Dusty Baker Is Out As Manager According To The Associated Press

Ben Walker of the Associated Press citing an unnamed source reports that the Reds will announce today that Dusty Baker is out as manager of the Reds.

The story does not specify if Baker was let go by Bob Castellini, owner of the team, or resigned.

Fans consensus overwhelmingly called for Baker's dismissal after Baker led the team to the playoffs in three of the past four season, winning over 90 games three times.  The Reds' failed to advance past the first round in the playoffs.

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The result of the dismissal of winning managers has historically led to periods of frustration.

Cincinnati has let go four managers after winning seasons and subsequently suffered through long droughts between playoff appearances.

Dick Wagner fired Sparky Anderson after he led the Reds' to a 92-69 record but failed to make the playoffs, finishing second to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Ironically, Baker was a member of that Dodgers' team.

The Reds' won 90 games under John McNamara but were swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLCS.

It took the Reds four managers and 10 seasons of sub 90 win seasons with zero playoff appearances.

Lou Piniella led the Reds wire-to-wire to a surprising World Championship in 1990.  He lasted two more seasons, leaving after a 90-72 season.  The departure of Piniella came two years into a four-year playoff drought.

Dave Johnson got the team back into the playoffs with an 85-59 record in a strike shortened season.  The Reds lost in four games to the Atlanta Braves.  Johnson was fired by Marge Schott, who knew nothing about baseball, because he lived with his girlfriend Susan before they were eventually married.  She hired Ray Knight because he was her favorite player, not knowing that he and his wife Nancy Lopez dated while she was married to another man.

That frivolous move led the Reds' through three dark seasons until Jack McKeon took the Reds' to within one game of the playoffs in 1999.  The Reds won 96 games but finished in a tie with the New York Mets for the wild card.  New York defeated the Reds in a one game showdown.

The Reds had a 85-77 season in 2000 after the Reds brought Ken Griffey Jr. back to Cincinnati.  Disagreements between McKeon and general manager Jim Bowden led to McKeon's dismissal and seven straight losing seasons until Baker arrived.

Anderson, McNamara, Piniella, McKeon and Johnson all successfully managed teams to successful seasons after leaving Cincinnati.

Anderson led the Detroit Tigers to a World Championship in 1984.  McNamars led the 1986 Boston Red Sox to the World Series. Piniella never again returned to the World Series but won two division titles with the Seattle Mariners and two straight division titles with the Chicago Cubs.  McKeon turned a losing Florida Marlin team around in 2003 and defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Baker has won three Manager of The Year Awards.  He has won over 1600 games and a .526 career winning percentage.