Former Philadelphia Phillies Manager Linked to Astros Job
The Houston Astros will be without manager Dusty Baker come the 2024 MLB season.
After dropping the American League Championship Series to their in-state rivals, the Texas Rangers, Baker made it known that he will not be returning next season.
Whether or not Baker retires remains to be seen, he has put together a Hall of Fame worthy career but he may not be done yet.
With that news, ideas and rumors have begun to fly as to who will take the helm of a franchise that has been to seven-consecutive ALCS. One name that has popped up is that of former Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi.
According to Inside the Astros, Girardi could be a good candidate with his World Series experience.
"Girardi is one of the few managers that can boast World Series rings as a player and as a manager, as he guided the New York Yankees to the 2009 World Series title," writes Inside the Astros' Matthew Postins. "Philadelphia fired him midway through the 2022 season, but the Phillies ended up turning that into a World Series berth against Houston. Girardi has a solid track record as a manager, as he's won more than a 1,000 games with three different teams. He would bring the appropriate amount of experience to a veteran team that wants to win now."
The issue with Girardi is that, like Baker, does not like to incorporate analytics into decision making, at least not to the extent that many front offices are currently expecting.
Girardi also does not like to allow younger players a chance to shine and would rather opt for the veteran past his prime. He failed in Philadelphia for this very reason.
It is because of the Phillies daycare that the club has found so much success under Rob Thomson. How that may translate in Houston, where there is a depleted farm system, remains to be seen.
Regardless, Girardi brings experience but plenty of baggage with him. Whether the Astros want to take a chance or not is up to them.
