Stepmom’s chiding makes another Dusty dust-up unlikely

His stepmother called him up, starting the conversation with, “Johnnie B. Baker…” He could imagine the disapproving look on her face as she spoke those words.

Even at 74 years old, when an elder uses your full name, with your father’s name because you are a junior, you know you messed up.

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Baker found some humor in that incident on a peaceful Saturday afternoon. The weather was so beautiful that he brought his office plant onto the Minute Maid Park field to soak up the sun.

At this point, the Astros were basking in the sunshine too. They had come back to win Game 5 against the Rangers, taking a 3-2 lead in the series. A win on Sunday night would send them to the World Series for the third time in Baker’s four-year tenure.

Later in the day, MLB announced that Astros reliever Bryan Abreu was suspended for two games. Umpires determined that he intentionally hit Rangers outfielder Adolis García with a 99 mph fastball, which set off Baker’s outburst.

Not that I have psychic powers, but if his stepmother could see him when he heard that news, she would have had to make another call.
MLB turned a simple matter into a ridiculous controversy.

This is absurd.

Tensions were high, but there was no injury — García didn’t even try to soothe any soreness — and no fight.

There was a bit of bluster, as is typical when benches clear, but cooler heads prevailed, especially after Astros star Yordan Alvarez stepped in to calm his fellow Cuban countryman.

UPDATE: Astros’ Bryan Abreu appeals his suspension

Abreu will appeal his suspension, and according to MLB rules, the appeal will be heard within 48 hours. That means Abreu could be available for Games 6 and 7 if necessary.

The problem could arise if the suspension is upheld and Abreu, who has been excellent as the eighth-inning setup man, has to sit out two World Series games.

Understandably, Baker will not be happy.

But don’t expect him to be ejected again this postseason. In 26 seasons as a manager, Baker has been kicked out of 26 regular-season games.

He’s got that cool factor.

The display Baker put on before being ejected on Friday was not reflective of the person he has worked hard to become.

Mr. Nice Guy to those who don’t know him well, Baker has always had a quick temper. He used to get into a lot of fights as a kid in Riverside, Calif., and later when his family moved to Sacramento when he was a teenager.

He has made a conscious effort to control his short fuse, even studying relaxation techniques so he doesn’t “unleash the monster” often.

But when he does…

One didn’t need to be an expert in lip reading to understand what Baker was saying during his tirade after Abreu was ejected from the game.

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Earlier, García did a defiant trot around the bases after hitting a three-run homer in the sixth inning, giving the Rangers their first lead at their home stadium in three games.

Then he leaped onto home plate as if it had an Astros logo painted on it.

The absurd, unwritten baseball “code” calls for a pitcher to hit García the next time he’s at bat.

The Astros claim that considering the game situation — with the team down two runs and a runner already on base — they would never order a “Code Red.”

MLB disagrees. Logic took another blow.

That’s why Baker was so upset on Friday night.

“Obviously, by Dusty’s reaction, he didn’t agree with us ejecting (Abreu),” said MLB Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations Mike Hill. “There was some back-and-forth between Dusty and us, and Dusty threw his hat. We ejected Dusty from the game for arguing the ejection.”

That’s what Hill said.

This is what he meant: “Dusty cursed at us. And he used all the bad words.”

Baker admitted later that night that he lost control.

“I couldn’t see anything,” he said. “I was just seeing red, you know? And I couldn’t even think clearly.”

One reason why players love playing for Baker is his calm demeanor when dealing with them. He lifts them up instead of tearing them down. He brings them closer, not pushes them away.

Another reason is that he’s willing to fight for them.

Baker was not just a good choice to be the Astros’ manager when Jim Crane hired him before the 2020 season in the aftermath of the sign-stealing scandal.

He was the right choice. The perfect choice.

There are few individuals better equipped to handle the tension that could arise in Game 6.

The last thing 74-year-old Johnnie B. Baker Jr. wants is another phone call scolding him for a misstep.