Dusty Baker To Manage Reds?

Thursday, October 11, 2007

According to major league the sources, the Reds have interviewed Dusty Baker for their vacant managing position and could be ahead of the other candidates. It seems the Reds will not wait for La Russa to make a decision and will jump on an available manager while they can. It seems that Dusty Baker, Joe Girardi, Bob Brenly, and Pete Mackanin are the final four in the running for the job, but it is very early. I think the Reds are interested in a high profile manager and Baker, a three time manager of the year who led the Giants to the World Series and the Cubs to the NLCS. Taking a year off was good for Baker and going somewhere like Cincinnati where the fan base isn't huge and the team is on the brink of being in contention in the division reminds me of what happened in 2003 with the Cubs. He will be managing against the same division he managed against between 2003 and 2006, and being an analyst for the past year with ESPN who has been covering this division, he has a good understanding of what they are capable of. He could bring back some of his coaching staff from his time with the Cubs who had success with some of the players like Gene Clines, who is currently with the Dodgers. He could also bring Chris Speier as a base coach and outfield instructor along with Dick Pole, who is currently the Reds pitching coach. I think the best move would be to try Baker, who is a players favorite and veteran of the game.

4 comments:

Anonymous 6:10 PM CDT  

he'll be there manager

timy1 8:23 PM CDT  

the Red's can do better than that.

Anonymous 7:43 AM CDT  

Anyone who has followed Dusty's entire career knows he is a team player and a player's leader. He manages each player individually. That's what wins games, divisions, playoffs, and hopefully, a series. He'll do as much as he can with what's there, the "there" has to do their share.

Anonymous 9:41 AM CDT  

The game has passed Baker by. Why any team that has to rely on young players would hire him is beyond me. I was ecstatic to see him go last year. His "us vs. them" mentality with the media will start almost immediately. As a Cubs fan, I am happy that he is back in the NL Central-that's one less team to worry about. Now if we could just get the Cardinals to hire Phil Garner...