Reds move forward with Baker - By: Fleitas Gahagan

Description : Right after the Cincinnati Reds clinched the National League Central Division in October, the Reds announced manager Dusty Baker's two-year contract extension.

Baker, who had just been released from the hospital after suffering a mini stroke, was offered the renewal due to his success as a manager since 2008.

In the past five years, Baker has had two winning seasons, both times clinching the Division. Prior to their winning season in 2010, the Reds had not finished over .500 since 2000.

Dusty Baker played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball before beginning his managerial career with the San Francisco Giants in 1993. In his first year of managing, Baker was awarded the National League Manager of the Year after leading the Giants to their best record (103-59) since the franchise moved to San Francisco.

After the Giants won the National League Pennant in 2002, Baker moved on to manage the Chicago Cubs from 2003-2006. In four seasons with Chicago, Baker managed two winning seasons.

In 19 years as a manager in the National League, Baker has won the NL Manager of the Year award three times (1993, 1997, 2000) and won the Pennant once.

Article Source : http://www.look4articles.com/

Author Resource : MLBcenter.com is a leading source of MLB news & rumors covering every major league baseball team with team-specific coverage, game recaps, season previews, MLB jerseys & apparel and more.