In an apparent change of course, the Washington Nationals have named Dusty Baker as their new manager days after hiring Bud Black, and a month after firing Matt Williams.
Williams, whose team was a World Series favorite, was inexperienced, leading his team to an 83-79 record and failing to make the post-season. What’s interesting is that in his first season he was awarded the NL Manager of the Year.
When the Nationals opted for Bud Black last Wednesday, everything was in place—that is except an agreed-upon fee, as CBS’ Jon Heyman reported the snag in the contract negotiations. And just when things were coming to the surface in that supposed deal, the Nats announced today the hiring of Baker, the team’s second choice this off-season. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the deal with Black was made without financial agreements in place.
Baker, 66, has complied a career 1,671-1,504 record in 20 seasons as skipper, winning National League Manager of The Year in 1993, 1997 and 2000 with San Francisco. He led the Giants to the 2002 World Series, losing to the Angels in 7 games in his final season in the Bay Area.
After moving on to Chicago, he led the Cubs to the 2003 National League Championship Series, losing once again in 7 games, this time to the Florida Marlins after holding a 3 games to 1 lead in that series. He took a year off before taking the manager’s post in 2008 with Cincinnati, leading the Reds to the NL Central title in 2010, their first playoff appearance in 15 years. Like in San Francisco and Chicago, the Reds blew a lead in their playoff series, losing to Baker’s former employers, the Giants, in five games after holding a two-game lead in the NL Division Series. He managed the Reds for three more years before being fired after the Reds lost the National League Wild Card Game to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013.
He took a couple of years off and most recently worked for TBS as a studio analyst for the final two weeks of the season and the National League playoffs.
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