Ex-Giants, Cubs, Reds and Nationals boss to take over

Report: Astros to hire veteran Dusty Baker as new manager

Report: Astros to hire veteran Dusty Baker as new manager
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According to reports, the Houston Astros are hiring Dusty Baker to take over the vacant Manager's position with the club. Baker replaces A.J. Hinch, who was suspended one year by the MLB in conclusion of its sign-stealing investigation before ultimately being fired by owner Jim Crane.

Baker last managed for the Washington Nationals in 2016-17, going 192-132 in those two regular seasons, which was enough to win the NL East both times. However, he and that Nationals team were unable to make it past the divisional round in either year.

Baker has vast managerial experience, dating back to his 10-year run with the Giants starting in 1993. His overall record in his career is 1863-1636 for a .532 winning percentage. He has fared worse in the playoffs, combining for a 23-32 record in postseason play across his four teams.

He has been to the World Series one time in 2002 with the Giants where they would lose in seven games to the Angels. Baker is seen as somewhat of a controversial person in the baseball world, having received scrutiny over his years for over-using pitchers and being at the helm during some of the most notable collapses. In that 2002 World Series, the Giants took a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 and a 5-0 lead into the seventh inning of that game before allowing six unanswered runs before ultimately losing the series in Game 7.

Baker now gets the opportunity to manage a team full of talent, but with the challenge of trying to overcome the attention and ire of many in the baseball world.

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That's five straight losses for Houston. Composite Getty Image.

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking two-run homer for his first major league hit, and the Chicago Cubs swept the Houston Astros with a 3-1 victory on Thursday.

Nico Hoerner had three hits and Mike Tauchman went 1 for 1 with three walks as Chicago won for the fourth time in five games. Hayden Wesneski (2-0) pitched 2 1/3 perfect innings for the win in relief of Javier Assad.

Houston has lost a season-high five straight and eight of nine overall. At 7-19, it is off to its worst 26-game start since it was 6-20 in 1969.

First-year manager Joe Espada was ejected by plate umpire Jansen Visconti in the top of ninth.

Crow-Armstrong was recalled from Triple-A Iowa when Cody Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with two fractured ribs. The 22-year-old outfielder, who is considered one of the team’s top prospects, made his big league debut last year and went 0 for 14 while appearing in 13 games.

He picked a perfect time for his first major league hit.

Houston had a 1-0 lead before Dansby Swanson scampered home on a fielder’s choice grounder for Miguel Amaya in the sixth.

Espada then replaced Rafael Montero with Bryan Abreu, who threw a wild pitch with Crow-Armstrong trying to sacrifice Amaya to second. Crow-Armstrong then drove his next pitch deep to right, delighting the crowd of 29,876 at Wrigley Field.

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