Cincinnati Reds’ manager Dusty Baker’s future unclear – NLDS News
As the San Francisco Giants succeeded in eliminating the Cincinnati Reds from the season on Thursday with a 6-4 win in the National League Division Series, what remains uncertain is the future of Reds' manager Dusty Baker.
Not only did his team suffer a loss, which they were not anticipating at all given their 2-0 lead in the beginning of the five-game NLDS, but Baker also had a minor stroke prior to the commencement of post-season.
However, it is an inconvertible fact that Dusty Baker managed the whole season with his remarkable qualities. To start the season without three main pitchers in the bullpen and extended period of Joey Votto being in the disabled list, Dusty Baker coped with all the challenges so effectively that the Reds never felt the absence of such important players.
In Votto’s absence, the team had 32-16 record. And in the absence of key pitchers in the bullpen, the club had National League’s best bullpen ERA. But all that probably pales in front of the loss in the NLDS.
That aside, the team manager said he was not sure where his career was going as the Giants drove the Reds out of the season.
"I'm not sure where my career is going here in Cincinnati," Baker said. "We're going to talk about that in the next couple of days. But I'm not through managing yet. I have more to do."
What transpires at the end, the fact remains that the players hold immense respect and admiration for their manager whose dedication, competence and professionalism have been there for all to see.
"I really hope Dusty is back next year," said Phillips, who spoke privately with Baker for several moments. "If he's not here, it's going to be kind of tough for me. I wanted to win this one for Dusty and for ourselves. Winning one for Dusty would have even been better, especially since he wasn't here when we clinched.”
Although things seemed to be going very well for the Reds initially, the result in NLDS has changed everything. It remains to be seen what course the Reds take as far as the managerial responsibilities are concerned.
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