Hall of Fame case closed? These baseball legacies could suffer if MLB’s season is canceled

The 2020 Major League Baseball season is delayed, indefinitely, and it’s not at all certain to ever begin. It’s not clear when the country will be able to lift measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic, or how baseball could fit into the much larger puzzle of society this year.

With the season in question, there also come (less important, but nonetheless interesting) questions about how the history of the sport will reckon with the shortened slate or potential gap in action. Such as: Who in the game right now might eventually have their Hall of Fame case altered by the pandemic-stricken 2020 season?

There have been strikes, and players have left for military service, but missing games are missing games, and they will affect some more directly than others when legacies coalesce years down the line. With that in mind, the Yahoo Sports staff got together and explained why these Cooperstown hopefuls have the most riding on 2020. - Zach Crizer

A list that may be of interest to compare with the ones of Jay Jaffe’s I’ve linked to in the last few days.

Baker laments lack of blacks in MLB on Jackie Robinson Day

Houston manager Dusty Baker celebrated Jackie Robinson’s legacy on the 73rd anniversary of the fall of the major league color barrier and lamented the lack of African Americans in today’s game.

“It’s frustrating because we’ve talked about it forever ... but it seems like the numbers are dwindling instead of increasing,” Baker said Wednesday.

Only 7.7% of big league players on opening day rosters last year were African American, down from 17% in 1990. Baker and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts are the only two African American managers in the majors.

Baker appreciates that the league is making a “conscious effort” to get more young African Americans involved in baseball through programs like Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities and is optimistic there can be a turnaround in the upcoming years.

Astros’ Dusty Baker begs MLB to protect players from cheating retaliation

“I’m depending on the league to try to put a stop to this seemingly premeditated retaliation that I’m hearing about,” Baker told reporters Saturday. “And in most instances in life, you get kind of reprimanded when you have premeditated anything. I’m just hoping that the league puts a stop to this before somebody gets hurt.”

Dusty Baker urges MLB to protect Astros from beanballs, retaliation

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—Houston manager Dusty Baker urged Major League Baseball to help protect his players from potential retaliation and to discipline opponents who hit Astros players with pitches because they’re angry at the organization for the widespread cheating during their championship-winning 2017 season.

“I’m depending on the league to try to put a stop to this seemingly premeditated retaliation that I’m hearing about,” Baker said Saturday morning. “And in most instances in life, you get kind of reprimanded when you have premeditated anything. I’m just hoping that the league puts a stop to this before somebody gets hurt.”

The deluge of criticism toward the Astros did not abate Saturday, with Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant calling the organization “a disgrace” and not buying into the team’s apology.

“There’s no sincerity. There’s no genuineness when it comes to it,” Bryant said about the Astros. “I know that if I messed up big in that way, I’d be the first one to let you know just how big of a mess up it was. It’s hard to believe. It really is. It’s sad.”

If past experiences mean anything, this is likely to have more or less the direct opposite of the desired affect…..

Baker on Greinke being late: ‘He’s Zack Greinke’

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—Astros manager Dusty Baker said veteran pitcher Zack Greinke won’t report to camp until Feb. 22—more than a week after the pitchers and catchers report date. Baker said Greinke is healthy and working out on his own but didn’t offer up a reason for the tardiness.

“Other than he’s Zack Greinke,” Baker said. “I’ve got no problem with that.”

Greinke, traded to the Astros from the D-backs in July, is coming off a vintage 2019 campaign in which he went 18-5 with a 2.93 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, winning eight of his 10 starts after arriving to Houston. Greinke carried a shutout into the seventh inning in Game 7 of the World Series before the Nationals rallied to win the title.

Greinke has also famously taken his time building up his velocity, generating headlines in February and March with mid-80s readings on the radar guns before going on to submit typically excellent regular-season performances. So, in some respects, he’s likely earned the right to start the year at his own pace.

And we, apparently, are not.

Dusty Baker’s son Darren cherished dad being in the stands

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Darren Baker doesn’t see anyone better to lead the Houston Astros back to respectability than his dad.

A college second baseman at the University of California, he insists that comes from a baseball player’s perspective and not just as a proud son.

Dusty Baker was formally introduced as Houston’s new manager Thursday, the same day Darren represented Cal at Bay Area baseball media day. The Astros are trying to move forward from a sign-stealing scandal that led to Major League Baseball’s suspensions and then Houston’s firings of general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch.

“I think it’s a perfect fit. Who else to steer a ship or right a ship than my dad?” Darren said. “I don’t just say that because it’s my dad, I genuinely believe it. Too much integrity — he’s the greatest man I’ve ever met, on and off the field. I think it’s a match made in heaven, I think it’s fate. Seeing him in an Astros jersey, it’s going to be a crazy experience.”

Some of you were pondering Darren Baker’s whereabouts in a couple of earlier threads- I hope this answers it for you.

Baker will be asked to manage AL All-Stars at Dodger Stadium

HOUSTON (AP) — Dusty Baker will get time in the spotlight back at Dodger Stadium next summer.

The new Houston Astros manager will be invited to lead the American League in the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium on July 14, Major League Baseball said Thursday.

Baker was hired by the Astros to replace AJ Hinch, who was suspended by MLB for the season on Jan. 13 for his role in the team’s sign-stealing scheme, then was fired by Houston along with general manager Jeff Luhnow.

Dusty Baker Astros | MLB.com

The Astros have reached an agreement with Dusty Baker to be their new manager, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The club has not confirmed the agreement, which a source told MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal is for two years./blockquote>

Jim Furtado Posted: January 29, 2020 at 05:07 PM | 24 comment(s)
  Beats: astros, dusty baker

Source: Astros focus on Dusty Baker to be new manager

The Houston Astros have focused their managerial search on veteran Dusty Baker, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Passan, but a deal has yet to be finalized.

Baker, 70, would become the oldest manager in the major leagues. Having last managed the Washington Nationals in 2017, he ranks 15th in all-time wins with a 1,863-1,636 record over 22 seasons that includes a National League pennant with the San Francisco Giants in 2002.

Baker would replace AJ Hinch, who was fired along with general manager Jeff Luhnow by owner Jim Crane on Jan. 13 following MLB’s findings that the team illicitly used electronics to steal signs during its run to the 2017 World Series championship and again during the 2018 season.

I’m oddly torn in this situation- I can’t make up my mind if I want to see Dusty ride in and clean that mess up, or wish him to stay far, far away from that wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Astros manager rumors: Brad Ausmus joins Dusty Baker, Buck Showalter, John Gibbons as candidates for

The Houston Astros aren’t wasting any time when it comes to finding their replacement for former manager A.J. Hinch, who was ousted in the wake of the team’s sign-stealing scandal last Monday. After the club was reportedly connected to former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons and former Baltimore Orioles skipper Buck Showalter for the position, another name emerged Friday.

Former Tigers and Angels manager and former Astros catcher Brad Ausmus is now a candidate for the job, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Ausmus, 50, spent 10 of his 18 seasons as a player in Houston uniform. He also managed the Tigers for four seasons and led them to a division title in 2014. Ausmus managed the Angels in 2019 and guided them to a disappointing 72-90 record before being let go in favor of Joe Maddon. Across five seasons as a major league manager, Ausmus has a record of 386-422 (.478).

Former Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker was also set to meet with the club earlier in the week to discuss their managerial vacancy, according to McTaggart.

Astros owner Jim Crane announced the firings of Hinch along with general manager Jeff Luhlow following the completion of Major League Baseball’s investigation and punishment toward the Astros for their high-tech sign-stealing scandal. With less than a month until spring training begins, the clock is ticking for the Astros to find Hinch’s permanent replacement.

Interesting contrast with a certain team off the Back Bay…...

Potential targets in Astros’ managerial search

HOUSTON—The Astros’ search for a manager to replace AJ Hinch will stretch beyond just bench coach Joe Espada, with owner Jim Crane opening up a national search that will include experienced names like Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker and Buck Showalter.

Espada, Bochy, Baker and Showalter are among the candidates Crane is considering, a source told MLB.com on Wednesday. Other names on the team’s early list are former Rangers manager Jeff Banister, Cubs third-base coach Will Venable and Dodgers special assistant Raúl Ibañez. KRIV-TV in Houston was the first to report the names.

The Astros are moving quickly in their efforts to replace Hinch, who along with general manager Jeff Luhnow was fired on Monday after MLB had suspended them for one year for their role in the sign-stealing scandal. With only four weeks before pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach, Fla., for the start of Spring Training, time is of the essence. The Astros would like to fill both positions by early February, a source said

The Astros, a source said, are expected to hire a manager before they hire a general manager. Crane said Monday he would run the baseball operations until a new GM can be hired. A source says Crane met with the coaching staff Monday at Minute Maid Park for the first time since Hinch and Luhnow were dismissed.

So, if you were in this position, who would you hire?