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August 24, 2008

Every Given Sunday

A Red Menace

by John Perrotto

Dusty Baker readily admits that this is not what he bargained for when he stepped out of the ESPN broadcast booth last November to return to managing after a year away from the dugout. Baker signed a four-year contract with the Reds and took over a team that some observers felt was finally ready to contend in the National League Central after seven straight losing seasons. Now, with just one week remaining in August, the Reds are in last place, and 22½ games behind the Cubs, the team that Baker managed from 1993-96.

"It's been a little difficult, to say the least," Baker said. "I've always been used to having stability as a manager, both in San Francisco and Chicago. Obviously, there hasn't been a whole lot of that this season. This team looks nothing like what we thought we had coming out of spring training, and many things have changed. I don't see too many teams who have taken the hits we've taken this year."

The changes started early, when owner Bob Castellini fired general manager Wayne Krivsky on April 23 following a 9-12 start, and replaced him with Walt Jocketty, architect of the 2006 World Series champion Cardinals. Jocketty has begun a makeover of the Reds in recent weeks by trading their two biggest sluggers, shipping right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox, and left fielder Adam Dunn to the Diamondbacks. There has also been a slew of injuries that have seen 14 players placed on the disabled list, including shortstop Alex Gonzalez, out for the season since spring training with a knee injury.

The Reds have some key young building blocks in right-handers Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto, first baseman Joey Votto, and right fielder Jay Bruce. Second baseman Brandon Phillips and third baseman Edwin Encarnacion appear to be keepers as well, and a pair of rookies—catcher Ryan Hanigan and outfielder Chris Dickerson—are getting opportunities to show that they can be part of the long-term future.

While Baker bristles at the idea that he is better suited to managing a veteran team, he does admit there are challenges to using a younger lineup. "You have to protect certain guys when they are just starting out," Baker said. "You try to use them against pitchers you feel they match up well against. Basically, you're trying to put them into position to succeed and build some confidence. The worst thing you can do is throw a guy into the fire too quickly, and ruin him before he ever has a chance to succeed. It's certainly hard to replace Junior and Adam Dunn, though. Those are big losses. We're giving some kids some opportunity to show what they can do though, and I really believe that we have the makings of a potentially good team with some of the young guys we have."