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AP: 8a227585-ddd8-4261-bc69-be85c4ca6740
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson watches his team play the Colorado Rockies during an exhibition spring training baseball game on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013 in Scottsdale. Ariz. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
listen Listen: Kirk Gibson, Diamondbacks Manager
Doug and Wolf ask Gibson about his home plate encounter with Dusty Baker.

Don't expect Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson and Cincinnati Reds skipper Dusty Baker to exchange Christmas cards this year.

Prior to the spring training matchup between their teams Monday, Gibson and Baker had a bit of a tiff over the use (or non-use) of the designated hitter.

The game was being played at Salt River Fields, and as the home team the D-backs could choose. They wanted their pitchers to hit. Baker felt differently.

"I think we had just a little locker room conversation between the two of us," Gibson told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf Monday. "Two very competitive people.

"He didn't want to play by the rules today and we made him do that. He voiced the way he felt to me and I voiced the way I felt back to him, not a big deal."

OK then.

Gibson said he could have "let them" use the DH during the game while he could bat his pitcher, but said he wanted to play a National League-style game Monday, nothing more.

"They didn't want to, they had to and he didn't like it," he said. "We played a great National League game [Monday] and we move on.

"If he's pissed off about it I don't really give a s***."

But for the record, Gibson said he respects Baker and feels this will not be a lingering issue, and the Diamondbacks won the game by a score of 3-1.

Adam Green, Web Content Editor - ArizonaSports.com

5 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    AndyStandsUp wrote...
    Until someone gets plunked with a first pitch
    Hopefully, McCarthy isn't batting leadoff.
  • Abuse
    grimmy01 wrote...
    ehh
    Not really sure what benefit there was to playing a "National League Style" spring training game but ultimately, Gibby made the call. They're not supposed to be friends anyway. That being said, this article does kinda skew the interview into making it seem like more than it was. Gibby clearly said he had a ton of respect for Dusty, though it's barely mentioned in the article...until the end.
  • Abuse
    Whatashame wrote...
    But
    they are both National League teams. Why was this a discussion?
  • Abuse
    Only1Field wrote...
    DH?
    Just one more reason to get rid of the blasted thing. The DH along with interleague play is going to ruin baseball as we know it. NL baseball will always be superior as it tests the abilities of a Manager to actually manage a game and its players. There is a reason the Bob Melvin and Buck Showalter succeed in the AL, and it's because they still maintain the NL manager philosophies. They are constantly thinking, unlike the likes of Girardi or many other AL managers.
  • Abuse
    Lee A. wrote...
    @whatashame
    Was wondering the same thing: why was this even a question (using the DH) if it was two NL teams playing? Unless there's some latitude in spring training for NL teams to use the DH in order to get used to it for interleague play?? Dusty and Gibby have reps for being contrary types so I just chalk the whole thing up to that.
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