Dusty Baker Frustrated with Strikeouts and Walks

Nothing and I mean nothing causes Dusty Baker to blow his stack more than a hitter taking a called third strike.

"You have no chance if you take one," Baker said.

Chris Dickerson took four of them in the Reds 10-4 loss to San Diego Friday night.

"I talked to him about it this morning," Baker said. "I know the camera is on me but I'm about to explode when I see those called strikes. You have no chance if you don't swing."

Having close calls is no excuse to Baker.

"After awhile you have to take it out of his (the umpires) hands. You have to take it out of his hands man," Baker said.

As a young player in the leadoff spot is no excuse either. Drew Stubbs leads the team with 19 strikeouts and Dickerson is second with 17. The pair have been the only leadoff hitters thus far.

"I keep telling them the situation changes as the game goes on," Baker said. "If you're leading off an inning that's one thing you want to take pitches and work the count. But if you're up with a runner on second and no outs, you're a get him over man. If your're up with the bases loaded you're an RBI man. You look at (Orlando) Cabrera. He bats second but he's an RBI man. I've talked to him he said "I love those situations." That's where it starts. You have to want to be in that situation."

"I will keep telling them over and over and over until they get it. If they don't get it, we have to move in a different direction but we're not there yet," Baker said.

"We have to cut down on strikeouts and walks. I tell the pitchers if the batter puts the ball in play, you have a 70 percent chance to get him out. I'm not a gambler but if you go to River Downs and you bet on a horse with a 70 percent chance to win. You'd take that wouldn't you?"