Baker: A True Winner

By Michael Rifkin

For the third time in five years, the Houston Astros are going to the World Series. Before the 2020 season, MLB discovered that the Astros had been stealing signs by using a video camera in the center field to steal signs from the catcher and banging trash cans to tell hitters what pitch was coming. The aftermath was that the organization was fined $5 million, General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager AJ Hinch were suspended for the 2020 season, and both were subsequently fired. After serving his suspension, Hinch was hired to be the Detroit Tigers manager, and another team has not hired Luhnow.

Dusty Baker replaced Hinch. Baker had not managed in MLB since 2018 when the Washington Nationals announced he would not return. Baker was a finalist for the Philadelphia Phillies managerial opening, but Joe Girardi got that job. Dusty had a .540 winning percentage in 14 seasons with the Giants, .497 in four seasons with the Cubs, .524 in six seasons with the Reds, and .593 in two seasons with the Nationals. Since coming to Houston, he has had a .559 win percentage.

Dusty said when he first took over, “I depend on the league to try to put a stop to seemingly premeditated retaliation that I hear about. In most instances in life, you get reprimanded when you have deliberate anything. I’m just hoping the league puts a stop to this before somebody gets hurt.” Dusty showed his new players that he had their backs early on, and they rewarded him by getting to the ALCS before losing to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Astros had to deal with fans returning in 2021. Whether fans brought trash cans with them to the ballpark or made signs directed towards them & During a game with the Angels in Anaheim, fans threw a couple of inflatable trash cans on the field. After the game, Baker said, “ I think sometimes we need to look at ourselves before you spew hate on somebody else. To me, it’s a sad situation for America when you hear things- I mean, what the kids in the stands are supposed to think? And some of them are kids following their parents. It’s sad to me. People make mistakes. We paid for ours, and I wish they’d let it go.” Fans of the game will not let this go, and neither will current players. White Sox reliever Ryan Tepera had thrown out an accusation during the ALDS. Dusty called them serious allegations.

In 2002 Dusty Managed the Giants to the World Series before losing to the Angels in 7 games. Dusty is currently 12th in all-time wins for a manager. The one thing he is missing is a World Series Ring. A World Series ring will be the cherry on top of a Hall of Fame career.