After taking a 2-0 series lead against the San Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series, the Cincinnati Reds boarded the flight home confident they could win one of the next three games to advance to the next round.
Unfortunately for the team, the San Francisco Giants felt otherwise. The 2010 World Series champions rallied together, sweeping three games in Cincinnati to send the Reds home and end their season. The sweep gave the Giants confidence heading into the next round and denied the Reds their first home playoff win since 1995.
Buster Posey hit a grand slam and Matt Cain pitched a stellar game as the Giants won 6-4 on Thursday to advance.
"I don't know, man," Baker said to the Associated Press. "I'm kinda numb in this situation."
The loss also raises many questions for the Reds. After being a surprise division winner two years ago the Reds showed more maturity this season. But after the series loss, how will the young team react? Even more so, what will happen to manager Dusty Baker now that his contract is up?
Baker has said that he would like to keep managing and wants to return to the team, but will they have him? He dealt with heart and health issues this year, missing 11 games due to a mini-stroke and now the team collapsed to finish the season.
"It was disheartening to have my club go through this," the 63-year-old manager said.
Over the past three seasons Baker has led the Reds to 269 wins, the most since the 1970s. According to ESPN.com, it's the most wins since "Sparky Anderson managed the Big Red Machine to World Series championships in 1975-76."
"I'm not sure where my career is going here in Cincinnati," Baker said. "We're going to talk about that in the next couple of days. But I'm not through managing yet. I have more to do."
Baker was manager of the Chicago Cubs until 2006, when the team allowed his contract to expire he was replaced by Lou Pinella the next season. In 2007 he was hired by the Cincinnati Reds, leading them to records of 74-88 and 78-84 in 2008 and 2009.
In 2010 Baker had his best year with the Reds since arriving, leading the team to a 91-71 record and an NL Central division title. The team made the playoffs for the first time since 1995, but was swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in three games.
The team itself also has many questions, especially after collapsing right at the end. The team has $225 million invested in first baseman Joey Votto and third baseman Scott Rolen was hurt most of the year.
"I envisioned sustained success, and I think that's what people may tend to overlook -- ownership's commitment to being better not just for a year but for years," right fielder Jay Bruce said. "I think these days, the way that contracts and free agencies have gotten, you have to do it the right way or it's tough to sustain success over a period of time. I think that the Reds' ownership has done that, and I'm happy to be part of it."
According to Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci, Baker is one of 20 managers with 1,500 wins, but he has also managed multiple teams that collapsed. As written by Verducci, Baker was "up 5-0 with eight outs to go to win the 2002 World Series, Baker's Giants lose Game 6 to the Angels and then also lose Game 7."
He also was "up 3-0 with five outs to go to get to the 2003 World Series, Baker's Cubs lose Game 6 to the Florida Marlins, one of three straight losses after being up three 3-games-to-1.
Although Baker has managed a few teams that collapsed and the Reds are disappointed after losing, he still may be the best man for the job. The Reds were a bottom-dweller in the division for over a decade before Baker arrived.
The team is set up for success in the future with a crop of young players, including outfielder Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, third baseman Todd Frazier and pitchers Mat Latos and Homer Bailey.
Whether Baker returns or not, the Reds should be a force in the National League for the years to come.