Baker on the reaction

I continue to get emails and posts to the blog about the impending doom of the Reds because of the hiring of Dusty Baker. Baker wasn't surprised by the reaction his hiring received.

“There was negative reaction when Joe Torre took over the Yankees,” Baker said.

He thinks he's getting ripped because of the way it ended with Chicago Cubs. His last season -- he went 66-96 in 2006 -- was by far his worst as a manager.

“I guess that’s what people remember the most," he said. "That’s what they should remember the least.”

What Baker would like you to look at:

--The 1992 Giants went 72-90. Baker took over in '93 and the club went 103-59.

--The 2002 Cubs went 67-95. Baker took over in '03 and the club went 88-74 and came with in one Bartman move of the making the World Series.

--He's reached 88 wins or more eight times in span when the Reds have hit or exceeded that total once.