Correa’s ability to focus impresses Baker
CHICAGO — Carlos Correa could have caved. Pick any reason. He is in his final season before free agency. His wife, Daniella, is pregnant with the couple’s first child. He has turned into a team spokesman when the sign-stealing scandal is mentioned. Correa is the team’s field general at shortstop and a bat that lengthens an already excellent lineup.
Correa’s ability to compartmentalize the chaotic times in his life — both on and off the field — are a marvel to a manager who’s seen just about everything.
“He is as good a pressure player as I have been around,” Dusty Baker said. “He is not the best player I've been around. He is one of the best, but he is definitely one of the best pressure guys that I've ever seen, big game guys.
And, you know, it's actually made him more focused, it looks like to me.”
Correa entered Game 3 of the American League Division Series with a franchise-record 52 postseason RBIs. His 17 home runs trail only Jose Altuve and George Springer for the franchise lead.
In his final season under club control, Correa struck a career-high 26 home runs, played in 148 games and matched his careerbest with a .279 batting average. He is worth a career-high 21 defensive runs saved and a 2.9 ultimate zone rating, according to FanGraphs. Both are career-bests for a shortstop that will cash in on the open market after maintaining uncanny calm amid pressure.
“I see it all as positive. I see it as a great thing,” Correa said earlier this week. “I'm at a point in my life now where I'm happy, and that's how I live my life based on doing things that make me happy. Playing baseball makes me happy. Spending time with my family makes me happy. I'm going to be a father, so nothing will make me happier than this. This is playoff baseball. This is where I want to be every single year come October.”
Players’ families tag along on trip
Baseball’s slow return to normalcy left the Astros’ charter flight to Chicago full of significant others, spouses and children. After spending so much of 2020 secluded from family, most were allowed to accompany Houston’s players and coaches for the continuation of the American League Division Series.
“Last year was tough being in the hotel and I didn't have my wife there,” said closer Ryan Pressly, who has his newborn son Wyatt along for the trip.
“Having them here this year and in the hotel rooms and we get to go do stuff, it kind of takes your mind off of baseball for a little bit, but it's definitely great to have them here.”
Major League Baseball’s strict health and safety protocols during the 60game 2020 season prohibited children or families from coming to the ballpark or accompanying the team on the road. Pitcher Zack Greinke cited the circumstance often, calling the season “easily the least fun” of his 18-year major league career.
A few families, including Greinke’s, arrived early to San Diego before last year’s American League Championship Series to quarantine and enter the league’s “bubble.” Bonding’s been much easier this season. Greinke is often seen playing wiffle ball or hitting ground balls to his two sons before games at Minute Maid Park.
“Most of the time, it accentuates the situation having your family around because (of ) the kids,” Baker said. “I mean, they're going to love you no matter what. You know, they're going to tell you, ‘That's OK, Dad.’ My daughter used to tell me sometimes, ‘Yeah, that's OK, Dad. You struck out three times. You'll get them.’”
Last season, Baker often bemoaned that missing element. His managerial reputation is built on relationships — not only with the players, but their extended families. Baker said his 22-year-old son, Darren, is scheduled to join the traveling party next week if the Astros advance to the American League Championship Series.
“The positiveness of children and kids is, you know, you can't quantify that because as you get into adulthood,” Baker said. “You carry some negative events with you, and these kids don't really have any negative events or not nearly as many as you.”
Gurriel goes from fifth to seventh
Baker made an interesting batting order change for Game 3 of the ALDS, dropping American League batting champion Yuli Gurriel to the 7-hole.
Gurriel batted fifth in the first two games of the division series against the White Sox as well as the majority of his games in the regular season. Before Sunday’s Game 3, he had batted seventh just three times this year. Baker said he moved Gurriel down to allow Carlos Correa and Kyle Tucker to bat higher up in the order.
In ALDS Games 1 and 2, Gurriel hit a combined 1-for-8 with two RBI. Correa went 3-for-6 with 2 RBI and a double, while Tucker went 2-for-8 with a home run and three RBI.