Did Ejected Dusty Baker Break Rules, Communicate Strategy as Astros Rallied Past Texas Rangers in ALCS Game 5?
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker was ejected in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.
The Astros rallied in the ninth, beating the Texas Rangers 5-4 on a three-run homer from Jose Altuve to take a 3-2 lead with the best-of-seven series headed to Houston for Sunday night’s Game 6.
Baker was, supposedly, back in the Astros clubhouse when the game was decided. But did the World Series-winning skipper communicate strategy in the ninth despite being tossed?
Baker was vague when questioned about it Saturday. A reporter asked Baker if he was involved in the decisions to start the ninth with two pinch hitters – Yainer Diaz and Jon Singleton for Jeremy Pena and Martin Maldonado, respectively.
“Well, those are things that, like I told you before, I’m always an inning or two ahead,” Baker said. “So I was telling guys to get prepared long before the action. So it doesn’t matter who made the decision, we won.”
Not exactly a denial that he wasn’t involved.
MLB Rule 4.07 is pretty clear that anyone ejected cannot be part of that game.
When a manager, player, coach or trainer is ejected from a game, he shall leave the field immediately and take no further part in that game. He shall remain in the club house or change to street clothes and either leave the park or take a seat in the grandstand well removed from the vicinity of his team’s bench or bullpen.
Baker was pressed further on the reasoning to go with Diaz and Singleton. Getting two on base set up Altuve for the game-deciding blast that has Houston one win from another World Series trip.
Again, Baker felt no need to explain.
“Well, I guess that I don’t really feel like I really need to understand, just to think that it worked and we won,” he said.
Baker definitely took his time leaving the field after getting tossed, adding to the delay initially caused by the benches clearing following Astros reliever Bryan Abreu hitting Adolis García. The 25-minute stoppage raised the ire of Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, calling it all “crap.”
Baker was fined by the league, while Abreu was suspended for two games. García, Rangers reliever Matt Bush and Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. were also fined.
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