| More Trusty for Dusty |
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| Written by Troy Chuinard | |
| Tuesday, 16 October 2007 | |
Chicago Cubs fans probably thought that they would never hear it again, but Dusty Baker has another job as a manager. After taking a year off to heal some wounds and analyze the game from an ESPN booth, Dusty Baker will return next season as the Cincinnati Reds’ new team skipper.
Will Dusty help the struggling Reds organization to become a contender? Who knows, but Baker is sure happy to be back in the dugout. "I'm inspired. I feel that I was brought here for a number of reasons, not just to manage a baseball team. Hopefully we can all come together for the same goal of winning, and we can have that championship ticker-tape parade, which is what I really, really need. I need that badly. You just don't know how bad I do need that,” quoted Baker. Dusty is the franchise’s first ever black manager, and it will be very interesting to see what type of impact he has on the Cincinnati Reds ball club. The team has no question faced its struggles over the past decade, as it has experienced its seventh straight losing season. They did, however, win their last World Series in 1990 under the hands of manager Lou Piniella. However, the team’s structure has changed significantly, going through two new owners, three new general managers, and now five different managers dating back to 2003. Dusty was given a three-year contract in hopes of getting the Reds back on their feet. Baker is fully aware of the off-season priorities that the Reds need to pursue. With only two dependable starters in Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, looking into a few more pitchers is a definite must. In addition, the 5.13 earned run average that the bullpen mustered up in 2007 was a league-worst. "Let's be honest: Most of the time you don't take over a winning situation. Most of the time, you take over a situation where a team's not doing very well. That's why they come get you in the first place,” stated Dusty. Another off-season question that remains unanswered is the status of superstar Adam Dunn. The Reds can exercise the $13 million team option or let Dunn test the free agent market. Team officials have stated that they want Dunn back and are willing to give him a contract extension to secure his services as the Reds’ everyday left fielder. Dunn has become the only player in history of the Reds to hit 40 home runs in four consecutive seasons. Team owner Bob Castellini has expressed his desire to pursue Dunn this off-season, and it is highly likely that the slugging left-fielder will return to Cincinnati next season. According to various reports, Dunn is very interested in a multi-year extension with Cincinnati. "That's the way I prefer to do it, so I don't have to hear trade talk every year," quoted Dunn. Cincinnati fans should no doubt grow excited over their new skipper. After leading the San Francisco Giants to the World Series in 2002 and bringing the Chicago Cubs within five outs of the World Series in 2003, it will be enjoyable to see what type of impact Dusty has in Cincinnati. Dusty has won the National League Manager of the Year Award on three separate occasions, and he has a career total of 1,162 wins. He also has one World Series ring, which he captured with the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers. Dusty has no doubt made an impact on several aspects in baseball, which is why it will be exciting to see if he can turn things around in Cincinnati.
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