DaytonDailyNews.com

SARASOTA, Fla. — Dusty Baker calls them, "Shadows." They also are black clouds, electrified fences and deep trenches.

It's called losing — seven straight years of it for the Cincinnati Reds and it is what Baker is here to eradicate.

Before a Sunday, March 23, 10-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, Baker was asked if his philosophy and his baseball ways of the world are sinking in.

"I hope so, but six weeks isn't a very long period of time," he said about spring training. "There are some shadows to definitely get rid of that are there. You know, like losing."

With a week remaining before Opening Day, there are 37 candidates still dressing in the major-league clubhouse. Twelve must go.

"It is a little more difficult to get it together when you don't have your team set yet," he said. "There are guys who still know they might not be part of the team. So it is difficult to say, 'Let's do it for the team,' when they don't know who the team is yet."

Baker said that happens when the room remains overstuffed, something he never encountered in his years with the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.

"We've tried our damndest to get everybody innings and at-bats," he said. "A lot of extra guys and young guys got a lot of at-bats. In my previous stops I never had this many players in camp (the Reds started with 62, then added three)."

Baker wants to begin filtering an everyday winning attitude, but added, "We still have to figure out the everyday lineup and get everybody familiar with each other on the field. It is easy when you come in with a set lineup. We have a semi-set lineup, but not totally set.

"That's what makes it fun, putting pieces together," he added. "That's what it is all about. We have a present puzzle and a future puzzle that you eventually want to intertwine."

The semi-set portion of his lineup is Brandon Phillips at second base, Edwin Encarnacion at third base, Adam Dunn in left field and Ken Griffey Jr. in right field.

Corey Patterson most likely is ahead of Norris Hopper and Ryan Freel in center. Jeff Keppinger probably is at shortstop, although Juan Castro is right there, until knee-plagued Alex Gonzalez returns. First base is a mystery: young Joey Votto or veteran Scott Hatteberg. Catching remains a dilemma with David Ross just recovering from back spasms. Does Baker start Javier Valentin or Paul Bako?

The Easter lineup Sunday appeared to be close to Opening Day lineup with Votto at first base, Valentin catching and Juan Castro at shortstop.

"It's tough, real tough," Baker said. "But that's what we're here for. To pick the best team (to go) north."

They made one cut after Sunday's game — catcher Ryan Hanigan was optioned to Class AAA Louisville.