DUSTY BAKER IS
PROVING THE WORLD WRONG WITH HIS BOOMING BABIES
8.30.10
BY:MEH
DUSTY'S DAYCARE
DUSTY BAKER IS PROVING
THE WORLD WRONG WITH HIS BOOMING BABIES
Reds' manager Dusty Baker is
in the final year of a three-year 10.5 million dollar contract. On August
18th, after leading his team to a 68-51 record and a legitimate shot at the
playoffs for the first time since 1995, Baker was offered an
undisclosed contract extension by the Reds. Baker is still considering
Walt Jocketty's overture.
"We
just got the proposal a few days ago,”
Baker said.
“We’re still evaluating it. I’ve got to look at where were going and what I
want to do. I’m concentrating on winning. I’ve said that all along.
Everything is cool. It will work out."
Currently setting a season-high in games over the .500 mark (20) and games
ahead of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals (5), the Cincinnati Reds are
making serious noise in the National League. With Joey Votto leading the
team in offense, and Jay Bruce along with Drew Stubbs having impressive
Sophomore and Junior seasons, the young Reds are getting it done despite
rumors of Dusty Baker favoring older and more seasoned players.
In the position of handling a team with such great young talent when taking
over the Reds in 2008, many thought the situation would
quickly turn disastrous for Baker. While managing in San Francisco
('93-'02) and Chicago ('03-'06) Baker's success relied on veterans, but with
the Reds it seems that Baker has learned to mesh the old with the new while
creating a serious force to be reckoned with in the NL Central.
Joey Votto (26) and Jay Bruce (23) are both currently participating in their
third full major league seasons. Drew Stubbs (25), who avoided the 2010
rookie tag by compiling 180 at-bats last season, is playing in his second.
Bruce and Stubbs have spent their entire major league careers managed by
Dusty Baker while Votto has played 402 games for the Reds' skipper. Votto
played in 24 games during the Reds 2007 season under interim manager Pete
Mackanin.
Through Sunday, Joey Votto has hit 81 homeruns, drove in 261, and composed a
.315 batting average during his three seasons under Dusty Baker. Along with
Albert Pujols, Votto is becoming a determined contender for the National
League Triple Crown. The humble first baseman is also a solid MVP candidate
while quietly leading the Reds, old and new, to the post season. This season
Votto is hitting at a .325 clip (2nd), has driven in 93 runs (2nd), scored
91 times (tied with Brandon Phillips for 2nd), all while matching Jay
Bruce's jersey number in the homerun category (tied with Adam Dunn for 2nd).
After off and on performances this season,
Jay Bruce and
Drew
Stubbs have both put it together during August. Hitting just .230 in
June and .213 in July, Stubbs is having by far his best month of 2010
despite limited playing time (15 games started). With a greatly improved
.313 average for the month, along with ten runs batted in, six stolen bases,
16 runs scored, and two homers, Stubbs will likely become more of a regular
again come September.
Jay Bruce has flat out caught fire during August. After leading the Reds to
a
7-1 victory over the Cubs on Friday night as he drove in five runs with
three long balls, Bruce is currently sitting on a .316 average with seven
homers and fifteen RBI for the month.
If Dusty's youngsters can continue the pace they have set this month
throughout September, the chance of the St. Louis Cardinals catching them in
the standings will descend quickly. Dusty Baker's surprising youngsters,
along with his accomplished oldsters, are no longer a speculation; they are
absolute.
Up next for the Reds are the Milwaukee Brewers beginning on Monday. The Reds
have won four of five previous decisions against Milwaukee this season as
they outscored them 35-16. As the Reds and Brewers play three games in
Cincinnati, St. Louis will play three in Houston.
MONDAY: Homer Bailey (3-2, 4.83) vs. Randy Wolf (10-10, 4.74) at
7:10pm
TUESDAY: Aaron Harang (6-7, 5.02) vs. Yovani Gallardo (11-6, 3.5) at
7:10pm
WEDNESDAY: Johnny Cueto (12-4, 3.49) vs. Chris Narveson (10-7, 5.52) at
7:10pm
Whack Reds will be appearing on I-70 Baseball Radio during their Monday
night (11pm ET) live broadcast.
Make sure to tune in. We will be discussing the upcoming Reds and
Cardinals series, the NL Central, and whatever the hell else we feel like
spewing.
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HAL McCOY
-Tired
shoulder lands Leake on DL
REDS REPORT
-Reds
season-high 5 games ahead
JOHN FAY
-Votto's
reaching the grass
FANGRAPHS
-Gettin'
wiffe it OMGREDS
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