Astros fire Garner and Purpura... Cecil Cooper named Interim Manager

i stopped right there.

 

I'm happy this happened when it did because it gives Cecil Cooper a month to show what he can do. I'm rooting for him to be our next manager. If not him, I would love for the Astros to give Tony Pena a call. He did a decent job managing the KC Royals. Plus, he has ties to the Astros.

For the GM position, Al Avila should get a hard look. He's not a well known name, but I really think he can take this team to the top. He is currently the assistant GM in Detroit. Previously, he was Dave Dombrowski's right hand man in Florida during their 2003 World Series win as assistant GM. He was also Florida's top scout for many years. In my opinion, Florida is the model for drafting and developing home grown talent and that is what our team needs. Dave Dombrowski is synonymous with success and this guy has been at Dombrowski's side for more than a decade. I'm sure a lot of Dombrowski rubbed off on Avila. We need to give him a shot!

 

I used to be a Purpura apologist, but it seemed pretty obvious that he was out of his league. I will miss Garner, I never that impressed with his game managing skills, but he won playoff games that other Astros managers didnt.

 

Cooper will be competent as manager..and will quiet some of the racial noise that is always in the background with the Astros.

I think sadly that the number one qualification for a GM will be that they be willing to follow Drayton's "vision" for building a champion. This means no rebuilding in the near future (because that guarantees a temporary drop in attendance), probably means more big splashy moves with guys who will sell tickets which we will pay for by deficiencies elsewhere where a casual baseball fan won't notice them (except in the won loss).

I think the big hope for the Astros improving is that we catch lightening in a bottle with both Patton and Pence (the latter is well on his way) and that we somehow get a GM who is not Randy Smith..and he is able to spin the right moves in a way that is palatable to Drayton.

 

i bet the players are happy that cruz will be on the bench instead of the 1st base coach constantly reminding them of how many outs there are and pointing to the 3rd base coach to watch the signs.

 

CLASSIC!!! Good call!!!

 

i'm excited about cooper. i don't really know why but i am. i like that he's got this attitude that he knows we've been doing things wrong and he's going to make it right.

 

Can we get Dierker back?

At least that guy could manage a pitching staff.

DD

 

I think that's what a first base coach is supposed to do. What do you want... a first base coach who talks politics and the weather?

 

I hope Cooper will give Luke Scott some consistent playing time.

 

sincerely,

Mike Jackson

 

Kevin Bass for GM that dude sounds like he knows his **** on the radio every week.

 

Cosigned by Scott Elarton and his bum shoulder status-post overuse from 1998-2000.

 

What did dierker do to jackson, make him turn forty?

 

jackson went to high school with my sister at forest brook. that's the school where that kid on baseball scholarship vandelized it so bad the students have to go to school with their rival, smiley

 

Game 1, 2001 playoffs. All year it had been 7 innings of the starter, Dotel, then Wagner. Shaner (iirc) pitches a solid seven innings, and the Astros are leading the Braves--in Atlanta--in game 1.

The 8th inning comes up, and dumbass Dierker brings in Mike Freaking Jackson instead of Dotel. You could hear it all over southeast Texas--a collective "WTF?????" from Astros fans everywhere. The rest is history.

 

okay, actually i do remember that, i thought you guys were referring to him pitching guys too long

 

It was Wade Miller.

Mike Jackson was nailz for us the final series against St. Louis (when the Astros were in the midst of a FREE FALL that almost cost them a playoff spot). That influenced Dierker's decision big-time.

 

That is the job description of the 1st base coach.