Earlier today, we learned that Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty was set to meet with manager Dusty Baker to offer him a short-term contract. For his part, the 63-year-old has said that he is definitely looking to continue his managerial career. Here's more on Baker and other news out of Cincy..
- Jocketty wouldn't confirm whether he offered the veteran skipper a contract when they met, but he seems confident that there will be some news on that front on Monday or Tuesday, writes John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The GM added that the contracts of the team's coaches will be addressed after Baker's situation is taken care of, but he also said yesterday that they are all expected to return.
- Meanwhile, Jocketty has also heard the reports of Scott Rolen planning to retire, but he isn't so sure that will be the case, Fay writes. “He hasn’t told us that,” Jocketty said. “I’ve talked to him. I don’t think he knows what he wants to do.” If Rolen wants to continue playing, the GM said that the Reds would be interested in having him back in some capacity.
- A baseball source familiar with the Baker situation told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that the forecast was "optimistic" that Baker and his staff would be back.
i hope baker dont come back reds need to send him packing
Rolen right handed bat off the bench, plays once a week, or coaches for the reds in some way. Frazier needs to be the every day 3b. Hopefully Baker is smart and declines the offer and goes elsewhere. Please.
Well, maybe if Rolen retires he and Tony LaRussa can move on to their morning coffee get-togethers.
Bryan LaHair and Scott Rolen platoon for Cubs at 3rd. LaHair….I still
think he can be very useful for the Cubs in a part to full time role.
The Cubs might have a year or two stop-gap for third base right under
their noses, in Bryan LaHair. Sure, LaHair is not experienced at the hot
corner, by why not show him how to play there in winter ball? And, if
not 3rd base (which I personally love the idea of him playing 3rd)…why
not left field, if Soriano gets dealt this winter? LaHair is still only
29. I like him playing in a solid platoon at some position against
righties. LaHair has too much doubles and homer power to make him a
bench
guy, or to trade him. If nothing else, sign Scott Rolen to bat against
lefties and to mentor LaHair for third base. That would be a good story,
and could work out pretty good.
LaHair had his month. Outside of April he had a .684 OPS.
I think the Dusty did a fine job of managing the Reds to the division crown and just instilling a sense of comfort in the locker room. I don’t know if the Reds will be as good as they were this year especially if some of the other teams in the division develop somewhat significantly but I like Dusty as a manager and a leader.
The NL central was weak this year. No Prince No Albert No Carpenter. Anyone could have managed this team. Plug in your starting 5 rotation for 161 games, submit a lineup card with the two worst OBP guys in the 1, 2 holes sit back and win any how. I’ll take a new manager please.
Baker won two division titles and 267 games in three years for Cincinnati, the best run the franchise has seen since Sparky Anderson managed the 1975-1977 Reds. I am certain that I speak for all Reds fans when I say this is unacceptable, and that the team needs to move on from Baker in favor of a proven winner like Jim Riggleman or Bobby Valentine.
Successful troll is successful.
What’s unacceptable are his poor decisions in the playoffs. You might note that Sparky won World Series titles.
This is just my opinion, but I think that Sparky might have had sliiiiiiiiightly better players.
Personally I don’t blame Baker for the Reds losing the playoffs. Rolen’s error at the end of the game and Phillips going to far to get to 3rd and get out are the two biggest things that made the team lose. Oh and Rolen had several poor throws to Votto too. These are the biggest reasons why the Reds didn’t move forward.