Dusty Baker is out as the manager of the Cincinnati Reds following Tuesday's wildcard loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates that saw the Reds take an early postseason exit yet again during Baker's tenure. The team made the announcement on Friday that they will be going with a new leader for the 2014 season.
USA Today Sports reports that Baker had one year left on his current deal, but despite winning 90 games this season, his fate came down to just one game after yet another disappointing finish for Cincinnati in the playoffs. Baker, 64, ends his campaign in Cincinnati with a 509-463 overall record through his six years with the team.
Under Baker, the Reds have made it to the postseason in three out of the past four years, but have failed to make it out of the opening round every time. In 2010, the Reds won the division with a 91-71 record, but were swept out of the National League Division series by the Philadelphia Phillies. The following season, the Reds finished in third place and didn't qualify. Last year, the Reds ended the campaign with another division title after finishing with their best record under Baker with a 97-65 finish, but failed to defeat the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants as the NLDS went down to the wire and the Reds lost in five games.
This year, with the format of two wildcard teams that was implemented in 2012, the Reds finished 90-72 and in third place, but were still able to latch on to the second wildcard spot. Once they fell to the division rival Pirates by a count of 6-2 on Tuesday, Baker's fate was sealed, though not immediately as general manager Walt Jocketty said he thought Baker would be returning.
"I think so. He's got another year on his contract," Jocketty said after the wild-card loss, according to USA Today Sports, when asked if Baker would be returning following another disappointing end to the season.
The Reds struggled down the stretch, dropping their last six games in a row, four of which came at the hands of Pittsburgh. Cincinnati only scored 10 runs in those six games and failed to get quality pitching. Baker said following Tuesday's game that he knew it would be hard for it all to rest on one game.
"It's very difficult to come down to one game, especially the way we played. We got outplayed big time," he said per USA Today Sports following the game.
While it's easy to place the blame on Baker, outfielder Jay Bruce took some responsibility on the players' behalf when asked about possible changes heading into next season.
"I don't know about [changes]," Bruce told USA Today Sports. "We, as players, have to find a way. It's not on anyone else. Everyone has to hold themselves responsible and figure out a way to take the next step. We changed the goals. We're a winning club. I'm proud of our season in that aspect. But we've got to take the next step."
Baker is now out as Reds manager, but the Cincinnati organization has given no inkling as to who the club will turn to for the 2014 season. They can only hope their regular season success will translate over to a new manager, and that the new skipper can somehow, some way, find a way to lead the Reds to some victories in October.
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