Black offers tip of his cap to Dusty Baker
After Dusty Baker became the 12th manager in MLB history to win 2,000 games with the Astros’ victory over the Mariners on Tuesday night, Bud Black took a moment Wednesday to tip his cap to his former skipper.
“I love Dusty Baker — he’s been a great influence on my career,” Black said. “On the back end of my playing career, then when I got into coaching and managing, he was always a great sounding board for me. He’s a Hall of Fame manager in my mind.”
Black, then a veteran left-hander, was on the Giants’ roster when Baker earned his first win on April 6, 1993. The Rockies’ manager said he took several coaching traits from Baker, who is also the first Black manager to reach the 2,000-win milestone.
“As a player you always felt like he was a teammate, like he was in there with you in the trenches and in the fight with you,” Black said. “I always respect that and I felt that, and try to (emulate that).”
Daniel Bard’s giveback. The Rockies’ right-handed reliever announced that for every strikeout he gets this year, he’ll donate $300 to local non-profit “Fill the Void: Amp the Cause to End Hunger.”
The Colorado Rockies foundation is matching those donations, and with 11 strikeouts entering Wednesday, Bard’s donated $3,300 with a $3,300 match by the Rockies.
Bard’s non-profit of choice is “dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in Colorado,” and works with various entities “to identify and assist individuals and families with food insecurities.”
“You get into this game because it’s fun and you’re good at it, then you realize you have a chance to make a career out of it, and once that’s happened, it’s like, ‘What can I do with this that’s beyond just me and my family?'” Bard said. “That’s where this came about.”
Minor league award. Ezequiel Tovar continues his ascent as the organization’s hottest prospect, as the Hartford Yard Goats shortstop was named the Double-a Eastern League player of the month after slashing .333/.422/ .639 with five doubles, one triple, five homers, 14 RBIS and seven steals in 19 games.