Here are the Astros last options to fade Dusty Baker’s curious managerial decisions
DUSTY GONNA DUSTY
27 June 2023
DUSTY GONNA DUSTY
Astros manager Dusty Baker took a lot of heat over the weekend for once again using Rafael Montero in a high leverage situation that almost cost the team a win. Baker also took more criticism for his reluctance to pinch hit for Martin Maldonado late in the game when the team needed offense.
And his refusal to move Jose Abreu down in the lineup, when he's literally in the top five for worst OPS in baseball, has fans super frustrated.
Baker's managerial style may have worked perfectly last year, but this season he is clearly not pushing the right buttons. And the Astros have a much more difficult path back to the playoffs with a much stronger division to win. Houston is currently five games behind the Rangers, with an epic clash looming this weekend in Arlington.
Which begs the question; how much longer can the Astros fade Dusty's poor decisions and unwillingness to play his better offensive options? Plus, these issues appear more dire with Yordan Alvarez unable to contribute. So his mistakes are more glaring.
Don't miss the video above as we address what options the team has to get more out of their manager, and better production from the team overall.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.