Astros' Baker ends his managerial career
Dusty Baker has retired as manager of the Houston Astros, ending an illustrious 26-year career as a big league skipper highlighted by a World Series win last season.
Baker broke the news in an interview with USA Today.
“I'm very grateful and thankful to (owner) Jim Crane and the Houston Astros for giving me this opportunity, and to win a championship,” Baker told the newspaper. “I felt like they've been good for me, and I've been good for them.”
Baker told the newspaper that he'd like to move into an advisory role in baseball, either with the Astros or a team closer to his Northern California home.
“I've still got a lot to offer; baseball has been my life,'' said Baker. “I have a lifetime of knowledge.''
Baker stepped down after his fourth season with the Astros, who came one win shy of reaching the World Series for a third straight year with a loss to the Rangers on Monday night.
The toothpick-chewer and epic storyteller finished his career ranked ninth with 2,183 victories in 4,046 regular-season games. He was the 12th manager in major league history to reach 2,000 wins and the first Black man to accomplish the feat.
Ten of the other 11 managers who have accumulated at least 2,000 wins are in the Hall of Fame. Bruce Bochy (2,093), who is still managing the Texas Rangers and isn't yet eligible, is the only exception.
“Dusty Baker is a legend in this sport,” Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña said Monday night. “I've loved every single day that I've gotten to share with him. He's been great for me.”
Baker began managing in 1993 after a 19-year playing career as an outfielder. He played with Hank Aaron in Atlanta and won a World Series with the Dodgers in 1981.
Baker managed San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati and Washington before coming to Houston. He's the only manager in major league history to take five different teams to the postseason.
He came to the Astros to help clean up their image in the wake of their signstealing scandal that cost manager A.J. Hinch his job.
Baker posted a 320-226 record with the Astros, leading them to the playoffs in each of his four seasons and winning the pennant twice.
He is one of three Black managers to win a World Series, joining Dave Roberts (Dodgers, 2020) and Cito Gaston (Blue Jays, 1992 and 1993).
Baker made two World Series trips before winning it all with Houston last season. Baker and the Astros fell to the Braves in six games in 2021 after his most crushing defeat in the Fall Classic in 2002.
Baker's Giants starring Barry Bonds entered Game 6 against the Angels a win away from a title. As the road team for the last two games of that series, the Giants squandered a five-run lead in a 6-5 loss in the sixth game before the Angels won the title with a 4-1 victory in Game 7.
After being fired by the Nationals following a 97-win season in 2017, Baker wondered if he'd ever get another shot to manage, much less win that elusive title.
Back home in California, as he worked on his wine business and grew collard greens in his garden, he often felt perplexed he had been passed over for interviews so many times as managerial openings came and went, having made inquiries that he said were unanswered over the years.
Then came Crane's call and Baker was back in the dugout.
Baker took over for the 2020 COVID-19-shortened season. The Astros squeaked into the postseason as a wild card before heating up in the playoffs and coming one win shy of reaching the World Series.
Casey won't return as Yankees coach
Sean Casey says he won't return as hitting coach for the New York Yankees after a brief stint in pinstripes this season.
Casey, a 12-year major leaguer who went from television analyst to hitting instructor in July, announced his departure on his podcast, “The Mayor's Office with Sean Casey.” The 49-year-old said he informed Yankees manager Aaron Boone before the team made a formal offer to secure his return.
Casey, a three-time AllStar, said spending more time with his daughters, ages 13 and 17, is a priority after his divorce a few years ago.
“I have those girls 50% of the time,” Casey said. “I just can't imagine being away for eight months in New York while they're here in Pittsburgh,” which is Casey's hometown.
Casey was hired July 10, the day after the Yankees fired Dillon Lawson. The team had a .231 batting average at the time, 28th among the 30 major league teams. New York batted just .221 in 71 games with Casey as hitting coach.
Casey hit .302 with 130 home runs and 735 RBIs over 12 seasons.