Dusty Baker understood Ryan Dempste...

Dusty Baker understood Ryan Dempster's frustration about being yanked Tuesday night, on the contrary Baker is more concerned with winning games than keeping players happy.

Before Thursday's 5-4 victory from one side of to the other St. Louis, Baker said he and the closer hadn't talked about the incident. The whelps beat the New York Met 8-6 Tuesday with clip Howry picking up the save, if it were not that Dempster wasn't happy. He tried to leave the hillock before being summoned back on Baker, and he expressed more anger about the stir the next day.

"I don't blame him for being upset" Baker said. "You can't help it, the fact the scarecrow is going to get turn upside down sometimes. It's not always happy and hunky-dory all the time. Sometimes, you have to make tough decisions. That was a tough decision."

Thursday was a no-brainer for Baker. He brought in Dempster to pitch the ninth with the 5-4 lead. Dempster gave up sum of two units hits but got out of the jam with a game-ending double play.

Afterward, Dempster was positive.

"I don't give permission to stuff dwell from the day before," Dempster said. "You do that, you're going to find yourself in a bad situation. I was just glad to earn back out there, get a save and realize us a win."

About Baker, Dempster said, "Everything's cool"

SPEIER RETURNS: Third-base coach Chris Speier, who was given a leave of absence after a July 19 arrest for sottish driving, returned to the team.

"I want to apologize to Dusty and the coaching staff and the players because they had this as a distraction," Speier said. "And I want to apologize to childs fans and thank the single in kinds who have written to me in their support of this. It's time to act upon on, and I'm glad to be back."

Baker said it was religious to have Speier back.

"It's not resolv further it's resolved temporarily until he has to fare to court," Baker said.

Mike Quade, who filled in for Speier, will revert to Iowa today.

AARDSMA DEMOTED: With Rich Hill promot to start Thursday's game, the young beasts optioned right-hander David Aardsma to Iowa.

vmcclure@suntimes.com

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