Baker's first-year magic tested in Cincinnati

Seven consecutive losing seasons have infiltrated baseball's oldest franchise, and Dusty Baker was brought in to fix that. And the manager's track record indicates that this could already be his year.

Baker is one of the greatest first-year managers in league history. In San Francisco, he was able to take a team with Barry Bonds in his prime to 103 wins in 1993 (a team that might end up the last team ever to win 100 games and not make the playoffs – it was the year before the wild card was instituted). With the Cubs, he took the team to the brink of the World Series in his first season, 2003, before Steve Bartman intervened.

It was all downhill for Baker in Chicago after that, and this should be a big test for Baker as well.

The Reds had 65 players in camp at one point, helping Baker define the players of the present and future.

"We still have to figure out the everyday lineup and get everybody familiar with each other on the field. It is easy when you come in with a set lineup. We have a semi-set lineup, but not totally set,” Baker told the Dayton Daily News.

"That's what makes it fun, putting pieces together," he added. "That's what it is all about. We have a present puzzle and a future puzzle that you eventually want to intertwine."

The future and present puzzle includes some promising young pitchers in Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez, who will start the season in the team's rotation, and first baseman Joey Votto. They'll mix with veterans such as Ken Griffey Jr. (can you believe it's his 20th season?) and Adam Dunn.

Other storylines for the Reds:

• Dunn is a polarizing figure for Cincinnati baseball fans. Many hate that he strikes out too much and hits for a low average. But he's durable and always has good power numbers - 40 home runs or more for four consecutive seasons. His contract is up after this season.
• Shortstop Alex Gonzalez won't be coming north with the major-league team, trying to rehabilitate a compression stress fracture in his right knee.
• Homer Bailey was the biggest prospect for the Reds for the last couple of years, but appears to have been passed by Cueto and Volquez and will start the season in Triple-A after a wild streak in camp.

Photo: Cincinnati Reds anager Dusty Baker (left) and his 9-year-old son, Darren, watch play against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 21, 2008 in Bradenton, Fla. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

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