I don't think Hinch ever returns as well. If the Astros hire Bobby Evans as their GM, that's a huge tell as to who their next manager will be after Dusty, imo.
There’s nothing really wrong with Dusty Baker and I’m sure he will do fine. The terms of the contract are great too. The GM hire is of much greater importance, and hopefully they will do a similar deal where they can have more time to re-evaluate that situation down the line. I’m really unhappy about how Crane allowed himself to be pushed around, but it is what it is. The most important thing now is that they don’t screw up the GM hire, and that Crane doesn’t allow himself to get bullied into picking the wrong guy by the league. That decision should be interesting.
Dusty: All right, so what are the rules here? Crane: Don't know. First time you, first time me. Dusty: Well, I figured you knew about this stuff. I figured you follow rules before. Crane: For life, not baseball. Long pause Crane: Dusty, show me look the other way. Dusty looks dumbfounded. Crane: Show me look the other way!
Baker..I want a 3yr deal Crane..1yr Baker..ok, a 2yr deal Crane 1yr, Hinch will be back after this year Baker..ok, 1yr and i get all the toothpicks i want, I win the title and retire Crane..welcome aboard coach
The more I read up on Baker the more I like this hire. Last four seasons he’s managed his teams have won 90+ games..with a roster nowhere near as talented as this Astros roster.
I'm also a Nats fan. There were definitely some things that made you go hmm towards the end of his Nats tenure, as far as whether he was still sharp and in command of all his faculties..and that was 2-3 years ago. Even heard some insider rumors. Hopefully they are all just rumors. In any case, it's good to bring in a guy with such a stellar reputation throughout the league.
I would be all for this. The Rays are a well-run organization and I’d gladly welcome in someone who plays a big part of that.
Well the first good thing about the Dusty hire is that for the first time in MONTHS, the Astros are actually getting positive news coverage around the media. I honestly don't care at the moment if the hire was, in large part, to appease the league office, or that if it's helping to placate a media that has been at our throats the whole offseason. It's just refreshing to hear something good for a change. And I'm feeling better and better about the hire too. Dusty seems like exactly the type of presence the team needs right now; someone proven who's been to the big show, a veteran presence that has managed winning teams wherever he's gone, that is well respected around the league, someone the players can and will respect. This team is in win-now mode and will be under a lot pressure from multiple angles this season, so it's not the right time to trot out an unproven guy. Retaining Espada and the rest of the coaching staff is key too to move forward with the organization's analytical approach.
I haven’t been this cautiously optimistic about a manager hire since Jimy Williams. Hopefully this one turns out better.
Click was the driving force in a number of draft and international signings. The unquestioned best prospect in baseball is someone Click pushed hard to sign. He is considered smart and analytically inclined. There is always the concern on how he would transition to being the unquestioned boss but he has a lot of traits that would lead to a good GM.
Of the names mentioned so far Click would be my choice. I suspect that Crane will go with someone with GM experience though to clean up the "toxic culture" and appease MLB.
