To all those Dusty Baker haters out there, I suggest you read Paul Daugherty's column today. He breaks down Baker's management style succinctly. It's not by the books, far from it. It's a more personable approach to management. In fact, in my workplace, this is how I wish I was managed and this is how I have managed staff in the past. I get to know them. I make decisions based upon their personalities. I find out what motivates them, what doesn't motivate them. I found this got the best out of each of my employees.

Baker does the same thing. Some say he caudles veterans, I say he massages their massive egos. A lot of these vets have enormous egos and are set in their way. Many of them don't like to be told what to do or how to do it. So when a guy, with a strong reputation as Baker (who is also very likeable), gets to know you on a personal level (knowing your family's names, etc.), you tend to listen more to what he might be telling you.

Is Baker the perfect manager? Absolutely not. But Baker isn't some rookie hating, pitcher-destroying manager either. I think, he might actually be the right man for this job. He'll certainly be better than the batch of lousy managers the Reds have had in the recent past.