Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker said on Tuesday that he suffered a “mini-stroke” on Friday, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
As Sheldon reports, Baker was admitted into a Chicago hospital last Wednesday and diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. He suffered the stroke as he was being released from the hospital on Friday.
Reds bench coach Chris Speier is expected to manage the club through the Pittsburgh Pirates series on the weekend. Baker hopes to be ready for the Reds’ closing series to the regular season against the St. Louis Cardinals from Oct. 1-3.
The 92-61 Reds have already clinched the NL Central this season under Baker’s guidance after going 19-11 in August. It marked the second time the Reds have won the division since Baker took over in 2008.
As a three-time NL Manager of the Year, Baker has certainly earned his stripes. He won the award three times with the San Francisco Giants (1993, 1997, 2000).
Baker was also a two-time All-Star as a player, winning the World Series in 1981 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Reds certainly are hoping for an expedient recovery for Baker so they can get ready for the playoffs this season. As one of only three teams to have eclipsed 90 wins so far in 2012, Cincinnati is definitely not a club to take lightly.
Contrary to past years, the team’s pitching (3.40 team ERA) has helped it soar this season, as starting pitchers Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos and Bronson Arroyo have been particularly solid. Closer Aroldis Chapman has saved 35 games for the Reds.
If Baker can fully recover by the time the postseason hits, don’t be surprised if the Reds do some damage and go on a run with that pitching staff.
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