What's behind Dusty's surprising admission following Astros departure
BIG WORDS
02 November 2023
BIG WORDS
As the Astros prepare for the 2024 season, one of the big decisions they will have to make is finding a new manager to replace Dusty Baker.
And that new manager will have to have thick skin when it comes to the media. In fact, Dusty Baker surprised us when he mentioned unfair media coverage as one of the reasons he elected to step away.
Baker's lineups being questioned on a daily basis clearly took its toll on the team's former skipper. Not to mention members of the Astros organization allegedly voicing frustration about Chas McCormick's playing time to the media.
And who can forget Dusty telling everyone we would thank him for his conservative approach to Yainer Diaz's development?
He received a lot of grief for that statement, which was not lost on him.
It seems Baker thought his World Series title in 2022 would buy him more time when it came to criticism and second guessing of his decisions. But the world has changed, and it's hard to hide from social media in 2023. Even if you're 74 years old.
Be sure to watch the video above as we examine Baker's comments, identify how much the media influenced his decision to retire from managing the Astros, and much more!
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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.