Dusty Baker Hopes to Revitalize Cincinnati Reds for Years to Come

The Cincinnati Reds made a move today that could very well move their ball club in the right direction. I am referring to the decision to hire former Giants and Cubs manager Dusty Baker to become their new skipper. Baker comes to the Reds after working a year in Bristol, Connecticut for the sports network ESPN. Baker has consistently been known as a player's coach as he spent his fourteen years in the national league as a manager.

Baker spent ten years with the San Francisco Giants followed up by four years in the Windy City with the Cubs. Baker is a very charitable oriented man who should do a lot for the city of Cincinnati on and off the field. He is also known as a very cultured and knowledgeable man who had quotes from such figures as Ghandi posted in his office in Chicago and San Francisco.

Baker has been named National League Manager of the Year on three separate occasions. He has dealt with his share of controversy throughout the years. One statement in particular that comes to mind was how Baker made an off hand comment about how African American players can handle playing in the hot sun better then white players.

He went on to say that is why his ancestors were brought over here in order to be able to work the fields. Now obviously this was something that should not have been said, in fact if a white manager had said something along these lines he would have been out the door the very next day. However, this is just one example of how Dusty Baker is not afraid to speak his mind. He was also accused by several commentators of shielding his player from criticism too much and not showing enough discipline.

During today's press conference Baker was quoted as saying "We're both starving so hopefully we can eat at the same time" in reference to how both Baker and the Reds organization are starving for victories. This is true in any sense. The Reds have not finished any better then third in the NL Central since legendary shortstop Barry Larkin retired following the 2004 season.