12 Days to Opening Day…

Dusty BakerDusty Baker played in the Majors from ‘68-’86 with Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland. He managed the Giants from ‘93-’02 and the Cubs from ‘03-’06 winning the NL Manager of the Year in ‘93, ‘97, and ‘00. As a manager he’s won just under 1200 games.

The Reds hired Dusty in October of 2007 to replace interim-manager Pete Mackanin (over my protestations). Baker’s critics say that he prefers veterans over more deserving young players and that his (mis)management contributed to the arm problems of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior with the Cubs. The Reds have Minor League Player of the Year Jay Bruce, another top 10 prospect Joey Votto, plus young stud pitchers Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, and Edinson Volquez. It remains to be seen if Baker will be able to repeat the success he had in San Francisco and Chicago, but at least he’s not another Dave Miley or Jerry Narron.