HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- Dusty Baker never imagined he would become the Houston Astros manager after his last stint with the Washington Nationals.
The Astros won the World Series in 2017, Baker's last season managing the Nationals, and it appeared the longtime skipper would end his career without that elusive championship.
Baker even gave away all of his baseball gear. Recently, he went up to his attic to find an empty bag.
No shoes. Even his underwear was gone, he said.
Unknown to Baker in 2017 was how the Astros would sometimes use a centerfield camera to steal and decode signs at Minute Maid Park, an infraction that ultimately led to the firing of manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow.
Now, both Baker and the Astros are missing something essential.
For Baker, it's the aforementioned World Series title. He's spoken about that at length since becoming a candidate for the manager opening.
For the Astros, it's credibility. It's a sense of integrity around baseball. It's trying to move on seamlessly from an embarrassing and, quite frankly, unnecessary scandal.
Astros owner Jim Crane said Baker was hired because of his high integrity, respect as a leader, great baseball experience and that he'll earn the players' trust.
"He's the best person to lead this team to a championship," Crane said at Thursday's press conference introducing Baker. "His goal is our goal."
That's why the fit is so perfect. Both parties need each other, or at least something similar.
So even though he expected to be done after 2017, here's his opportunity to expand his Hall of Fame credentials.
Baker's .532 winning percentage is the highest of any manager in Major League Baseball. He needs 153 wins to reach 2,000 for his career.
Baker won Manager of the Year in his first season with San Francisco in 1993, when he helped the Giants to a 103-59 record. He won the award twice more -- in 1997 and 2000 with the Giants -- and led San Francisco to the 2002 World Series.
They lost in seven games to the Angels.
"This is my last hurrah," Baker said. "I thought my last hoorah was in Washington actually because I gave all my stuff away. … This is a new beginning for me."
Part of that new beginning involves getting acclimated to a team using analytics in a robust way.
Baker, 70, is viewed as an old school baseball guy. There's a sentiment that he might have some reluctance to how the Astros use information.
Crane and Baker discussed this during the hiring process. The expectation is for the Astros operating staff to present Baker with the information, then allow him to use his own baseball savvy and wit to make solid decisions.
There are still concerns.
How does he replace, or adjust to the loss of, pitcher Gerrit Cole, who left in free agency to the New York Yankees?
How does the three-time National League Manager of the Year adjust to doing it in the American League, since this is his first time?
This is Dusty Baker on learning and adjusting to the American League. #Astros pic.twitter.com/qPRd3vWnRN
— SportsRadio 610 (@SportsRadio610) January 30, 2020All of this remains to be seen.
Related: Hiring Dusty Baker Is Step One Of Many
What Astros fans can expect is a manager who is professional, builds interpersonal relationships with players and is open to change.
That was the message from Minute Maid Park on Thursday.
Hopefully, for the Astros' sake, that steady hand guides them straight through this mess they created for themselves.
