Nervous Dusty Baker ready to guide Reds

SARASOTA, Fla.ûFormer Cubs manager Dusty Baker was a little nervous before presiding over the Cincinnati Reds’ first workout of spring training. So, the first-year Reds manager called home and talked to his 9- year-old son, Darren. ”He goes, ‘Dad, you ge

”As soon as you get into it, the nerves subside. But you’re nervous with anticipation of what may be. And that’s where the nerves come in. You wish you had a crystal ball to tell you what was at the end of the rainbow, but you don’t.” The 58-year-old manager had a clear idea of what he was looking for when his Reds team arrived at spring training camp.

”I can tell the guys have been working out,” Baker said. ”You can tell the pitchers have been throwing. You can tell the guys are serious about their work. ”I asked them to come into camp in shape, asked them to work in the winter, and it appears that they all did it.”

The Reds made a few bold moves in the offseason to try to break out of their rut of seven straight losing seasons. They broke with recent tradition and went outside the organization to hire Baker, who was a broadcaster last season. The biggest question at the start of camp Sunday was how they will fill a rotation that starts with Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo and has little certainty beyond those two. Several pitchers are competing for the final three spots.

Baker, who has never worn a red uniform during his baseball career, watched the two-hour workout in familiar style. He had red-and-black wristbands hiked up around his forearms. He was missing the toothpicks that he likes to chomp during games.

He stopped to sign autographs for fans during the workout. Jim Vermeelen from Connorsville, Ind., got Baker to sign one of his 1981 Dodger baseball cards. Baker played for the Dodgers ù once the Reds’ top rival ù from 1976-83. ”I think it was a good hire,” said Vermeelen, a Reds fan since 1956. ”Dusty’s knowledgeable and knows what’s going on.”

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