Astros fire manager and general manager

[ondeadline]

To the World Series one year, fired two years later. Could Ozzie face the same fate?

Manager Phil Garner and GM Tim Purpura fired by Houston Astros
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) _ Manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura were fired Monday by the Houston Astros, less than two years after leading the team to its first World Series appearance.

Bench coach Cecil Cooper was appointed interim manager and team president Tal Smith will serve as interim general manager.

"I felt this was the time for a change," owner Drayton McLane said. "I just think we needed a fresh start."

 

[scribeinwiscy]

Cooper will be a good coach. Just not sure it's now.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Purpura was in way over his head. Garner had name value in Houston, but was otherwise a generic manager who didn't bring anything special. The Astros can do better in both spots.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Can Purpura really get credit for 05? Pretty much every piece was in place when he took over wasn't it?

 

[Bubbler]

Dammit. Why couldn't this be "Brewers fire their manager"?

Good for Coop though.

 

[wickedwritah]

Can Purpura really get credit for 05? Pretty much every piece was in place when he took over wasn't it?

Yeah, that was mostly Hunsicker's team.

 

[healingman]

As longtime Astros fan, Tal Smith will bring needed guidance and strength to that GM role. Purpura, yes, was in over his head. Garner was and is a fan favorite and, unfortunately, didn't have the jets this year working for him. Now here's a thought: Is it time for Drayton McLane to sell the Astros to Nolan Ryan's group? I mean, Ryan's group runs the Astros' Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock (near Austin) and Double-A affiliate in Corpus Christi. Both franchises have great ballparks and are run on the up-and-up. That type of success could ... I say, could ... carry the Astros to the bigger rung. Potentially back to the Series.

Just a thought......

 

[mike311gd]

I think Steve Phillips is available ...

 

[slappy4428]

To the World Series one year, fired two years later. Could Ozzie face the same fate?

Manager Phil Garner and GM Tim Purpura fired by Houston Astros
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) _ Manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura were fired Monday by the Houston Astros, less than two years after leading the team to its first World Series appearance.

Bench coach Cecil Cooper was appointed interim manager and team president Tal Smith will serve as interim general manager.

"I felt this was the time for a change," owner Drayton McLane said. "I just think we needed a fresh start."

If Ozzie stays, it's because Jerry Reinsdorf hates Mariotti more than losing.

 

[Hammer Pants]

Purpura was in way over his head. Garner had name value in Houston, but was otherwise a generic manager who didn't bring anything special. The Astros can do better in both spots.

When did pennants become not special?

 

[mike311gd]

Purpura was in way over his head. Garner had name value in Houston, but was otherwise a generic manager who didn't bring anything special. The Astros can do better in both spots.

When did pennants become not special?

I agree. It's not like every manager in Houston's history won a pennant. Twenty-eight managers a year don't win a pennant, and some never do. Garner's got to get a little bit of credit for 2005, even if his team was laughed out of the Series by the best team in baseball.

 

[spnited]

I think Steve Phillips is available ...

And he'll be the first one to tell you what a great job he will do.

 

[broadway joe]

Cooper will be a good coach. Just not sure it's now.

He's 57 years old. If not now, when?

 

[lantaur]

Purpura was in way over his head. Garner had name value in Houston, but was otherwise a generic manager who didn't bring anything special. The Astros can do better in both spots.

When did pennants become not special?

I agree. It's not like every manager in Houston's history won a pennant. Twenty-eight managers a year don't win a pennant, and some never do. Garner's got to get a little bit of credit for 2005, even if his team was laughed out of the Series by the best team in baseball.

I disagree that the Astros were laughed out of the World Series. Obviously it was a sweep, but every game was a good one and close. No laughers in there. They were beaten by a better team, but certainly not totally overmatched and blown away.

And didn't Purpura bring in Carlos Beltran that season, which helped the playoff push (and then didn't re-sign him of course)?

 

[Ben_Hecht]

To the World Series one year, fired two years later. Could Ozzie face the same fate?

Manager Phil Garner and GM Tim Purpura fired by Houston Astros
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) _ Manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura were fired Monday by the Houston Astros, less than two years after leading the team to its first World Series appearance.

Bench coach Cecil Cooper was appointed interim manager and team president Tal Smith will serve as interim general manager.

"I felt this was the time for a change," owner Drayton McLane said. "I just think we needed a fresh start."

If Ozzie stays, it's because Jerry Reinsdorf hates Mariotti more than losing.

Not that there's anything wrong with THAT . . .

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Purpura was in way over his head. Garner had name value in Houston, but was otherwise a generic manager who didn't bring anything special. The Astros can do better in both spots.

When did pennants become not special?

Same day Joe Altobelli won a World Series.

Garner is/was a very average manager. Even he was surprised when he got the chance in Houston because he thought he was done.

 

[Oz]

And didn't Purpura bring in Carlos Beltran that season, which helped the playoff push (and then didn't re-sign him of course)?

No, Beltran was a 2004 trade deadline pickup. He hit eight home runs in 12 playoff games, then moved on to his millions in New York.

Royals got Mark Teahen (starting RF who moved from 3B), John Buck (starting catcher) and Mike Wood (worthless) in that trade. At least they got some productive pieces -- if not great ones -- in that one. Doesn't always happen.

 

[crusoes]

I would think any GM would think twice about hiring Garner now, since the last two times he was fired, he took the GM with him. And Randy Smith hasn't been seen since. Although his dad could use a GM now...

 

[scribeinwiscy]

Cooper will be a good coach. Just not sure it's now.

He's 57 years old. If not now, when?

I should rephrase, I suppose. He'll be a good manager once he's fielded his own major league team for a few years. Not sure this will be his best/only shot, though.

 

[alleyallen]

I liked Garner a lot...another former Astro heading up the team. But there were questions about both his insistence to use guys like Mike Lamb and Jason Lane on an inconsistent basis, and that was tied with Purpura's flakiness in bringing up and sending down those fringe guys. It also didn't help that the 'Stros failed to sign either of their first two draft choices and have a farm system that's nearly depleted (they have one decent catching prospect, maybe one pitching prospect and not much else between Round Rock and Corpus Christi).