AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 22, 2023

Dusty Baker

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 6 Press Conference

Q. Has Bryan Abreu appealed his suspension, or is he going to?

DUSTY BAKER: We're in the process of trying to go through that now. And so they're supposed to meet at 5:00.

Q. Do you expect to be without him tonight?

DUSTY BAKER: I don't know, man. I don't know.

Q. Obviously in the midst of that game, you expressed your displeasure that he was even ejected at all. What's your feeling about what's taken place with the two-game suspension?

DUSTY BAKER: It hasn't happened yet. So, you know, the powers that be, it's out of my control. Whatever happens I have to adjust and try to find a way to win the game. I kind of have to spend more time on that than I am on the decision, which hasn't even been brought down yet.

Q. You like to plan ahead. How would you adjust without Abreu, considering he's one of your best relievers at this point, and not having him would be a big impact to your bullpen?

DUSTY BAKER: Well, it certainly would, but a lot depends on Framber's outing and how far he goes. A lot of it depends on how much offense that we can put up today. And whenever I got to take Framber out, then -- we've got a plan, but a lot of times -- we plan every day, but a lot of times your plan is messed up by the opposition. I don't adhere to this inning, that inning, that inning; I go more on the performance and what I have to do to win a ballgame.

Q. Have you seen the status of your office plant today?

DUSTY BAKER: No, well, I had somebody take it outside. It was -- I watered it yesterday, and then I took it out in the sun. Man, it's looking pretty good.

Q. Are you prepared for it to achieve celebrity status? Because there's a lot of cameras on it today.

DUSTY BAKER: Really? I was just trying to get it some sun. Maybe the camera, if they're flashing, maybe to give it more photosynthesis.

Q. Your pitchers have to pitch the way they need to pitch. But with Adolis Garcia situation, you can't have them hesitant to pitch on the inside part of the plate. If anything goes awry there, then all heck could break loose. How do you approach that?

DUSTY BAKER: You've got to pretend that didn't happen. You can't change how you're going to pitch somebody. And you're pitching to their strength if you pitch away from your strength.

So like I said, nobody was trying to hit him in the first place. I mean, it looked bad. Nobody was even concerned about the antics after he hit the home run because everybody does that. It's like I see kids in Little League doing that, emulating the guys. I don't like it, but you can't stop it, or else you'd hit everybody down there in the game. I don't even look at it, I just try to figure out how we're going to get the next guy out.

Q. Your offense came alive in Arlington. Anything that you guys talk about or do to bring that same level of production back to the building?

DUSTY BAKER: No, if it was that easy, I'd bottle it in this instead of this Gatorade. I'd bottle it in this here right here and sell it.

Every day is different. And every day depends on the opposing pitcher and depends on your pitcher. I'd like to say, oh, yeah we're going to score a bunch of runs today. It's in the hands of their pitcher and the bats in our hitters' hands.

Q. Just as a clarification, when you say there's a meeting at 5:00, does that mean that's when the appeal would be officially filed?

DUSTY BAKER: I don't know. Like I said, there's a meeting at 5:00, that's all I've been told, between the powers that be -- our people, their people, MLB, Players Association -- and then they'll -- it's up to the hands -- I'm not a lawyer. Even though my mom wanted me to be a lawyer, that's too much school.

So it's in the hands of the lawyers.

Q. How did Pressly come out of the two innings yesterday, and is he a full go tonight?

DUSTY BAKER: Again, we don't know yet. I have to talk to Miller, Josh, and then we'll see. I get a report every day, and then we meet before the game to determine who's available, who's not, depending on workload, how they feel.

So I've just been talking all day. I haven't even been down to the field yet. I'll be on the field in a little while to find out.

Q. Would Javier be an option tonight out of the bullpen?

DUSTY BAKER: I don't know, to tell you the truth. I don't know, because he's -- hopefully we don't need him tomorrow.