Yesterday, we were treated to Game #7 between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. And tonight, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies will do the same.
We will have to hope that the National clubs will offer a better show than those of the American since yesterday, the Rangers were never worried.
Bruce Bochy therefore became, at the same time, the first manager in history to take three teams to the World Series.
The crazy thing is he did it with the Padres in 1998, with the Giants (2010, 2012 and 2014) and with the Rangers in 2023. He did it over 25 years. He knows how to renew himself, the Bochy.
But on the other side of the spectrum, there’s Dusty Baker. The Astros manager, who took control of the club four years ago, is also a sports legend. He is very, very popular with his family.
But now he would have said, in private, that 2023 would be his last year at the helm of his team.
He would not be open to working for a club in a more low-key role, but The Athletic reports that the manager could indeed step down from his current position and that it is not an impulsive decision.
Nothing is official, but it looks like this.
After the series against Texas, Baker said he was looking forward to returning home, having not been there since mid-February.
I expected such a scenario. After all, he finally won his World Series as manager last year and was able to lead the club for one more year in 2023.
I think he’s tired of the rigors of the schedule – and that’s okay.
His 57 playoff victories as manager – including 34 in Houston over the last four years – are impressive. If it’s over, he deserves to retire.
He was the perfect manager for the club, reminding the guys that they are more than cheaters. He took the club to the championship series four times in four years.
Coming back to spend four years in Houston will therefore have allowed him to win and come full circle. He also managed in San Francisco, Chicago, Cincinnati and Washington.
If he really leaves, the Astros will have the most attractive managerial job in MLB. The Guardians, Mets, Angels and Giants are looking for a manager.
The name Bob Melvin (currently in San Diego) is currently circulating in San Francisco.
