Baker happy to be back

When he rode into town from the Wild West in 2003 to take over the Cubs, Dusty Baker famously proclaimed that he wasn't the Messiah.

For about six months of that season, however, an argument could be made that he was perceived exactly that way as he led the Cubs to within a game of a World Series appearance.

Even though he was basically booed out of town following a disastrous 2006 season, Baker's return to Wrigley Field on Tuesday as manager of the Cincinnati Reds had all the trappings of a second coming.

There he was being followed by cameramen, photographers and reporters every step of the way from the top of the Reds' dugout across the field to the Cubs' dugout and down into the interview room famously dubbed "the dungeon."

There he was in that room packed to the gills with reporters of every stripe trying their best to gauge his mood, hanging on his every word.

There he was at his perch behind the cage during batting practice being greeted by Cub after Cub and then finally by the man who years earlier had urged Baker to get into the managing game in the first place.

"Welcome back," Cubs skipper Lou Piniella said with a smile before enveloping Baker in a hug.

There he was signing autographs, posing for pictures, hugging long-time fans ... all of this, if not overwhelming, very pleasing for Baker.

"It feels good," he admitted. "I always love to come back to Chicago ... I wouldn't change anything (about his time with the Cubs). It made me a better, stronger and more positive and faithful person."

All that sweet talk, of course, came prior to the Cubs' 9-5 victory.

During the game itself, Baker's first visit to the mound in the seventh inning resulted in a cacophony of boos ringing down from every corner of the park -- just the sort of reception he was expecting, even though fans had approached him with nothing but praise since his arrival on Monday.

"Most people aren't going to say bad stuff to your face," he said with a laugh. "They were all cool. They were like, 'Hey, Dusty, we miss you. We love you. I was like, 'Thank you.' "

But the good vibes didn't last long.

"I've been booed before," he said. "A lot of places are tough, but you have to be tough, too. You don't worry about how you're looked at or if you're jeered or revered. You just try to be yourself."

As Baker was when answering the ultimate question: what did you learn in your time with the Cubs?

"Well, you better not lose."