Dusty Baker plops down in a chair in front of his desk, looks around his office, and recognizes that Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox could be the final Opening Day game of his career. 

Baker, 73, is not saying this will necessarily be it, with plans to retire after managing the Houston Astros this season. 

He also is not saying that he definitely wants to stick around, at least as manager, after this season, either. 

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“I don’t know man,’’ Baker tells USA TODAY Sports. “I just don’t know. You got to go home some day.’’ 

Baker sits back, and reflects, knowing these three years in Houston have been the most incredible, and perhaps even implausible, ride of his life. 

He has been the most successful manager in Astros’ history, winning his first World Series championship, two American League pennants, and three trips to the American League Championship Series. No Astros manager has produced a higher winning percentage than Baker’s 230-154 record (.599), and no manager in baseball has won more postseason games than Baker (28-14) the past three seasons.