Dusty Baker, Reds Agree to Two-Year Extension on Heels of Postseason Disappointment

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Oct 15, 2012

Dusty Baker, Reds Agree to Two-Year Extension on Heels of Postseason DisappointmentCINCINNATI — The Reds and manager Dusty Baker have agreed to a two-year contract extension.

The Reds said a formal announcement will be made Monday afternoon.

The 63-year-old manager led the
team to its second National League Central Division title in three
seasons this year. He has been with the Reds five seasons.

The team had a disappointing
postseason, losing three home games last week to the San Francisco
Giants to drop a division series they once led 2-0. But they overcame
adversity during a regular season that included injuries to leading
hitter Joey Votto and closer Ryan Madson as well as Baker's own late-season
hospitalization for an irregular heartbeat and mini-stroke.

The longtime player also has managed the Giants and Chicago Cubs, winning five division titles altogether.

The Reds won 97 games during the
regular season and ran away with the National League Central division
after Pittsburgh challenged most of the summer. But Cincinnati couldn't
get that elusive home playoff victory to move on, making it 17 years now
since the Reds have won a postseason game in their own ballpark.

"It was disheartening to have my club go through this," the 63-year-old manager said.

The Reds went through a lot,
though, and handled all of it well until the final three home games.
They became the first NL team to win the first two in a best-of-five
division series and fail to move on.

The Reds have won 269 games under
Baker in the last three seasons, their best such stretch in 30 years.
Their two division titles in three years is the best such run since
Sparky Anderson managed the Big Red Machine to World Series
championships in 1975-76.

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