Originally posted Oct. 9, 2012

Reds manager Dusty Baker appreciates life more

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

CINCINNATI _ Bill Bavasi oversees the Cincinnati Reds minor league system.

In that capacity, he does not see manager Dusty Baker on an everyday basis.

“When you hear the word stroke, if you are like me, you fear the worst,” Bavasi said Monday afternoon at Great American Ball Park as a few Reds worked out after arriving from San Francisco at 8 a.m.

“I was very worried,” Bavasi said when he heard Baker had been admitted to a Chicago hospital Sept. 12 with an irregular heartbeat. And even more worried three days later when Baker’s scheduled release from hospital was cancelled due to a mini-stroke.

Reds fans will welcome Baker back to the park for the first time since Sept. 12 as Cincinnati plays Game 3 of its best-of-five National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants.

Besides Cincy fans, Baker’s legion of friends from managing the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs, and playing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Braves, were worried about his health.

Bench coach Chris Speier filled in and after missing 11 games, Baker returned to manage the Reds Oct. 1 in St. Louis.

* * *

Sitting at the podium Monday afternoon, Baker looked like the same Baker, smiling as he answered the same mundane questions managers are asked during off days.

Is this rotation the deepest you’ve ever had?

Have the Reds matured as a team from 2010 when they were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies?

How much of a spark is Brandon Phillips?

What’s the update on right-hander Johnny Cueto, who in Game 1 left after eight pitches?

Why are you guys hitting so well after not doing well in September?

What impact has catcher Ryan Hanigan had?

And, oh yeah, are you appreciating things that you maybe took for granted after being in the hospital?

Baker began softly saying he thought about his late father, John B. Baker, who died in November of 2009 after suffering a stroke the year before. Baker’s father would have been at the two games in San Francisco, which Baker regards as his home.

“I have an appreciation outside of the game,” Baker told reporters. “Like my family. Or when you watch the geese fly over ... that’s why I got my huntin’ stuff on now.

“I see the geese coming off that river now; I notice every time. Or the half moon the other night. A lot of times you take for granted whether it’s a full moon or half moon. Now all of the sudden you start seeing the moon.”

It may have been one of the most insightful, wisest things we’ve ever heard during a manager’s briefing.

* * *

It wasn’t my favorite Baker story ever. In 1993, I was sent to Denver to write about the Colorado Rockies who were going to break the Blue Jays attendance record. San Francisco Giants with slugger Barry Bonds and manager Baker were in town.

“Coach Baker,” said a Colorado radio man to the manager, “You don’t know me, but one night about six years ago in LA a kid went to get your car at the valet parking and snapped the key off in the door? That was me.”

Baker roared a hearty laugh. “Had to send a cab all the way home for a second key,” said Baker.

The subject moves to memorable hits and Baker had a few - over 1,900 in the majors. He says his No. 1 would be Game 162 of the 1977 season. Reggie Smith, Ron Cey and Steve Garvey all had hit 30 homers. Baker was stuck on 29 the final week.

“Houston is in LA,” Baker explained, “the night before the final game, Reggie sees J.R. Richard leaving the park. Reggie says to J.R. “You should hear Dusty in there bragging on himself, how he’s going to hit his 30th tomorrow -- off you.’

“Like thanks for the help Reggie,’’ Baker remembered saying. “I had not been bragging but the pressure was on -- the Dodgers had already taken a picture of the four of us for publicity.”

Baker told manager Tommy Lasorda “I’m not going to get it,” and Lasorda replied: “The Lord is testing you. He wouldn’t bring you this close to let you fail.”

Baker homered to centre field in the sixth inning and was replaced by Joe Simpson.

His next memorable hit would be a grand-slam off Jim Lonborg of the Phils in the 1977 NLCS. With the score even at 1-1, he hit a one-out slam for a 5-1 lead in a 7-1 win.

Dodgers LF Dusty Baker helped ruin the Montreal Expos 1981 best-of-five NLDS.

Rounding out his top three days in the batter’s box, is one Canadian fans should remember. It was the fourth game of the NL Division Series against the Montreal Expos in 1981, when he hit a two-out, bases-loaded double off Bill Gullickson at Olympic Stadium. The Expos were a win away from the World Series, leading 2-1 in what then was a best-of-five format.

“Everyone talks about Rick Monday’s homer, but if it wasn’t for that game, he wouldn’t have had the chance to hit it,” said Baker.

In a move which wouldn’t be recommended by the school of positive thinking, the Dodgers had been told to pack their bags, check out of their hotel, dress in suits and ties for the possible flight home. All except Baker that is. And his teammates let him know he was wrong showing up without a suit and tie.

“Sure, I remember what I said,’’ and with that he took off his Oakleys and beamed an impish grin he’d shown 12 seasons before, “I said ‘Johnny B. Baker’s not going home. He’s going to the World Series, either to play or to watch.”

Baker took care of Saturday’s win with five RBIs, the rains washed out Sunday’s game and Monday turned blue.

* * *

Walter Jocketty is in his 19th year as a general manager, the past five with the Reds. He went through a similar issue with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999 when manager Tony LaRussa had an ulcer in his stomach lining.

“But nothing like this,” said Jocketty, who ran the Cards from 1994 to 2007 and has been in charge in Cincinnati since April 23, 2008.

Jocketty explained how Reds’ Paul Lessard was worried about Baker’s swollen ankles in early September. Baker insisted upon waiting until the Reds reached Chicago.

Dr. Steven Adams, a friend of Baker’s from managing the Cubs, made a trip to Wrigley on the Tuesday to examine Baker, placed his stethoscope to Baker’s chest and said, “Let’s go Dusty, we’re going to Northwestern.”

Baker said he’s alive because his mini stroke happened in a hospital, rather than driving or on a plane earlier in the series.

“I wasn’t really that scared, really, if you’re going to be somewhere, you might as well be in a hospital,” Baker said. “If things aren’t right and all of a sudden, boom, I’m in the hospital. If they can’t take care of me then who can other than God?

“It was a blessing for me to be in a hospital when I had my stroke.”

Now back in uniform, his family reminds him of other things.

Daughter Tash has him on a diet: Oatmeal, pastas, couscous, turkey burgers, turkey bacon and zero bacon.

“My daughter wants her dad to live a long time,” Baker said. “I do, too.”

Johnny Rockets, a local burger joint, has taken the double bacon off the Double Dusty Baker burger, smothering it with couscous.

* * *

How did the teenage Bavasi get to know Baker when he was a slugging outfielder with the Atlanta Braves?

As a teenager working as a groundskeeper at San Diego Stadium, Bavasi also helped pack the visiting team’s bats on getaway days. He watched Baker hit a three-run homer late to beat the Padres and headed for the dugout he kept tapping his pal, bat boy Joe Wood, on the head.

Bavasi and Wood were packing the bats when ...

“Out comes Dusty in his shower shoes asking where the bat is, signs it to Joe, gives him a big tip and leaves,” said Bavasi. “I asked Joe what had happened. He said Dusty was at the bat rack, couldn’t make up his mind and finally took out a bat, Joe shook his head no and suggested another model.”

Baker went deep and everyone headed for the Braves’ bus happy.

“That’s what kind of guy Dusty is,” said Bavasi.

Bavasi has baseball blood. Papa Buzzie was general manager of Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Dodgers, then the Padres; brother Peter ran the Blue Jays in 1977 and Bill ran the Anaheim Angels and the Seattle Mariners.

* * *

Baker does not have a contract for next season.

“We want him back,” said Jocketty. “We hope we don’t sit down to talk until November.”

If the World Series goes to a Game 7 it will be played Nov. 2.

“Dusty has a lot more Karma than people realize,” Jocketty said. “He spoke to the team since he’s come back from the hospital.”

Baker, who has always worn No. 12, said a youngster gave him a t-shirt during spring training which read:

“The Year of the 12.”

“I believe in that,” Baker said. “It’s the only number I’m wearing while I’m living. So, I think it’s a special year. I feel that it’s our year. Maybe having the stroke is a sign that I am supposed to stay maybe where I am. I believe in signs.”

* * *

“When this happened, to somebody close to us, whether it was Dusty or a coach or player, those things go beyond the game,” said right-hander Homer Bailey. “We’re like family. We don’t have a locker room. We have a clubhouse. A clubhouse is where your family lives. We’re around each other more than our own families.

“Dusty always says he’s Highlander. He’ll probably say he won one more battle.”

The Highlander was a fantasy action movie starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, as a Scottish warrior battles through current-day and past story lines.

* * *

The manager will notice if Bailey gets to his balance point or if the opposing pitcher is tipping his pitches.

And he’ll notice whether it’s a half moon or a full moon.

And he’ll look for geese. Being the same age ... well 87 days younger ... maybe it’s about time to begin doing the same. But not to hunt ... just to watch.

Elliott ICYMI: Not a wild-goose chase for goose watcher Dusty Baker this time