baker's back

Houston Astros reward beloved manager Dusty Baker with new contract

Dusty Baker Houston Astros World Series downtown parade 2022

Here's hoping Baker gets another trophy.

Photo by Marco Torres/@MarcoFromHouston

With all the frenzied speculation surrounding Houston Astros stars who may or may not return — Trey Mancini and Will Smith are now free agents — fans received some welcome news from the team on Wednesday, November 9.

Beloved manager Dusty Baker will return next year, Astros owner Jim Crane announced on Wednesday. While exact terms weren’t disclosed, Baker’s deal is a one-year contract through the end of the 2023 season, per the team.

“Hey man, we’ve got a chance to win back-to-back and this is what I’d like to do,” Baker said at a news conference on Wednesday, per MLB.com. “I’ve got work to do. You can’t be satisfied on where you are right now or you’ll never get past where you are right now.”

“I love winning more than anything,” he continued. “I’m spoiled by winning. That’s what I plan on doing, doing some more winning.”

Baker has been doing plenty of winning since he joined the Astros. His new deal comes off the Astros’ historic 2022 season, capped by the team’s Game 6 clinching of its second World Series title since 2017. Under Baker’s management, the Astros dominated the American League with a 106-56 record, the second-best in franchise history.

That domination continued throughout the postseason, with a 7-0 sweep in the American League Division Series and American League Championship Series.

As the nation watched, the Astros faced off with the Philadelphia Phillies for the Commissioner’s Trophy, rallying three straight wins, including the 4-1 win in Game 6 to secure the title in front of a raucous Minute Maid Park crowd on Saturday, November 5.

By the numbers, re-signing Baker is a no-brainer; he boasts a combined record of 230-154 (.599) in the regular season over his three seasons with the team, which tops the AL in that span.

A calming presence when he took over the team in 2020, Baker ushered the team to a mere one win away from the World Series. The next season, the Astros scored the AL pennant and headed to the World Series, where they were eventually bested by the Atlanta Braves in six games.

And this year? The run has been nothing short of magical. Baker’s 25th season as a manager saw him become only the 12th — and first African-American — manager in MLB history to win 2,000 games. He also ranks ninth overall in MLB history with his 2,093 career regular season wins.

A playoff powerhouse, Baker has 51 postseason wins, which puts him at No. 4 overall behind Hall of Famers and pro baseball legends Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, and Tony LaRussa.

Exuding been-there-done-that, pro's-pro poise (the former outfielder spent 19 years in the majors and won a World Series in 1981 with the Los Angeles Dodgers), Baker is a true player’s coach who can not only expertly calm the nerves of rookies, but also relate to seasoned and championship-pedigreed veterans. In short, he’s perfect to help lead the Astros into dynasty status.

With a World Series finally under his belt, the charming, patient clubhouse leader and sports icon now lacks only one title: Hall of Famer. Memo to the Baseball Writers' Association of America and Veterans Committee: We’re waiting.

fight night

Boxing promoter will build dedicated arena in north Houston

Photo courtesy of PlaceNEW Studios.

Red Owl Boxing currently rents a venue at 12539 Perry for events, but will soon have their own arena.

For the first time in decades, Houston will have a dedicated arena for live boxing. Red Owl Boxing recently announced that it will be open the Owl's Nest in 2027.

“Houston is a phenomenal city for boxing, and an arena of our own allows us to deliver consistency at the highest level in terms of fan experience, fighter experience, and in-house operations,” said Gabriel Fanous, Red Owl Boxing executive chairman, in a statement.

Previously, Red Owl hosted 17 live boxing shows between 2021 and 2025 at a rented venue on Perry Road. This new one, to be located at 2929 FM 1960, will feature several improvements, including a mezzanine level with luxury suites, a green room for content creation, expanded truck bay for television vans, entrance ramps for more dynamic fighter introductions, and a proper box office and concession stand. Its total space will be 25,000 square feet, and it will host 21 live boxing events in between 2027 and the end of 2028.

The new venue also comes with a new face at the top of the promotion. Veteran combat sports and media attorney Greg Bloom has been appointed CEO of Red Owl. Previously, Bloom was CEO at at Bareknuckle Boxing (BKB), where he oversaw a massive expansion promoting fights across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East as well as bringing BKB to several new television markets.

“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to help lead Red Owl Boxing into its next chapter," said Bloom. "Gabriel Fanous’s forward-thinking business model exemplifies the authentic passion that the company has for the great sport of boxing."

“In Greg Bloom, I have a process-focused leader with ample experience in building combat sports media companies,” said Fanous. “I don’t hire people and tell them what to do. I hire smart people so they can advise me on what to do.”

Red Owl's next live event will be Friday, May 28 at the Archer Music Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Undefeated super featherweight Deonte “Lay ‘Em Down” Brown will take on Yohan Vasquez. The match will be screened lived on DZAN.

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