Baker’s work leaves other skippers in the dust

Dusty Baker sat in the visiting dugout on March 2 at Charlotte Sports Park and tried to explain why he was returning to the pressure of managing a Major League baseball team — this time, the Washington Nationals.

With a sparkle and determination in his eyes, there was no hesitation.

“To win a championship,” Baker said. “Period.”

Not a division title. Not to play in the World Series. Johnnie B. Baker Jr. has been there, done that. He wants it all — the ring, the true title.

Baker is 67 now, and nearly 200 days have passed since he began his difficult quest under a hot Florida sun for the one goal that has eluded him during a brilliant managerial career.

Any day now, Baker’s Nationals will wrap up the National League East and set the stage for his objective. It won’t be easy, but so far so good.

Because Baker has been so adroit at keeping the multitalented Nats focused at winning this season, he should add another NL Manager of the Year Award to the three he already has collected.

Historically, the honor goes to the skipper whose team defies expectations.

Example: Many of the years when Joe Torre did a marvelous job of winning with the Yankees, he was bypassed because they had the highest payroll of all the teams and were expected to win.

The same is true this year for the Cubs’ Joe Maddon. Even before the first pitch, the Cubs were supposed to win because they were considered the best team in baseball.

Baker should win the NL Manager of the Year Award because he has been able to unite a clubhouse and overcome numerous obstacles during the year.

Before the 2015 season opened, there were those who predicted the Nationals would be in the World Series. Then there was strife in the clubhouse and they won just 83 games, and when the dust settled, the Mets had won the NL East. Matt Williams, who won NL managerial honors in 2014, was dismissed.

Baker was the perfect choice to bring the many …

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