Baker begins quest for another title
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Fifty-five years in baseball leave few firsts for Dusty Baker to achieve. He somehow experienced one Friday, reporting to spring training as a World Series-winning manager for the first time.
“I always said if I win one, I’m going to win two,” Baker said after the team’s second workout for pitchers and catchers. “So I’m in a position for us to win two back-to-back. I realize that it’s a very difficult situation, but others have done it. I’m hoping we’re prepared to do it.”
Baker missed the Astros’ first workout Thursday while in Houston for two dinners: one Wednesday night as the NAACP’s guest of honor and another Thursday benefiting the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Baker is a prostate cancer survivor who said both events were important for him to attend.
“It was a little strange, so I’m hoping I don’t miss any more time,” Baker said. “I don’t think I’ve ever missed a day in spring training, especially a personal day. But it’s OK. I just hope my guys don’t fine me for coming in late.”
The skipper flew back to West Palm Beach on owner Jim Crane’s private plane late Thursday and rejoined his club after Friday’s workout.
Baker is trying to guide the Astros to back-to-back World Series championships — a feat not accomplished since the New York Yankees won three consecutive titles from 1998 to 2000. He wondered aloud Friday how legendary basketball coaches Red Auerbach and Pat Riley dealt with expectations of multiple championships.
“You can’t live on the laurels of the past,” Baker said. “We have to think about the present, what we have to do and how it could be difficult. There are other teams that have gotten better. Everyone is shooting at us, which is cool.”
McCullers is ‘sore’ after bullpen session
Lance McCullers Jr. is “a little sore” after throwing a bullpen session Tuesday afternoon, Baker said after Friday’s workout.
McCullers has not been spotted on the field during either of the two Astros workouts open to reporters, and he hasn’t addressed the media since camp opened. Baker’s revelation Friday came after Houston’s clubhouse closed to
reporters, making McCullers unavailable for comment.
McCullers missed the first five months of last season with a strained flexor tendon in his right arm. Asked Friday what was sore and whether it was McCullers’ elbow, Baker replied
“same thing.” McCullers underwent Tommy John surgery in November 2018.
Baker did not seem alarmed at McCullers’ soreness, imploring reporters to “chill” and “don’t make something (out of it).”
“We’ll have to see,” Baker said.
McCullers finished last season with a 2.27 ERA in 472⁄3 regular-season innings. He started two series clinching games during Houston’s World Series run — Game 3 of the
American League Division Series in Seattle and Game 4 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium.