Houston Astros ready to discuss extension with Dusty Baker
By David Hill
Four more wins. That is all that the Houston Astros need to bring home their second (depending on how one views the legitimacy of the 2017 postseason) World Series championship. Those four games are also all that stands between manager Dusty Baker and his first championship as a manager.
However, Baker is theoretically free to pursue other opportunities once the playoffs are over. Despite his success in Houston, and how he guided the franchise through turmoil, his two year contract is coming to an end. This is something that owner Jim Crane is aware of, and is planning to address.
Jim Crane on Dusty Baker and potential for a new contract: “We’re going to be in the World Series. When we get done, we’ll sit down and visit about that. Listen, Dusty deserves another shot for next year. We’ll see where it goes.” #Astros pic.twitter.com/q24MGpE1uH
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) October 23, 2021
Houston Astros want Dusty Baker back for 2022
Baker certainly deserves to come back. He was brought in prior to the 2020 season in the wake of AstroGate, a respected baseball lifer who was handed the unenviable task of attempting to guide the Astros through the turmoil of that year. He also found himself dealing with the chaos of the pandemic shortened season as well, adding to what already promised to be a difficult season.
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While the Astros finished below .500 that year, Baker put on a masterful performance. The Astros pitching staff was hammered by injuries, with the team hosting a collection of pitchers no had ever heard of.
That excellent showing continued in the playoffs. Given life due to the expanded playoffs, he brought the team to within one game of the World Series last year, an impressive task considering the Astros faced a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS. Baker likely deserved an extension last year due to his performance.
But the Astros likely wanted to see how the 2021 season would go. Baker and the Astros exceeded expectations, especially when their rotation continued to fall apart. He won over 90 games for the fifth consecutive full season that he managed, a task matched by only one other current manager. And now, after an excellent postseason, he is four wins away from finally capturing that long awaited title. It is clear to see why the Astros would want to keep him around.
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The Houston Astros want Dusty Baker back for the 2022 season. Those conversations will happen once the playoffs come to an end.