NEWS NOW: Houston management described the coach as one of his last decisions as …
Baseball buzzards and talk show callers appear to be conflicted by the Astros’ loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.
They are mourning the loss of the Astros, but some, if not the majority, are relieved by Dusty Baker’s apparent decision to resign as Astros field manager.
So while radio listeners and social media posters tap dance on Baker’s resignation and cheer that Baker won’t be around next year to write out weird, head-shaking lineup cards, it’s time for Houston to offer the veteran manager a well-deserved thanks for a thankless job well done.
During the Astros’ historic run of recent success, let’s remember that Baker took over a team in 2020 that was reeling from one of baseball’s biggest scandals. Owner Jim Crane had just fired general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch. The Astros instantly became black hat villains. Would other teams throw beanballs at Astros batters intentionally? Would the Astros be despised by fans in every ballpark they visited? Would the stench of cheating ever go away?
That’s the team Baker took over. He was hired specifically to bring a steady, mature hand and respectability back to the Astros and keep the team on a winning track.
And that Baker certainly did. On Baker’s watch, the Astros appeared in four consecutive American League Championship Series, won three American League West titles, two American League pennants and one World Series. There wasn’t a hint of cheating along Baker’s way. Bottom line, Baker’s tenure in Houston was one of unrivaled success in team history.
Sure there were flies in Baker’s ointment. He turned 74 this season. He didn’t always agree with general manager Dana Brown’s public suggestions on who to play and who to sit. Baker rankled with talk hosts who dared to question his tactics. Fans looked to the heavens when he kept pitchers on the mound too long or failed to pinch hit for certain batters.
Specifically, fans (and management) didn’t like that Baker played catcher Martin Maldonado practically every game in the final two months of the season, despite Maldonado’s woeful offensive and defensive statistics. Maldonado batted .191 in the regular season, coming off two years of batting .186 and .172. Maldonado also led the league in passed balls and had one of the worst marks of throwing out base stealers.
Meanwhile rookie catcher Yanier Diaz batted .282 during the season with more home runs than Maldonado despite being the second stringer. Fans argued that Baker was holding back Diaz’s emergence as a premier catcher, sticking him on the bench despite Diaz being superior to Maldonado by every statistical measure.
Baker lauded Maldonado’s skill at handling pitchers and calling games. Fans replied that Diaz could learn those skills, if only Baker gave him a chance, but Maldonado could never learn to hit like Diaz. It’s widely accepted that Diaz will be the starting catcher next year with a new manager in place.
Baker was also criticized for not playing Chas McCormick more. McCormick had a breakout year, hitting .273 and belting 23 home runs despite frustrating stretches out of the lineup.
Fans questioned: were the Astros successful because of Baker or despite him?
There is a special talent of knowing when to leave the stage with dignity before you’re asked to leave. After Monday night’s Game 7 loss, it was revealed that Baker had told several Astros officials that 2023 would be his last season in Houston. It’s not known how long Baker kept his letter of resignation in his back pocket.
It was obvious that Baker and management were not on the same page and by announcing that he was leaving, Baker made an unpleasant decision easy for owner Jim Crane. Baker did the honorable thing stepping aside. It may have been Baker’s best decision as manager.
It’s also possible that this isn’t the end for Baker as a manager. It’s reported that the Giants and Mets are interested in a certain crusty, hard-headed skipper who’s now available. Taking another manager’s job, his sixth, would be so Dusty Baker.
