Dana Brown smiles during a news conference after being hired as the Astros general manager Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in Houston. In the next inning, Darin Erstad hit a leadoff line-drive shot for a home run before Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson hit singles that made Baker put in Robb Nen (battling a shoulder injury for most of the year) to try and close out the inning without allowing more runs. With everything he has going on, it was good that it didnt take long for Baker and team owner Jim Crane to agree to a new contract. [8] Baker decided to sign with the team to the anger of his father, who sued to nullify the contract (and the $15,000 signing bonus), which led to a decision where the State of California appointed a trustee over his finances until his 21st birthday. If it persists, its the sort of harmony missing for months atop the organization. He took over as a steady hand after the Astros fired AJ Hinch because of the team's sign-stealing scandal that rocked baseball in 2019. Houston Astros: Manager Dusty Baker arrives in Florida for spring training looking begin second World Series journey - ABC13 Houston Houston Astros Astros' manager Dusty Baker eyes. [22] In the 1978 World Series, they met the Yankees again, with the same result for Baker and the Dodgers (complete with him hitting only one home run) as he batted .238 in the six-game loss. Baker, 72, led the Astros to the World Series in 2021 after taking over the team before the 2020 season. Perhaps not too surprisingly, Houston manager Dusty Baker, who guided the Astros to a World Series title after they swept the Yankees in the ALCS a year ago, has a different attitude about. Baker said he isn't thinking about that possibility yet with so much work to be done. [62], In 2013, the Reds won ninety games, but it was only good enough for a third place finish in the division (the Cardinals won the division by seven games), and a five-game losing streak closed out the regular season. Baker was fired by the Reds three days after the game. [43] However, the postseason would elude Baker and the Giants, as they fell in the NLDS in 1997 and 2000 while losing a tie-breaker game for the Wild Card spot in 1998. Hes a little high-strung, but Im from the Northeast, so this is going to be a perfect storm here, Brown said to a roar of laughter. [106] Baker has a wife, Melissa, and two children: Natosha (born 1979), from his first marriage, and Darren Baker (born 1999). [7] Grady Hatton, Lanier, Dierker, and Cooper have spent their entire managing careers with the Astros. Houston Astros Manager Baker Joined Historic Company with Saturday's Win Dusty Baker became just the fourth manager in Major League Baseball history to win 100 games in a season in both the AL. [100] He also became the third African-American manager to win a World Series after Cito Gaston (1992 and 1993) and Dave Roberts (2020). I wasnt just talking. Hes analytic savvy, but we did like the dimensions of player evaluation and player acquisition. He also received criticism from television analyst Steve Stone, who blamed Baker for his players harassing him at team charters and hotels, which Baker waved off as being "grown men". Baker said he isnt thinking about that possibility yet with so much work to be done. [92] On September 19, the Astros clinched the AL West title, which is Baker's ninth division title as manager. Wood and Prior suffered serious arm injuries following their first full seasons under Baker. He beat out four other candidates in John Wathan, Davey Lopes, Tom Trebelhorn, and Ron Gardenhire. He did, at LSU, where he covered the Tigers baseball team for nearly four years. '"[19], Baker would see the postseason for the first time in his career as the Dodgers won the National League West that season. Ive been in the game for 33 years, Brown said. [83], By winning the American League West division in 2021, Baker became the first manager in the major leagues to guide five different clubs to division titles. According to Brown, Bagwell, fellow adviser Reggie Jackson and manager Dusty Baker all took part in his interview process. ", "Dusty Baker: his teams have lost 10 straight postseason close-out games (an MLB record) via @EliasSports t.co/flKu1yB2rT", "Dusty Baker Will Not Return As Nationals' Manager In 2018", "Nationals fire Dusty Baker as manager, entire coaching staff", "Dusty Baker references Phillies rejection after ALCS victory Phillies Nation", "Astros hire Dusty Baker to short-term deal as new manager", "Dusty Baker, Astros agree to contract to be next manager - Sports Illustrated", "Astros pick up Dusty Baker's contract option for 2021 season", "Dusty Baker becomes first MLB manager to lead five different teams to postseason", "15 intriguing stats, facts from ALCS Game 6", "Javier fans career-high 9 in rotation return", "McCullers leads Astros over Rays 92, 1st meeting since ALCS", "He's back! [6] Lanier and Dierker are the only managers to have won a Manager of the Year Award with the Astros, winning it in 1986 and 1998 respectively. He played in 127 games while batting .321 (third best in the National League) with 143 hits, seventeen home runs and 76 runs batted in (RBI); he received votes for Most Valuable Player, finishing 22nd. The Dodgers won the first half NL West title and thus were matched against the second half champion in the Houston Astros. Crane and Bagwells heavy involvement in baseball operations decisions during the end of last season and this winter invite wonder as to how much autonomy Brown will have. [65], In the two year gap between jobs, Baker called multiple franchises looking to fill their respective vacancies, such as the Detroit Tigers, the Seattle Mariners, and the San Diego Padres, but only the latter even gave him a callback (they later hired Andy Green). Bill Virdon is the franchise's all-time leader for the most regular-season games managed (1066) and the most regular-season game wins (544). AP Baseball Writer Ron Blum contributed to this report. He previously played in the MLB for 19 seasons, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Finally, Baker made the roster for Opening Day in 1972 to get a true start to his major league career. With the help of a tax crisis lawyer (over the course of several years), the issue was resolved, roughly around the time the news was broken by the media in late 2002. "Dusty" Baker Jr.[a][2] (born June 15, 1949) is an American baseball manager and former player who is the manager of the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball (MLB). Dana Brown, the new general manager of the Houston Astros, chats with reporters after Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane introduced him at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023 in Houston. Bill Virdon, 544-522, .510 W-L%, 2022 Astros Your Account Manager is here for all of your Astros needs. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Oct 22, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker Jr. (12) looks on in the eighth inning during game six of the 2021 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park. It captured its second World Series title and first since the scandal-tainted 2017 championship. would win the NL Manager of the Year award (until 2021, he was the only Giant to win the award), leading the team to a 10359 record. "Great in the locker room, great with the fans, great with the media. "Some guys are interested in coming here that might not have been interested in coming here before, so I think our future is very bright.". [78][79] On September 25, the Astros clinched a playoff spot as the sixth seed in the pandemic-shortened season. The Astros squeaked into the postseason as an AL wild card before heating up in the playoffs and coming one win shy of reaching the World Series. I walked out, and I said, You know what? Many thanks to him. Crane raved about Bakers strong presence in leading the team and trying to rebuild the image of the franchise after the cheating scandal. (106-56, 1st place in AL West), Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 1:07PM. Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane takes a photo with Dana Brown, after he introduced him as the new general manager of the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023 in Houston. [67] Comments made shortly after his hire raised attention when he suggested his Washington Nationals should field more players of color as "you've got a better chance of getting some speed with Latin and African-Americans,"[68] also generated controversy. We have this thing in scouting, Brown said, where we (say) we want to get greedy about winning.. At the time, Baker had been dealing with a longstanding heart problem. Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. 1 of 15 Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane takes a photo with Dana Brown, after he introduced him as the new general manager of the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023 . Hottest MLB managers 1. [9] Baker's coaching career started as a first base coach for the Giants in 1988, and then he spent the following four years (19891992) as the hitting coach. Phil Garner was the manager of the Astros from 2004 to 2007. I just think its an issue of weighing all the evidence. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) The Associated Press. However, while checking into the hotel, Baker encountered Bob Lurie, owner of the Giants, which seemed a sign for Baker to take an opportunity, if offered. He wanted another year so thats what we gave him, Crane said. Note: Statistics are correct as of November 5, 2022. [53] However, the only season where Wood was used for a full season under Baker's tenure was in 2003, in which he pitched 211 innings, which was two innings more than he had pitched in 2002. Brown bided his time after interviewing with both the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners without any luck. Johnnie B. Baker became the first baseball manager to lead five teams to the postseason. Weve been talking to him and were working on it, Crane said. He played in 103 games and batted a career high .320 with 128 hits and 49 RBIs that saw him named to his first All-Star Game. Baker signed a two-year contract extension with the Reds on October 4, 2010. Were going to do our best to try to keep him.. It made Baker the fourth manager to have 100-win seasons in both the American and National League, as Baker had achieved the mark with the San Francisco Giants in 1993; Baker went 23 seasons between 100-win seasons, the longest for any manager to have multiple 100-win seasons. [16] After expressing a desire to be traded upon the closure of the 1975 season, Baker was traded on November 17, 1975, along with Ed Goodson to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Lee Lacy, Tom Paciorek, Jerry Royster and Jimmy Wynn. Baker Cito Gaston was the first, managing the Toronto Blue Jays to championships in 1992 and 1993. It was a wild, triumphant moment and a good omen as the Dodgers headed to the playoffs. Houston has cornered the market on massive shortstops . We have a saying that you have to weigh all the evidence, and when you weigh all the evidence, you can cut back on the mistakes youve made. However, the hopes for the Cubs winning a World Series title were cut short during the 2003 National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins. [24] The 1981 season was shortened by a strike that saw a first and second half division champion, but Baker and the Dodgers were not slowed down. I meant what I said. Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker somewhat borrowed from the "Mad Men" television series when he indicated Tuesday he doesn't think about the New York Yankees at all in March. They declined a $10 million option on first baseman Trey Mancini in favor of a $250,000 buyout and declined a $13 million option on reliever Will Smith in favor of a $1 million buyout. On that day Baker batted fifth in the lineup behind Hank Aaron. I prayed on it and my answer was: Hey man, get your butt back out there and manage again.. In the next three seasons, Wood would only pitched a combined total of 226 innings due to injuries before the Cubs decided to try him as a reliever after 2006. HOUSTON -- For years, as Dusty Baker chased his first World Series title as a manager, the former big league outfielder would always say if he won one he'd like to win two.