Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker deserves more attention

When one thinks about the best managers in the game, the name Dusty Baker does not immediately come to mind. The Houston Astros manager is typically blamed for ruining the careers of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, but his actual accomplishments in the dugout are typically overlooked.

That will be changing soon. Not only is Baker on the cusp of becoming just the 12th manager in MLB history with over 2000 wins, but he is one of only two active managers to win at least 90 games over five consecutive full seasons.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has made most of bad situation

The fact that Baker is even managing now is somewhat remarkable. He was brought in by the Astros after their cheating scandal as he is a well-respected figure in the baseball world. His presence was supposed to help the team, and baseball fans as a whole, move on from those events.

Along the way, Baker has been better than expected. He took a team that ended up posting a 29-31 record to the ALCS, pushing the Rays to seven games before they were eliminated. Considering the chaos of the season, and the fallout from AstroGate, that performance had to be commended.

But Baker has continued to win regardless of where he has gone. He has won at least 90 games in 11 of his 24 years on the bench, reaching the playoffs ten times (although the 11th will officially happen in the next day or two). His teams will have won eight divisional titles, and his Giants took home the 2002 NL pennant.

Yet, Baker does not get much attention. Perhaps this is because he has yet to win a World Series, that missing championship the biggest omission from his resume. That may change, as soon as this season, allowing Baker to get the attention he deserves for his time on the bench.

Dusty Baker has been a better manager than most people may realize. By getting 90 wins with the 2021 Houston Astros, he further added to his legacy.