I don’t think it will happen during the season (most of you don’t think so, either, judging by those recent poll results), but a discussion in the comments under the most recent Titanic Struggle Recap leads to an interesting question:
How poorly do the Reds have to play for Dusty Baker to get fired during the season?
I have always thought Baker would be gone after the season, unless the Reds made the playoffs. I still believe that. Some people are suggesting that the Dusty Watch is on, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen.
Frankly, we all have a tendency to overreact during the bad times. Yes, the Reds have lost four straight. Yes, the Reds are poised on the brink of getting swept by the Pirates. Yes, the team doesn’t do the little things well, and they can’t hit right now.
The cliche continues to apply, though: it’s still early. It really is. Yes, there are disturbing signs that this is the same old Reds of the last nine years, but the fact is that the Reds could win four straight games starting today and we’d all be happy again. It’s hard to urge patience during these rough times, but they’ve only been playing for two weeks. I keep telling myself that.
Anyway, answer the question: what will it take for Dusty to be fired mid-season?