/yeah-i-grew-a-goatee-and-the-next-year-everybody-had-them/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [I like to hit with men in scoring position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/i-like-to-hit-with-men-in-scoring-position/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [I love Chicago. I love Wrigley Field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/i-love-chicago-i-love-wrigley-field/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [The object is to win as many games possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/the-object-is-to-win-as-many-games-possible/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [My job is to be the bench coach with the Rays and help this team succeed. If another opportunity arises, I'd welcome the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/my-job-is-to-be-the-bench-coach-with-the-rays-and-help-this-team/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [I've been around baseball for a really long time. I didn't know I could want to be here any more than I do, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/i-ve-been-around-baseball-for-a-really-long-time-i-didn-t-know-i/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [I'm never going to criticize any umpires or anything, because they're a big part of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/i-m-never-going-to-criticize-any-umpires-or-anything-because-they-re/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [It would be tremendous... I'd love to be part of winning a championship in Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/it-would-be-tremendous-i-d-love-to-be-part-of-winning-a-championship/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [I always was the quiet type, never said that much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/i-always-was-the-quiet-type-never-said-that-much/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [I was thinking it would be nice if I woke up and could play like Roberto Clemente.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/i-was-thinking-it-would-be-nice-if-i-woke-up-and-could-play-like/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) > [You have to stay in the moment. Stay focused. Know what you're going to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-martinez/you-have-to-stay-in-the-moment-stay-focused-know-what-you-re-going-to/) [Dave Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) [Explore all 57 Dave Martinez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-martinez/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) [Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was with the Giants, I played for Dusty Baker, and I love Dusty to death. I think he's a great manager and great person, but he platooned me. His reasoning was to get everybody in the lineup. 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