What's behind Dusty's surprising admission following Astros departure
BIG WORDS
02 November 2023
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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Astros turn it on late to beat A’s after McCullers strikes out 12
May 28, 2025, 5:11 pm
Zach Dezenzo homered and Victor Caratini drove in two runs in the seventh to help the Houston Astros rally for a 5-3 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday.
The Athletics led by 1 when rookie Justin Sterner (1-1) took over for Luis Severino to start the seventh. Dezenzo sent his fourth pitch 416 feet to center field for his second homer this season to tie it at 3-all.
DEZENZO. BOMB. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/ur27VQMcmm
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 28, 2025
There were runners on second and third with two outs in the inning when Caratini lined a single to center field to score 2 and put the Astros on top 5-3.
CARATINI FOR THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/QX8fAMlQcd
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 28, 2025
Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. allowed five hits and three runs in a season-long six innings in his fifth start after missing more than two seasons with injuries.
Shawn Dubin (2-0) struck out two in a scoreless seventh for the win and Josh Hader converted his 14th save in 14 opportunities with a scoreless ninth.
Jacob Wilson homered with two RBIs for the Athletics, who fell to 3-17 in their last 20 games.
Severino yielded three hits and two runs — one earned — in six innings. He struck out four to give him 1,003 strikeouts in his career, making him the 48th active player to reach 1,000 strikeouts.
Christian Walker was hit on the hand with a pitch to start Houston’s fourth. He left in the bottom of the sixth inning because of the injury. Manager Joe Espada said the X-rays were negative after the game.
Key moment
The Astros jumping on Sterner in the seventh to take the lead after Severino’s strong start kept them in check through six.
Key stat
McCullers struck out 12 to tie a career high he last reached in 2018.
Lance McCullers, 12th K. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/A3hJ0eSzId
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 28, 2025
Up next
LHP Jacob Lopez (0-2, 2.57 ERA) will start for Oakland on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Toronto. The Astros open a four-game series against Tampa Bay on Thursday night with RHP Ryan Gusto (3-2, 4.58) on the mound against RHP Shane Baz (4-3, 4.94).
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