Kirk Gibson on Reds’ Dusty Baker: ‘He didn’t want to play by the rules’

Mar 4, 2013, 11:57 PM | Updated: Mar 5, 2013, 12:47 am

LISTEN: Kirk Gibson, Diamondbacks Manager

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.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson watches a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson watches a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Nick Ahmed takes a throw during an unofficial spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in Scottsdale. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Eric Chavez hits during an unofficial spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Willie Bloomquist fields a ground ball during an unofficial spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt tosses the baseball during an unofficial spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Owings makes a throw during an unofficial spring training baseball workout Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks stretch at a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Fans watch as the Arizona Diamondbacks run at a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon McCarthy stretches at a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson, right, talks with Tony Sipp during a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks stretch at a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks stretch at a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Wil Nieves stretches at a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Matt Davidson, left, awaits a throw while Martin Prado watches during a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Martin Prado throws during a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon McCarthy throws during a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Aaron Hill makes a catch at second base during a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Trevor Cahill bunts during a spring training baseball workout on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Willie Bloomquist makes a throw during a baseball spring training workout Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Arizona Diamondbacks' Matt Davidson takes batting practice in a cage during a spring training baseball workout Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) A basket of baseballs are seen as Arizona Diamondbacks players take batting practice in a cage during a spring training baseball workout Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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