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Dusty Baker on managing the Nationals: 'Quite frankly, I wish I was still there'

Chris Cwik
Staff writer

It’s been almost a year and a half since Dusty Baker managed a professional baseball team. After winning 97 games with the Washington Nationals in 2017, Baker’s contract was not renewed after the team lost in the National League Division Series.

If it was up to Baker, he would still be the team’s manager today. The 69-year-old Baker spoke to MLB Network Radio on Friday, where he admitted he wished he was still managing the Nationals.

While speaking about his time with the Nationals, Baker said he still gets calls from people in D.C. who say they wish he was around. While Baker said he sometimes agrees with that sentiment, he knows it’s not going to happen.

As Baker puts it, “They’ll never admit to making a mistake and bringing you back.”

Despite making the playoffs in both his seasons as the team’s manager, Baker was fired for his inability to take the team deep into the playoffs. The Nationals set their sights higher than the NLDS, and used that reasoning to bring in Dave Martinez.

In 2018, Martinez went 82-80. The Nationals failed to make the playoffs. Through 37 this season, the Nationals are 15-22.

Dusty Baker Nationals.
Dusty Baker sometimes wishes he was still with the Nationals. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Baker’s time away from the game hasn’t been all that bad, though. He’s spent his off time watching his son Darren play for the University of California. Darren Baker was drafted by the Nationals in the 27th round of the 2017 MLB draft. He opted to fulfill his commitment to Cal over signing with the team.

Though Baker seems content, it’s clear there’s a part of him that would like to still be managing today. With the league skewing toward younger skippers, it’s unclear whether Baker will get another shot.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik

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