Astros Manager Baker Refusing to Panic Despite Struggles

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker continues to remain calm and positive despite the struggles that have put their team on the verge of missing the MLB playoffs.

It's quite a different tone surrounding the Houston Astros' ballclub this season compared to last year.

On Sept. 25 of the 2022 season, the Astros were up 17 games in the AL West division standings en route to winning 106 games.

Entering Sept. 25 of this season, they're trailing the Texas Rangers by two-and-a-half games and are holding onto the final AL Wild Card spot by a half game.

They got swept by the 100-loss Kansas City Royals over the weekend and are now 3-7 in their last 10 games.

Despite the major struggles taking place in Houston, manager Dusty Baker refuses to panic.

"Right now, we (have) to dwell on as many positives as possible and try to delete, negate as many negatives as possible. It brings you down. Brings the town down. We need everybody’s thought processes in a positive direction and a positive goal," he told Chandler Rome of The Athletic before Saturday.

After losing two more games, he still continues to be calm.

"I’m a believer in my team and a believer the cream rises to the top and we’re close," Baker said.

That could be the case, but being close also means they could run out of time.

They're beginning a three-game road series against the Seattle Mariners on Monday, a team who has won eight out of 10 games against them.

Outfielder Chas McCormick said, "It’s been weird. It’s been frustrating. I’ve never been in this position before. Every team that’s coming to play us wants to beat us badly and we just don’t want it enough right now."

The Astros' new found position should light a fire underneath of them if it hasn't already.

Maybe the non-panicking Baker prevents a sense of urgency from being created in the clubhouse. Maybe it's just a bad stretch of baseball that has come at the worst time.

Whatever it is, the only thing that can change are the results on the field because Baker won't start panicking.

It's not in his nature.

It's also not in this group's nature to miss out on the postseason. The last time they missed the playoffs was in 2016.

Houston will need to dig deep and get themselves out of this funk or else they'll be sitting around watching someone win the World Series without the opportunity for them to defend it.