Call to the pen
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Dusty Baker’s quest trumps Houston Astros hate

By David Hill

Oct 12, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers (6) leaves the game with an apparent injury with manager Dusty Baker Jr. (12) after he jumped on the wall and missed the home run ball of Chicago White Sox designated hitter Gavin Sheets (not pictured) during the second inning in game four of the 2021 ALDS at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers (6) leaves the game with an apparent injury with manager Dusty Baker Jr. (12) after he jumped on the wall and missed the home run ball of Chicago White Sox designated hitter Gavin Sheets (not pictured) during the second inning in game four of the 2021 ALDS at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Houston Astros are back in the ALCS. They have made it at least this far since 2017, a year that lives on in infamy due to the Astro Gate scandal. While the Astros may have won the World Series that season, they are considered paper champions by most baseball fans at best, their title fraudulently acquired.

Then there is Dusty Baker. He has found his way back to the ALCS for the second consecutive year, marking just the fourth time in his 24 year managerial career that he has gotten this far. Only once, in 2002, did Baker get any further, reaching the World Series with the Giants before they fell to the Angels.

Dusty Baker trying to get that elusive ring with Houston Astros

Baker has certainly been a solid manager over the years. He has 11 seasons with at least 90 wins, including each of the past five full seasons that he managed. A three time Manager of the Year, he has eight divisional titles and 1987 career regular season victories, but just that one NL pennant to show for it.

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Maybe this season will be different. Baker was brought in to navigate what was expected to be a few tumultuous years for the organization, especially when A.J. Hinch was fired as one of the scapegoats for the scandal. Baker’s positive presence, professionalism, and stature as a well respected lifer in the game, essentially led to this opportunity.

While some of that turmoil could not be foreseen with the Astros’ myriad of pitching injuries and the ongoing pandemic, Baker has continued to guide the team forward, finding as much success as possible. The players believe in him, and he is rewarding that faith by pushing all the right buttons.

Now the players need to do something for Baker. That missing championship is a gaping void in his resume, the one thing missing in what has been a Hall of Fame career. The Astros need to win eight more games to give him that elusive ring.

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It is easy to hate the Houston Astros. But for this year, it makes sense to hold off on that anger to root for Dusty Baker to get his.

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