Reds Close To Hiring Baker?

[westsider]

When Dusty was in his last year with the Giants, I did a lot of reading on a Giants' blog and fan website. There were some knowledgable fans on there, and I was amazed at how horrible they thought he was as a manager.

 

In his first year with the Cubs, all was made clear ...

[The Scribe]

I will give Baker an edge in one area. Free Agents like to play for him. He can recruit some quality FAs to come and play for him. Only problem is, those guys take away ABs from the younger kids. Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek come to mind in 2003 when the Cubs won the Division. Shawn Estes deal didn't work too well.

 

In 2004, Todd Walker and Greg Maddux were key signings. In 2005, it was Jeromy Burnitz.

 

Dusty isn't the best at developing young talent. Corey Patterson struggled under Baker, but he is a head case and woulnd't flourish anywhere. Ronny Cedeno and Brendan Harris are players Baker relegated to the bench. Look what Harris did at Tampa this year.

 

Of course, the proof is on the mound. In 2004, Baker managed Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Matt Clement, Kent Mercker, Francis Beltran, and Glendon Rusch. Only Wood pitched three years later...as a reliever.

 

Yuk. Sucks to be a Reds fan if this thing pans out. Might as well go ahead and trade Votto, Keppinger, Hopper, and Hamilton because they will lose ABs to Neifi Perez, Damian Miller, Ramon Martinez, and Jose Macias.

[Birdsfan]

Make some calls and PLEASE tell me this isn't true? PLEASE??? :cry:

Sounded to me like they only talked to him to fulfill their obligation to the league.

[westsider]

I will give Baker an edge in one area. Free Agents like to play for him. He can recruit some quality FAs to come and play for him. Only problem is, those guys take away ABs from the younger kids. Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek come to mind in 2003 when the Cubs won the Division. Shawn Estes deal didn't work too well.

 

In 2004, Todd Walker and Greg Maddux were key signings. In 2005, it was Jeromy Burnitz.

 

Dusty isn't the best at developing young talent. Corey Patterson struggled under Baker, but he is a head case and woulnd't flourish anywhere. Ronny Cedeno and Brendan Harris are players Baker relegated to the bench. Look what Harris did at Tampa this year.

 

Of course, the proof is on the mound. In 2004, Baker managed Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Matt Clement, Kent Mercker, Francis Beltran, and Glendon Rusch. Only Wood pitched three years later...as a reliever.

 

Yuk. Sucks to be a Reds fan if this thing pans out. Might as well go ahead and trade Votto, Keppinger, Hopper, and Hamilton because they will lose ABs to Neifi Perez, Damian Miller, Ramon Martinez, and Jose Macias.

Dusty's personnel decisions are horrible. For the entire first half of the 2005 season, he insisted on playing Neifi Perez regularly and hitting him and his lousy on-base percentage in the #2 spot in the batting order, with Corey Patterson as the leadoff hitter. It took him half a season to realize it wasn't going to work.

 

The two worst on-base guys on the team, in the #1 and #2 spots in the order ... just because they had some speed and "look like" top of the order guys.

[westsider]

Sounded to me like they only talked to him to fulfill their obligation to the league.

For the sake of all you Reds fans, I hope so ...

[HammerTime]

Say it aint soo. :cry:

[cvillecat]

I'm not a fan of Baker. Reds need to look a little more before making the hire.

[ladiesbballcoach]

How did Torre do in his first managerial tour of duty?

Francona? Maybe the guy has learned something.

[bigblueinsanity]

Imao this is a good move!

[letabrotherspeak]

If they hire Baker, I might switch allegiences to some other team.

The Reds would be making a splash with this hire...in a lake outside of Chernobyl.

How could management misread the fans so poorly if this goes through...looking at a youth movement and hiring a guy who prefers vets.

[mcpapa]

Wearing the Cubs' arms ragged is a pretty recent memory. What about when he managed the Giants? Wasn't Jason Schmidt something of a casualty also?

[stick1]

That would almost be the straw that broke the camels back for me! Say it aint so!

[nees1212]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say someone is hired by Monday, if not later today.

[PutMeInCoach]

Say it aint so.

[NEERFAN]

I haven't heard one Reds' fan not upset about the posibility of Baker coming to town. Hopefully the Reds' front office can hear the displeasure.