As is his approach in virtually each huge league metropolis, and particularly these during which he has managed, Baker spent his first hours in Washington looking down an outdated pal within the space by Nationals Park. He had been to that pal’s dwelling many occasions earlier than, however this time, he stated, he couldn’t discover it. Too a lot had modified. The Nationals are practically unrecognizable from his time, too.
Since Baker final managed right here in Game 5 of the 2017 National League Division Series, the Nationals slayed October demons, gained a World Series, and watched an whole beloved core depart. Only one participant from the 2017 NLDS roster, Victor Robles, might be energetic towards Baker’s charging Astros — winners of 11 straight — this weekend. His former participant and fishing buddy, Dave Martinez, might be sitting the place Baker used to sit within the dwelling dugout as an alternative — identical to Baker took his former participant Matt Williams’s seat there after the 2015 season.
“It wasn’t awkward. Cause it wasn’t Davey’s fault,” Baker stated of watching his job go to a supervisor with no expertise after main the Nationals to two straight playoff runs, each of which ended a few outs wanting the league championship collection. “Davey’s a great choice. Davey played for me. Davey was one of my favorite players. He learned a lot from being around Joe Maddon. Davey’s a very good manager, and he’s an excellent fisherman.”
Baker has operated in proximity to his former team for 3 seasons, sharing the Astros’ West Palm Beach spring coaching dwelling with the Nationals. He has watched his son, Darren, set up himself as a Nationals minor leaguer. The mutual respect he shares with Martinez was clear one spring coaching afternoon, when Martinez stunned Baker by sending his son out with the Nationals’ lineup card as his father introduced out the Astros’.
“We remained friends throughout the years. What we do on the field, what we do, is something different than the relationship we have off the field. We share a passion for wine. We share a passion for fishing,” Martinez stated. “So like I said, I’ve learned a lot not only in the baseball world, but as who he is and who he perceives to be, helped me become the person that I am as well.”
Neither man would say so, but when there may be any awkwardness to their relationship, it stems from that it was Martinez, not Baker, who gained the World Series the Nationals introduced Baker in to win. Baker and the Nationals have been supposed to full one another, to assist one another finish years of October disappointment and win their first titles collectively. As it occurred, the Nationals bought theirs with out him. And after his beat-up Astros fell in six video games to the Atlanta Braves in final yr’s World Series, Baker continues to be ready for his.
But after turn out to be simply the twelfth supervisor in main league historical past to win 2,000 profession video games earlier this season, the 72-year-old isn’t ready on a lot else in his profession. He has managed so many locations that he’s even accustomed to returning to outdated haunts — and being greeted with heat even in stadiums the place he as soon as felt omitted within the chilly.
“Most of the time, they seem like they appreciate me more when I came back than when I left,” stated Baker, who the Nationals acknowledged with a tribute on the video display screen simply earlier than Friday night time’s recreation.
“The good thing is, I’ve seen a lot of people that were still here, even when I left,” Baker stated. “A lot of the auxiliary people, people in the clubhouse, security guards, the people I really appreciated when I was here, and I felt a closeness to them.”
Fans aren’t piling into Nationals Park as reliably as they did when Baker managed these star-studded groups, however those that have been there at recreation time Friday night time cheered him. Somehow, a pandemic, a World Series title, and a half-dozen condo buildings had emerged since that they had the possibility to say thanks.
“I had great memories here. The people were great. I enjoyed the town,” Baker stated. “Like I’ve said many times, I enjoyed the diversity, the educational level here. For a two-year period, this is probably as good of a period as I’ve had anywhere.”