Win reinforces Baker's optimism for near future

COMMENT: Do the Reds have a bright future? CINCINNATI — His team has lost 17 of its last 22 and just lost two of three at home to the St. Louis Cardinals, but it was as if Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker spent the day drinking Optimism Cola. He sees good times down the road and he believes it is a short road. Nobody asked Sunday, but Baker kept talking about it — and this was before Edinson Volquez putt a muzzle on the Cardinals in a 7-3 victory. "I'm more convinced now than ever that we're going to figure this out," he said, drumming his fingers on his desk. Baker brought up a comment made by Pete Rose that the Reds would never win in Great American Ball Park because they won't be able to get free agent pitchers to come because of the way the ball flies out of not only the 45202 zip code but the 513 area code. "I want... [read full story]