Houston Astros: The power of Dusty Baker’s faith
By David Hill
Dusty Baker has shown his faith in his roster. For that reason, the Houston Astros may be about to achieve the improbable.
The Houston Astros were done. The series was over – it was time to crown the Tampa Bay Rays as the 2020 American League champions and wait to see who they would play in the World Series. After all, only one team, the 2004 Red Sox, had ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the MLB postseason to advance to the next round.
And it was easy to see why. The Astros were falling apart. Jose Altuve had suddenly developed a case of the yips, unable to make throws from second base. Houston’s offense, aside from Altuve, was underperforming. With that type of a deficit, one could understand if manager Dusty Baker changed up his lineup, or moved Altuve to the designated hitter role.
More Astros. Correa calls his walk-off. light
Instead, Baker showed his faith in his players. He kept everything the same, expressing that he had faith in Altuve defensively, and that he believed in his players. That faith was tested in Game Four as well, when Zack Greinke had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth, and white hot Randy Arozarena at the plate. Baker came out to the mound to talk to the Astros ace, and left him in the game.
That faith was rewarded as Greinke got out of the jam, and the Astros picked up that critical first victory. In fact, having that faith in the players could be the difference in the series, especially as Kevin Cash‘s decision to pull the plug on Blake Snell backfired in Game Six. While Snell had fought himself on the mound, that move could be the Rays ‘what if’ moment of the postseason.
But that is the type of manager Baker is. In an age of analytics, when computers determine pitcher use and when it is time to pull the plug, Baker manages by feel. He trusts his players, listening to them when they say they can keep going.
Next. Astros advancement good for MLB. dark
Dusty Baker’s faith in his players has been rewarded as they have battled all the way back to force Game Seven. And that faith could be the difference in the series.