Dusty Baker: The Beloved Manager Leading a Hated Team

But this unique year has disrupted even Baker’s well-honed managerial techniques. He lamented that, about one month into spring training this year, just as he was starting to shed the substitute teacher role, the season stopped for almost four months because of the pandemic.

But perhaps the biggest challenge he faced was a string of defections and injuries. Gerrit Cole, Houston’s ace in 2019, joined the Yankees in free agency. Justin Verlander had Tommy John surgery last week; Yordan Alvarez, last season’s American League rookie of the year, only played two games because of knee issues that required surgery; and Roberto Osuna, the closer, has been out since early August with an elbow injury. Baker has had to rely mostly on rookie relief pitchers.

On Aug. 10, the Astros acquired Brooks Raley, a 32-year-old left-hander from the Cincinnati Reds, to bolster the relief corps. When he arrived, Baker called Raley into his office, drawing a smile when he told Raley, “I love older lefties.”

“Since that day he’s leaned on me and given me opportunities,” Raley said. “I’m going to work for that man.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/sports/baseball/dusty-baker-astros.html