The Reds’ rise to 90+ win seasons also coincided with Joey Votto’s growth into a perennial All-Star, Johnny Cueto’s rise to ace status, Aroldis Chapman assuming the closer role, and the Reds getting Adam Dunn and a 38-year-old Griffey out of their outfield. They turned over 75% of their 25-man roster between Baker’s first year (2008) and their 97-win season (2012), the only holdovers being Votto, Cueto, Homer Bailey, Bronson Arroyo, Brandon Phillips, and Ryan Haniger.
After Baker was fired in 2013, the Reds experienced phenomenally poor luck with injuries in 2014, losing a combined 650 days of playing time from key contributors and scoring 100 fewer runs on the season. This continued in 2015 after their opening day lineup never played together again after mid-April. The Reds traded Cueto to KC during the season, and traded Chapman and Todd Frazier after the season; the Reds’ 2016 roster was almost completely unrecognizable from their 97-win season just four seasons prior.
Any manager’s success is going to be tied to a certain degree to the success of players and roster composition. He is walking into a very good roster here. I don’t think what remains of the front office is going to let Dusty repeat what happened with the Cubs pitching again, even if he wanted to.
I am satisfied with him being a transition. I don’t think anyone views him as a long term option.
Baker is like 90% of all managers in baseball history. When he’s had talent, he’s won. When he’s not had talent, he’s not won. His record with the Reds, or Giants, or Cubs, or Nationals, simply tells me he’s not fucking things up. I suppose that counts for something given that this Astros team is still loaded with talent.
Right. Anyone they interviewed would not have trouble winning 90 games this season, and everyone they interviewed might have trouble winning 100 given the state of the rotation.
I think I know the answers, but since I don’t fully understand ownership control, I’ll ask this: are the decisions on managers and GMs all Crane and Crane alone, or do others have input? Similarly, does anyone know if there is a baseball person alongside Crane in these interviews?