Managerial search over. It's Dusty.

[westofyou]

2. Dusty ruined Kerry Wood's arm is just like saying McKenon ruined Scott Williamsons arm.

No, it's like saying Jack McKeon ruined Steve Busby's arm.

Because he did.

[flyer85]

No, it's like saying Jack McKeon ruined Steve Busby's arm.

or that Johnson ruined Gooden's arm.

[westofyou]

http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/spring/

Dusty reax

The Reds sent this from Dusty's agent, my ol' pal Greg Genske: "Dusty is extremely excited to join the Cincinnati Reds with its rich history—and looks forward to helping re-establish the legacy of the Big Red Machine."

# Aaron Harang: "I think he’s going to be a good addition to our team. He’s got a track record, he knows how to win. I think he’s going to demand quality play from his players. He’s not going to be the type of guy who is not afraid of benching a guy for not hustling."

# Bronson Arroyo: "To get it out of the way quick is great, instead of dragging it out and going through five or six interviews and waiting until the last minute to make a decision. It’s good for the organization to get going in the right direction."

# Marty Brennaman: "I don’t think you can deny his track record. I was even surprised at it after I looked at it. If you want to talk about a guy with 9 winning seasons."

# Rich Aurilia: "I think it’s great, he’s the type of guy players want to play for it’s like having another guy on the team. He'd love to play. He'd like to put the uniform on. I think it’s a great hire, he's a great character guy and a great communicator. He treats everyone the same. I think he’ll enjoy the ownership group and they’re going in the right direction."

# Kent Mercker: "I think it’s a great hire. Being the prognosticator I am, if they’re going to make a change, I thought Dusty would be a great candidate. He brings instant street credibility. It’s a name everyone has heard of. As a player, he’s played in the World Series, he can relate to players, because he was a player. The one thing I got from him, he knew every one of his players, he knew their wives names, he knew what they liked to eat. He took the time to get to know the 25 guys he was going to battle with."

# Pete Mackanin: "Today I’m just digesting the news, trying to figure out what the plan is. I think I’m just going to start calling other teams and try to get a job. There may or may not be something for me in the organization. It’s probably unlikely as a coach, but I don’t think that’s been ruled out. I’m just going to start making phone calls."

# Jeff Brantley: "I think it’s awesome. I think the Reds will benefit greatly by having Dusty at the wheel. I know there are naysayers, but I’ve played for him. I know what it’s like to play for a young manager, I know what it’s like to play for a guy who has played a long time. Dusty’s very good. He’s about winning. The one thing I’ve always loved about Dusty is he’s a guy who gets guys to play their best."

"He knows how to teach you how to hit, too. You can bet your bottom dollar that there won’t be any slumps swinging the bat."

"Everyone’s knock on Dusty is not understanding pitchers, but the thing about it is he does understand. But when you have your main pitcher is basically hurting himself, which was Prior and you have another guy with the worst mechanics in the game in Kerry Wood. Those guys were going to get hurt, no matter who was manager. He just ended up getting kicked in the teeth for it."

# And one more... Adam Dunn: "I think it's a perfect fit."

Dunn also said his knee is feeling better, he's just waiting for the swelling to go down completely, but has been doing his rehab. He said nobody's talked to him about his extension, "I'm sure getting Dusty was their No. 1 priority, and rightfully so."

[vaticanplum]

I keep seeing quotes from Rich Aurilia, in fact I've probably seen more from him about this than anyone else including front office management. I know he's a Giant and all, but the reporters do know that he's no longer a Red, right?

[Chip R]

I keep seeing quotes from Rich Aurilia, in fact I've probably seen more from him about this than anyone else including front office management. I know he's a Giant and all, but the reporters do know that he's no longer a Red, right?

Rich likes Big Dust cause he played him every day.

[westofyou]

I keep seeing quotes from Rich Aurilia, in fact I've probably seen more from him about this than anyone else including front office management. I know he's a Giant and all, but the reporters do know that he's no longer a Red, right?

He played for Dusty, came up as a rookie and played for years for him...in fact he was a YOUNG player who pushed an established vet aside... a fact that seems to be diluted by Cubs blue.

He also like Brantley has been an insider in both organizations, that is a unique insight when discussing the work habits of leaders, ask the people who worked for them and have the experience of the two work cultures. You'll learn more then you think.

This sort of stuff is what humanizes the game and blurs the edge of statistical studies. It's all about people at the end of the day, and they all look at the game differently then us and mostly it's because they play(ed) it day in and day out. That's why I think oral histories from players is so valuable, it's a look at the game usually after they played and it usually tells you more in 1 page then John Fay can in one season.

[redsmetz]

I liked this quote:

Dunn also said his knee is feeling better, he's just waiting for the swelling to go down completely, but has been doing his rehab. He said nobody's talked to him about his extension, "I'm sure getting Dusty was their No. 1 priority, and rightfully so."

This is what I'm loving about Adam Dunn; a growing maturity. I hope step #2 is signing Adam to a 4-5 year deal.

[Unassisted]

I'll put it to you this way, if Dusty Baker rode Bailey and Cueto hard and won like crazy with them, I wouldn't shed a tear if they had short careers.

That's a great point. It seems like the prevailing assumption on those starters in the pipeline is that they're destined for long successful careers. It could be that they're destined for short successful careers, no matter who writes their name in the 9-hole on the lineup card. Dusty can write that name as well as anyone. There's no reason to think he won't get the most out of those guys over the short haul, if that's their destiny.

[BCubb2003]

Dusty can write that name as well as anyone.

Well, Narron studied calligraphy, so I'd give the nod to him, but otherwise you're probably right.

[Falls City Beer]

That's a great point. It seems like the prevailing assumption on those starters in the pipeline is that they're destined for long successful careers. It could be that they're destined for short successful careers, no matter who writes their name in the 9-hole on the lineup card. Dusty can write that name as well as anyone. There's no reason to think he won't get the most out of those guys over the short haul, if that's their destiny.

The prevailing wisdom on the starters in the pipeline is that they'll all be above replacement level and they'll all be cheap for six years. But if they're good, they'll only be cheap for a couple of years. I don't think you can have a great or even a good starter cheap for six years; arbitration means they'll get a huge pay raise if they're good, so really, the cheapness argument is all relative; the only way they remain cheap (even in the pre-FA seasons) is if they are mediocre or worse.

All this assumes that said starter would be healthy anyway--which is certainly worse than a 50 % chance.

[Tom Servo]

You can watch the press conference now on Reds.com

[Tom Servo]

Dusty says there's a "number of guys he's called who are interested in coming to Cincinnati."

[Falls City Beer]

Dusty says there's a "number of guys he's called who are interested in coming to Cincinnati."

Coaches? players? both? neither? groupies?

[nate]

Coaches? players? both? neither? groupies?

Cubs fans.

[Tom Servo]

Coaches? players? both? neither? groupies?

He mentioned he plans for the Reds "to play exciting baseball and fundamental baseball" and have a number of high character players, and then came the quote. I took it that he meant players.