October 14, 2007
Cubs and Dusty
Tom Elia notes a double anniversary for the Cubs, their 1908 World Series win and the 2003 Bartman game. To me that game turned on Dusty Baker not having the bullpen ready when Prior got in trouble. Dusty is reported to be the new manager of the Reds:
Dusty Baker was hired as manager of the Cincinnati Reds, agreeing to a three-year deal Saturday with a team coming off its seventh straight losing season and looking for stability at the top.
The 58-year-old Baker worked in television for a year after the Chicago Cubs fired him after the 2006 season. The Reds decided to go for someone who knows the NL Central and has been to the World Series as a manager.
Dusty strikes me as the type of manager who does real well with talent. I've never thought of him as someone who can turn around a franchise. There is some good talent on the Reds, so we'll see if Baker can bring out their best. I'd really be worried about young Reds pitchers like Homer Bailey turning into the next Mark Prior.
On the face, looks like a shockingly bad hire. He has always truck me as inflexible, and the horses he's ridden to victory in the past are not on this roster.
Dusty played with Aaron, Kingman, McGwire Darrell Evans and Canseco. He's managed Bonds and Sosa and now Griffey and Adam Dunn.
Has any single man been associated with so many home runs?
It's always the middle of July for Baker. He never changes his in-game tactics at the end of the season where every game is meaningful. If Baker gets the Reds into the playoff hunt, Cincinnati will get to see this first hand.