Recovering Dusty Baker returns to Bay Area as the enemy

• Reds skipper Dusty Baker managed the GIants from 1993-2002
• Baker is a part-time San Francisco resident who took the Giants to the World Series in 2002
• Baker missed 11 games recovering from a mild stroke and an irregular heartbeat

SAN FRANCISCO — The rabid crowds at AT&T Park have gained a reputation for being rough on the San Francisco Giants' opponents.

They might make an exception for Dusty Baker.

The Cincinnati Reds manager, a part-time resident of the city, remains a popular figure a decade after completing a 10-season tenure as the Giants' skipper from 1993-2002.

Baker is now back as the enemy, with his Reds opening a National League Division Series against San Francisco on Saturday, and his presence is one of the subplots of what projects as an evenly matched, intriguing series.

"This is my home. People know I'm from here and my wife's from here,'' Baker said. "We'll see if they still love me on Sunday. I hope we start out 2-0.''

Baker, 63, has not lost any of his competitiveness, but he's not physically the same after spending four days in a Chicago hospital to get treated for, at first an irregular heartbeat, then a mild stroke. He missed 11 games, dropped 22 pounds and has to monitor his energy level and diet.

Baker compares the experience to the battle with cancer he had in 2000, but he expects to be his usual animated self once the game starts. His players would welcome that.

"Right now he looks thin, like he was on the Slim-Fast commercials or something like that,'' second baseman Brandon Phillips said, "but other than he's the same guy and I'm happy that he's back.''

Now in his third team and 19th season as a manager, Baker is still pursuing his first World Series title. He came closest in 2002 with the Giants, who led the then-Anaheim Angels three games to two and 5-0 in the seventh inning of Game 6 before losing.

Shortly after that the Giants opted not to bring him back, mostly because of a personality conflict with then-managing partner Peter Magowan. They have since mended their rift, but Baker acknowledges the wasted opportunity still rankles him.

"Sometimes it stings at me, but you've got to leave it in the past,'' Baker said. "You can't live in the future and stay in the past.''