The Astros Will Be Dusty Baker's Biggest Managerial Challenge

The Houston Astros have hired Dusty Baker to be their new manager signing a one year contract with a club option for 2021. Baker replaces A.J. Hinch who along with GM Jeff Luhnow were terminated after being suspended for the 2020 season for the team's electronic sign stealing scandal.

The Astros had little choice but to hire an outsider with unimpeachable credentials. In 22 seasons, Baker's teams have reached the post-season 9 times winning a NL pennant with the San Francisco Giants in 2002. In addition to the Giants (1993-2002), Baker has managed the Chicago Cubs (2003-2006), Cincinnati Reds (2008-2013) and the Washington Nationals (2016-2017). Every team Baker has managed has made the post-season at least once.

This marks the first time the 70-year old Baker has managed an AL team and given the circumstances this will be his most challenging task as a big league manager as they will be scrutinized as no team ever before. For all his goodwill, Baker will be managing MLB's most hated team. They will be booed everywhere they go including in Houston. Even if they win, it will be accompanied with considerable cynicism and if they fall apart nearly everyone will cheer their demise.

Even with Baker's credentials, I can see Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander resisting his efforts to lay down the law and go, "OK, Boomer!!!" It doesn't help that Baker has a short leash. It could be the case that Baker knows he is only going to be a caretaker manager with Astros bench coach Joe Espada is waiting in the wings. The current situation rendered it impossible for the Astros to name an internal candidate. Assuming the long term plan is to have Espada manage the team one wonders if things will revert back to the way they were under Hinch will the players ran roughshod. In which case, certain Astros veterans might be biding their time.

Whatever the Astros' plans over the next two seasons there's a very good chance Dusty Baker has placed himself in a no win situation. I wish him all the luck because he will need it.