Will this be the ‘Dustino’ World Series for Baker?

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The nickname seemed perfect at the time, “Dustino,” created by Rod Beck, one of Dusty Baker’s relief pitchers when enough talent and a bit of good fortune were part of the landscape for the San Francisco Giants.

It was 2002, and ahead was a World Series, one in which — talk about fortune — Darren Baker, Dusty’s then 3-year-old son, was hoisted out of harm’s way at home plate by an alert J.T. Snow.

But destiny, Dustiny, Dustino, whatever, did not last.

A 5-0 lead in Game 6 disappeared. And then in Game 7 so did the Series. Now, 20 years and four teams later, Baker, 73, at last may get his first World Series championship — as a manager. At least his team, the Houston Astros, is favored over the Philadelphia Phillies.

It’s not correct to call Baker the accidental manager, but after the Giants and four other teams Baker was briefly unemployed and baseball was in a bind.

The Astros were involved in a cheating scandal, having sent illegal signals, and in the midst of firing various individuals, including the manager.

What to do to restore honesty and confidence to the sport? Bring in reliable, proven, honest Johnnie Baker, better known as Dusty.

It would be only poetic justice if the guy who very much is the man in manager would get the title. He has more managerial victories, 2,093, than anyone without a Series win.

People often ask sporting journalists whether they root for the teams they cover. In most cases, the answer is no. You want to cheer? Go find a seat in the stands.

But we often root for individuals, those who understand our jobs, and through that understanding make the work and the relationships more professional.

Dusty belongs in that category. The door to his office always was open when he managed the Giants, and presumably it has been with other teams.

True, nobody forces you to manage, but managing is a test of a person. He decides which athletes to play and if they fail, well, somebody has to be the target. As you know, they fire the manager, not the centerfielder.

Baker has handled himself and situations with control, which is the most one can demand of a leader. He’s been there — won a playoff MVP award — and done virtually everything.

Except managed a World Series champion. And that could be rectified in a matter of days.

"We love going out there every single day and competing for him,” Astros third baseman Alex Bregman told Paul Newberry of the Associated Press. “He loves this team. He loves winning. He loves the game of baseball. And a hundred percent we want to win for him.” It’s a cliché, but Baker has nothing to prove, not even to himself. Sometimes things work out — and sometimes, as with the sixth game in 2002, they don’t.

“You can’t rush it before it gets here," he said in an analogy about winning, “because it isn’t here yet. You’ve just gotta put yourself in a position to do it.”

Dusty Baker has been in that position for too long.

A’s baseball: Fans and nostalgia

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OAKLAND — So much joy, the return of baseball. “Baseball reminds us what was good,” James Earl Jones said in “Field of Dreams.”   

A grandiose contention, although not an unacceptable one.

So much nostalgia, those A’s Hall of Famers, whose names — Reggie Jackson, Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Catfish Hunter — are painted in yellow on the green tarp that covers so many bleacher seats.

So much sadness, reminders of onetime A’s players or staff personnel, from public address announcer Dick Callahan to Don Sutton to Joe Morgan to Lew Krause to Angel Mangual, all of whom died in the past few months.

Baseball, a constant in a changing America. So said Jones’ character, using poetic license, as written by W.P. Kinsella.

Sure, it’s still 90 feet between bases — the nearest man has come to perfection, or so said Red Smith. It’s still three strikes you’re out.

But as this baseball season of 2021 began with a game Thursday at Yankee Stadium and continued until Thursday night at Oakland Coliseum, so much was different — on the diamond, where too often it’s a home run or strikeout, or off, where we’re governed by measures of health.

At Oakland, impatient fans who couldn’t wait to see a baseball game in person for the first time in a year and a half were crowded outside the south end of the old stadium, while impatient people waiting for a Covid-19 vaccination were crowded at the north end.

Nobody seemed unhappy. You might say they were hoping for the best shot. Shot attendance was not announced.

The ballplayers wanted spectators. “The more the better,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “The fans make baseball.”

Or make a show of it, as opposed to a mere game. The passion is real and vocal. The drums pounded at the Coliseum.

We knew we were at a genuine, cover-your-ears ballgame when the crowd, small as it might have been, 10,436, booed the Astros during pre-game introductions. Yes, I forgot another constant: Disliking a team accused of cheating.

Another change is behind a microphone. The A’s have added Amelia Schimmel, who becomes the third female public address announcer in the majors. Melvin said Schimmel is terrific. If she could throw the sinker, he might be more enthralled.

Nobody knows what’s on the horizon, but the A’s, who made it again to the playoffs in the truncated 2020 season, only to fall to the Astros, should be as terrific as their public address announcer.

Matt Chapman has escaped his injuries and his woes — ”The mental is tougher,” he said — and although exhibition isn’t the real thing, Chapman had a great Cactus League.

“They predict us to win like 81 games, which is absurd,” said Chapman shortly before the first pitch. “But that’s their opinion.

“I am not constantly checking those things (the various forecasts), but I pay attention. I see those things. I don’t value them too much because I don’t agree with their opinions.”

The A’s, with Chapman struggling, last year won their first American League West title since 2013, and they've reached the postseason in each of the previous three years.

However, Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA projections have Oakland finishing with 82.6 wins on average in simulations, which would put the club third in the division standings behind the Angels and Astros. 

Then again nothing is certain, which is part of the fun. Along with booing the Astros.

“We like our depth,” said Melvin. “Losing Chapman last year hurt us, but he’s back.”

So is baseball with fans.

At spring training, anger from past crushes hope for future

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By Art Spander
For Maven Sports

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The weather is fine enough, the low 80s. Perfect for spring training, perfect for baseball. But what a terrible time, and that’s beyond the jolting reality that Don & Charlie’s, great ribs, great history — Babe Ruth’s autograph among the dozens — has closed.

Read the full story here.

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