The New York Yankees were eliminated in the American League Division Series by their archrivals, the Boston Red Sox. The Houston Astros, a team with a modern rivalry with the Yankees since the second half of last decade, beat the Sox in the Championship Series and is now playing the Fall Classic with the Atlanta Braves.
The Braves won Game 1 in Houston on Tuesday, but the Astros took Game 2 on Wednesday to level the series at one win apiece.
Former Yankees’ pitcher CC Sabathia already has his favorite. And his answer may surprise you, given that, in 2017, he played against the Astros of the sign-stealing scandal.
He wants Houston to win anyway. But why? It’s simple.
“It’s still gonna be the Astros for me because of Dusty [Baker],†Sabathia said on his “R2C2†podcast with Ryan Ruocco.
The former Yankees’ ace is on Dusty’s side
Sabathia, who won the World Series with the Yankees back in 2009, is close to Baker. He is his “big uncleâ€.
“I think he holds that much weight for anybody that knows him,†Sabathia stated. “Anybody that knows him is rooting for him. Even being able to watch him bring that organization for where they were. He was the only guy who they could hire that could get everybody off they a–. Especially in the baseball world. You gotta give him kudos and anybody who knows Dusty will be rooting for him to win the World Series.â€
Baker’s contract with the Astros will be up after the World Series, and it could actually be the veteran’s last chance to win it all because there is a strong chance he decides to call it quits after the 2021 season.
He has a strong backer in Sabathia, a legend during his time with the Yankees, and he has the respect and admiration of the baseball world.