For Cincinnati Reds fans, the 2008 season will be a whole lot more interesting than any other this decade.  Dusty Baker is at the helm, leaving behind the innane ramblings of Steve Phillips and Fernando Vina along with Karl Ravech's toupee in Bristol, Connecticut.  If nothing else, there will be plenty of quote-worthy gems emanating from Great American Ballpark this summer.

And wouldn't you know that Dusty has already started up 10 days into Spring Training?  If you didn't know, you will now because we're here for you (we know how much you crave the words of Dusty Baker.  He's a wordsmith). 

Sayeth Dusty on that fabled "On Base Percentage":

"I'm big on driving in runs and scoring runs.  Guys in the middle should score about close to equal to what they drive in....  On-base percentage, that's fine and dandy. But a lot of times guys get so much into on-base percentage that they cease to swing. It's becoming a little bit out of control...  What you do is run the pitcher's count up, that helps.  You put him in the stretch, that helps.  But your job in the middle is to either score them or drive them in. The name of the game is scoring runs. Sometimes, you get so caught up in on-base percentage that you're clogging up the bases."

Yes, yes, yes!  Dusty, like all managers, is big on driving in and scoring runs.  You can't win unless you score, right?  But, but but... Dusty doesn't like the guys who just try to get on base.  That would clog up the bases!  Based on his insight, Baker leads us to believe he'd rather have his cleanup hitter swing at a bad pitch with the bases loaded instead of taking the pitch for a walk.  Again, that would clog up the bases. 

Here's 3 more 2008 Spring Training gems courtesy of the folks over at the Sports Frog.

On the Reds Carrying 3 Catchers
"It depends on how things go.  Late in the game, you'd love to have a guy like Bako behind the plate for a double switch or to pinch-hit. I told Wayne [Krivsky] I'm looking for options. The more options I have, the more things you can do, the more people that can play and be put positions where they feel comfortable and succeed."

Because nothing screams "options" like having 3 catchers on the active 25 man roster. 

On Statistics
"All I've seen is stats. There's more to being in the big leagues than just stats. Everyone is so stat-conscious. You get away from: Can he do the little things ... to play winning baseball?"

Normally a guy with great statistics does the things that help a team playing winning baseball... like driving in runs, for example.

On Identifying Bat Speed
"Boy, [Norris Hopper] can hit that ball hard. He's a strong little dude...  The ball made a loud sound. I use my ears a lot. I can tell what kind of bat speed [he] has by that sound."

Have fun this summer, Reds fans.  As previously stated, at least it will be interesting. 

Let us know culminate this addition to the Greatest Hits Collection with some of the most historic Dustyisms.  Just as a well known celebrity needs no introduction, these Baker beauties need no rebuttal because they speak for themselves. 

Just sit back and enjoy.

On Steroids (circa 2004)
"It's like McCarthyism or something. They're looking to see who looks like a communist.  I'll probably get in trouble for that too, but that's how I equate it; 'oh he lost weight.  He gained weight.'"

On Player Ejections (circa Latroy Hawkins ejection in '04)
"You like that part.  It's hot out there, summertime, people lose their temper."

On Corey Patterson (circa 2004)
"I didn't want Corey where we couldn't use his speed.  Corey's getting better, he's bunting more.  I think eventually Corey could be like a Lou Brock guy."

On Sammy Sosa's Corked Bat (circa 2003)
"We'll have to wait and see what the evidence says."

On Perspiring Minorities
"It's easier for most Latin guys and it's easier for most minority people because most of us come from heat.  You don't find too many brothers in New Hampshire and Maine.  We were brought over here for the heat, right?  Isn't that history?  We were brought over here because we could take the heat...  But as a black manager, I can say things that a white manager can't say."

One question remains: when will the Reds wise up and start selling Dusty Baker wristbands and toothpicks?  Those things would fly off the shelves.