Alan Greenwood

Having had to fire the manager on whose desk the buck stopped in their sign-stealing scandal, the Houston Astros decided to sketch their future on a completely blank slate, starting fresh, proclaiming a new, exciting era for their fans, their city and the baseball world itself.

They hired Dusty Baker.

The yawns are still

echoing.

Having (presumably) considered every option, the Astros went with the time-honored, moth-eaten Plan B.

They rummaged through the utility bin that houses managerial veterans of countless baseball wars, dusted one off (so to speak) and pulled out a man of relentlessly adequate credentials.

It’s not that Baker is incompetent. As manager of Giants, Cubs and Nationals he compiled a record of 1,863-1,636. He is a three-time National League Manager of the Year. In 2002 he led the Giants to the World Series.

It is the fact that Baker has managed through 21 big-league seasons and will be 71 years old on June 15 that makes his selection blandly curious. At a moment in the franchise’s history that cried out for bold, new blood, Houston played it safe as could be.

It would be amazing, and sad, if the Red Sox follow the Astros’ path and choose a well-worn caretaker instead of enthusiastically turning the page.

Alex Cora brought a freshness to the organization that had to have been a positive force in its 2018 season – and that is not a reference to stealing signs.

Of course, Cora’s role in the Astros’ saga cost him his job and put the Red Sox’ 2018 run under Major League Baseball’s microscope.

That might suggest caution in choosing Cora’s replacement. Courage seems more in order.

FRIENDLY WAGER: In the annual warm-up for March Madness betting, politicians representing a chunk of the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs have put their region’s culinary delicacies on the line.

If the 49ers in, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi chows down on what the Kansas City Star refers to as “a bounty of Kansas City barbecue” from Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who gets a basket of San Francisco goodies highlighted by Ghirardelli Chocolate.

With those stakes joining Pelosi for dinner would have to win out.

TIME TRAVEL: Jan. 28, 1960 – “Nashua High’s trackmen showed up with a well-balanced attack, although it lacked first-place strength in successfully opening its winter track slate 37-35 over Exeter Academy jayvees yesterday afternoon.

“The first place winners were Paul Duquette in the shot put with a heave of 44 feet, 5-1/2 inches; Paul Landry won the mile in slow time; Charles Newman copped the 45-yard hurdles and was followed by his teammate Dan Breen; and David Rood ran a good race in winning the 1000.”

These days, a coach so frank as to report, on the record, someone winning in slow time would be subject to parental flogging.

Contact Alan Greenwood at 594-1248 or agreenwood@nashuatelegraph.com.

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