Astros' Baker: Illegal sign-stealing won't happen 'on my watch'
Dusty Baker was hired to clean up the Houston Astros' reputation following the sign-stealing scandal, and he's wasting no time getting to work.
In his introductory press conference Thursday, the veteran manager made it clear that the illicit methods of sign-stealing used under the team's former regime will not be tolerated so long as he's in Houston.
"It's certainly not going to happen on my watch and I don't see it happening ever again because this has been embarrassing for a lot of people," Baker said, according to Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle.
Astros owner Jim Crane fired longtime manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow once commissioner Rob Manfred's investigation revealed the scope of the team's sign-stealing activities. The investigation determined that the Astros used a video monitor to steal signs from opponents and relayed the signals to hitters by banging a trash can.
Baker is no stranger to managing through scandals. He managed controversial star Barry Bonds in San Francisco during the height of baseball's so-called "steroid era," including the period when the home-run king was first suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs. Another star with heavy links to PEDs, Sammy Sosa, played for Baker with the Chicago Cubs.
It's that experience that could make Baker perfectly suited for helping guide the Astros during a season in which they'll be under plenty of scrutiny from Day 1 of spring training.
"I've been a victim of similar things myself and I've had players on my team in the past, so I'm just going to have to talk to them (the Astros players) to make sure they stay together and they continue to love each other the way they have," Baker said.
Crane expressed confidence in Baker's ability to connect with the team.
"He's a person of high integrity, he's a respected leader, he has great baseball experience, and he will earn the players' trust," Crane said, according to David Adler of MLB.com.
Baker, who signed a one-year contract with the Astros with a club option for 2021, owns a 1,863-1,636 managerial record over 22 seasons. Although he's never won a World Series as a manager, Baker's one of three skippers to have guided four different teams to the playoffs and could become the first to take five teams to October, according to James Smyth of YES Network.
The 70-year-old hinted that this would be his final managerial job, as he stated the Astros are his "last chance to accomplish the goal" of winning a championship.