Nothing wrong with the old thread but since it is on the verge of being official, I wanted to start a new dedicated thread. Thanks to NoWorries for the article. Porter reportedly named next Astros manager By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com | 09/27/2012 1:19 AM EST HOUSTON -- Nationals third-base coach Bo Porter has been chosen to be the Astros' next manager, according to a report. The Astros have called a 10 a.m. CT news conference for Thursday morning at Minute Maid Park, where it's believed they'll unveil their new manager. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com and MLB Network reported in a tweet late Wednesday that Porter was going to be named the manager. Astros team officials couldn't be reached for comment. Porter, who lives in the Houston area and is in his second season as third-base coach for the Nationals, was in Houston to interview two weeks. The 40-year-old, who had previously interviewed for the Marlins' managerial job, will stay with the Nationals until the end of the postseason, the report said. Tony DeFrancesco has been serving as interim manager for the past month following the dismissal of Brad Mills. Prior to joining the Nationals, Porter was the third-base coach for the D-backs for one year, and later served briefly as bench coach in Arizona under Kirk Gibson. Porter played three seasons in the Major Leagues with the Cubs, A's and Rangers from 1999-2001. He began his coaching career in 2005 as the hitting coach for Class A Greensboro, and later served as manager at Class A Jamestown in '06. He was the Marlins' third-base coach and baserunning instructor from 2007-09. Earlier in the day, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said his goal was to find a skipper for the long haul. In other words, he wants a manager who will have what it takes to see the club's rebuilding process through to the point the team is competitive again. "That's the idea," Luhnow said. "That's why we spent so much time and energy on this process. We're looking to find a manager that's going to take the Houston Astros from where they are today, two years in a row losing more than 100 games, to the point of our goal, which is to win multiple championships. "I'd like to be here when that happens, and I'd like the manager we hire to be here when that happens. We're all motivated to get there. We don't want to hire someone with the idea he's going to be here for one phase of it. We want someone to grow with the players and grow with the organization."
Spoiler JLuhnow: We are thrilled to announce Bo Porter will be our next manager. Tremendous experience and has worked under some great managers. ... Washington a model we look at, where we'd like to [ultimately] be. Bo has the knowledge and Bo knows baseball. An expert in OF and baserunning and fundamentals. We need someone with a specific expertise on playing baseball the right way. We have young players, [who are] still learning the game at times. ... When you hire a new manager, you worry about Xs and Os and in game decisions. We have comfort with that [with Bo]. ... He's anxious to engage in analytics. He'll help us further develop those things. His style is probably his biggest asset. A natural born leader. A motivational speaker. Connects individually and in groups and gets the best out of people. He has a genuine energy. When he comes into a room, people come to him. People want to follow him and hear what he has to say. When he talks, people want to follow [and listen]. He won't accept anything less than 100%. He said during the interview that it's not a matter of setting expectations high and not reaching them but setting them too low and reaching them. One key criteria we screened for was the candidate's ability to create the right culture in the clubhouse. We realize how important the manager and staff is in creating that environment. Bo will be exceptional at doing that. We did interview some tremendous candidates. Started with 49, cut it down to 9, and then down to 4 finalists and did a lot of work on the 4 finalists. [Did] As much research we could do. Bo Porter was the best manager for the Astros for the future. I do ask all of you to be patient. Bo lives in Houston. He'll be accessible to all of you. We pride on being accessible to everyone. Bo will be the same way. [With that said] He's involved in something special right now and when you have the chance to help a team [in the playoffs/chance to go to WS], it requires 110% of focus. You'll wanna talk and text him, I ask you hold off on that until their season is done. He will be available on a conference call at 10:45 today. He'll do local media in Washington today but after that, we're done and we ask you to respect that and respect the Nationals during their season. We felt it was important to get out ahead and not wait until after the season and we got the guy we wanted. --Most important part for me was speaking to people in Bo's clubhouses. We had conversations with coaches, managers, MLB & MiLB players [he's been around]. When you meet him, you'll understand what we talk about. Realism, genuine and real desire to win. Won't stop until he achieves his goal. --Any concerns with adjust to AL? We'll need some balance on the coaching staff. He'll be a smart manager. We'll prepare him with a staff. That will start next. We'll wait until Bo is done. --We'll be prepared to go to the AL. --Direction that Jim said was to find the best guy. Time was not a factor. We're anxious to work hard and improve this organization. It was about finding the right person. --We'll have everyone on the [current] staff be involved in the process. Unsure about the roles. Bo will speak to all current staff members. Nothing set in stone. --We'll be respectful of what they're trying to do in Washington. We appreciate the Nationals have been this generous. We'll be as respectful as we can and let them finish their job. --Everyone was on board with the decision. It became obvious that everyone was on board with the decision. --Bo is open minded and smart and knows baseball and that can only help us. We're excited. The bond between the FO and clubhouse will be tighter than most organizations. --Porter only one offered the job. --When you meet Bo, you'll know he is charismatic. A lot of things went into the decision. He'll create a sense of urgency in here. When you look at all the elements he brings, it was exactly what we were looking for. --Bo is an unique individual. He also brings the football mentality. That helps him create a sense of urgency. He's smart enough to do it in the right way. [He's] A blend of all the influences he's been around. --(How many wins is a manger worth?) There are decisions a manager makes during the game that affects the outcome. So maybe it's 5-10 games during the course of a season. There are so many elements a manger can impact that could swing the team from mediocre to great. --Patience is an interesting word. One reason we're hiring Bo is because we're not patient.Trying to make the time from where we are today to when we make the playoffs as short as possible. Can't steal from tomorrow to help today but the group leading this team, we want to go as fast as we can. Houston is a great sports city [I see it with the Texans] and this team wants a winning baseball team and we want that ASAP. --Tony D, can't say good enough things about what he's done. He'll remain with the organization. We knew he would be with us going forward when we brought him in. He'll help us evaluate the players at the end of the year. We'll go over the roster and come up with offseason plans. --Bo has been in Houston and has coached in Houston. We think he'll be great in the community and will connect with the fans. You'll see him out in the community. Bo will be right there and a big help. He's a good speaker and will do a lot of talking. Hope to influence a lot of young kids to play baseball. --Dan gave us info about Bo and his style and everything else. Dan Radison was an important part of the process. --Combo of things he learned from Davey and how Bo was able to watch and impact the vets mix with young players. They have young rising stars and older players. A good mix over there. He provides the right balance. We don't have vets right now, we will when we're competing again. His ability to cut across all types of players, he's got an ability to connect and bring them all together. --Didn't speak with Davey but read a lot about what Davey feels about Bo. --(Crane)We're looking forward to the uni[form] launch. We'll be making changes in the park with signage and colors and making changes in the Diamond Club, so a lot of work there.
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo: "Bo Porter joined our staff in 2011 to instruct and coach our young players in how to play the game right, and in how to win. He has been invaluable to us and our drive toward our first postseason. Despite his obvious value, we allowed and encouraged Bo to meet with his hometown Houston Astros to pursue his dream to manage in the major leagues. He is smart, talented, and as fiery a competitor as there is in the game today. Bo will always be a member of the Nationals family, and we wish him every success with the Astros."
Patience is an interesting word. One reason we're hiring Bo is because we're not patient.Trying to make the time from where we are today to when we make the playoffs as short as possible. Can't steal from tomorrow to help today but the group leading this team, we want to go as fast as we can. Houston is a great sports city [I see it with the Texans] and this team wants a winning baseball team and we want that ASAP. What if Bo will get impatient when Luhnow trades Jed Lowrie for prospects or when Luhnow builds another craptastic bullpen.
Uh, I don't think Luhnow was or is trying to build much of anything at the Major League level until there's an in-house foundation to start with. I think he knew good and well that his bullpen wasn't particularly good, much like the entire team.
Luhnow didn't have a chance to "build" anything last year on the major league level. They were in tear-down mode in the midst of an ownership change and weren't going to add offseason payroll under any circumstances. But b**** away!
