I don't understand why Ross is not under consideration. He had the Cubs a year ahead of schedule. Unfortunately they ran out of gas in September. Losing their closer was a backbreaker.
They did not want to lose their two younger pitching guru's and Strom also was fine going to Arizona where he had a home and some roots. Strom also could not make a commitment to the Astros beyond a year at a time...... so the decision was made to protect the two proteges and let Strom leave, without bitter feelings.
Astros begin managerial search with first round of interviews https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-begin-interviewing-for-manager-position So, the process is just NOW beginning? I thought it began weeks ago. WTF is going on here? Or is Dana just blowing smoke up our azz?
They have already talked to some people and interviewed at least Espada. I am glad that Washington has gone to the Angels, because he is someone that Crane has expressed fondness for in the past. The Astros need to be careful with Espada, he can likely get the Brewers job if he wants it - and that may be enough for him to uproot his family. Assuming the Astros can keep Espada in the fold, they can likely take a couple of weeks to make a definitive decision. Still - If I am Espada, I would not be 100% happy that the Astros have taken so long and has cost me opportunities. It is possible that the Astros have promised to pay Espada like a manager even if he doesn't get the managerial job.
Ron Washington would pistol whip his ass and then snort coke off his bloody forehead. Washington is beloved but he has done and seen somethings and was known as a very tough guy when he was a player.
If the Astros have decided they want to keep the staff, or most of the staff then that also must be dealt with during the choosing and acceptance part. I would think that the older and more experienced a manager is the more he will want his own guys. Just hire Espada and let's get this on the road.
I haven't heard anything on that point - but it is a good question. Most likely it depends on who the next manager is. Espada is likely to have close to the same staff. If it is someone like Maddon or Showalter, then they will likely keep one or two coaches that the front office likes and bring in a few of their own people. At the end of the day - this comes down to whether the Astros ownership and front office believe the coaching has been good - outside of the managers line up - or if they feel the coaching could be better. FWIW I felt like the defense was not as good as prior seasons, and at times the preparation and adjustments were lacking - but that could be because the Astros were mentally fried. One thing that I hope is emphasized is the stolen base. Not everyone on the Astros needs to be running, but there are some guys that need to be stealing when they can.
I'm getting an increasing feeling that we may end up with a co manager situation . . . I don't think this specifically would happen, but for example . . . Espada is manager in name, but there's a heavy hitting bench coach that is . . . more than a bench coach. Some sort of two headed Maldy/Espada thing? Heck, I could even see Ausmus as Espada's Bench Coach. Maybe a better way of describing it is no manager and two bench coaches . . . . I don't think Crane trusts anyone and the more he can disperse authority, the more he can control.
Wash could play the "John Lucas" role. Speaking of which it seems like almost everyone was implicated in the 80s cocaine scandals in baseball... Dusty included, but not enough there for him to be disciplined in any real way. And in the 90s, everyone was on greenies.
? Washington failed a drug test for cocaine while managing the Rangers in 2009. He said it was " a 1 time transgression" That has nothing to do with the 80s or 90s
The idea that you SHOULD have an owner who is totally uninvolved, but will sign a blank check is so foreign to reality it should perhaps be classified as a fable. I see no problem having an owner who is emotionally as well as financially invested in his team. The hands off approach many desire has few examples beyond corporations who called in their loans and they NEVER signed a blank check. I'm still traumatized by the time this happened after Judge Hofheinz creditors controlled the team as a real life example of an emotionally detached owner.
