Houston Astros : Phil Garner, Tim Purpura Fired

also on timing, maybe they didn't want anything to be a distraction from the Bagwell jersey retirement.

As far as Purpura, in the space of one tiny year, I have gone from being a cautious supporter to one of those whackos calling for his head, so I can't really complain now that they've gone and done it.  

Garner, on the other hand, while he's made some curious decisions this year, still had my confidence.  I guess he's mishandled Luke Scott, but then again, if Luke had been hitting .330 I don't know that Phil gets so confused.  I just think it's Gar going down with the ship.  I'd have much rather seen just Tim go . . . Garner's a pretty shrewd baseball guy, open to the numbers without being silly, and it's easy for me to imagine us hiring someone not as smart . . . something I wouldn't say about the GM spot.

Back to the timing, it's terrible.  Even if both posilutely, absotively had to go, I don't see what you gain vs. waiting to October 2nd.

Let me say farewell, Phil, it might be a while before an Astros manager wins as many postseason games as you did.

Among many other things, I still reel when I recall him saying he met with Phil Garner and the coaches because he thoght it was a good idea to hear from the "staff" occasionally. We've counted the endless other things on TCB numerous times.

He'll probably end up at Tampa Bay or in the Bush Administration. Good riddance is too kind of a statement for him.

Phil Garner, on the other hand, is getting a raw deal unless he's lost the players. I disagreed with his platooning and his rotating players all over the field. I hated the bunting in extra innings. He screwed up sending the whole wrong line-up against what-his-name in San Francisco a few months ago. I wanted Luke Scott playing more. Most of the time, however, he did the best he could with the players he had and their physical conditions at the time.  He's a victinm of Tim Purpura's ignorance, incompetence and arrogance. Best to you Phil Garner, you're a good man.

i am relieved that purpura is gone. the jennings' health debacle had to be the nail into his coffin.
i have a place in my heart for garner but i am so sick of that stupid platooning strategy and his overconfidence in underachieving players- that i am almost relieved that we can start anew next season.

ausmus for skipper? lolz

1.  What does a bench coach do? What in particular was Cecil Cooper's function?
2.  If Cecil Cooper was so good, how come he didn't tell Garner when Garner was way off-base?
3.   When Astrso were winning, Cecil Cooper received a lot of praise and everyone said he deserved a manager's job. hHw did he deflect criticism this year?
4.   Jose Cruz I think manages winter ball. Will he or why hasn't hwe received conseration as Astros manager. I'd also like Jose Pena to get seriously considered.
5.   Rumors are that Tony LaRussa leaves St Lousi after this season, maybe to go to Cincinnati.  Would he be a good fit as Astros skipper?

And, like some others, I put far less blame on Garner.  He has been given a hodge-podge of incomplete players and forced to mix and match them to come up with something that might work.  While it may not be totally fair that Garner gets the axe, I can understand it. This team seems lacking in player leadership to me--partly because veterans like Bagwell are no longer around--and maybe it is worthwhile seeing if the players respond to a different managerial style.  I also think that Garner may be overly attracted to players who have the skills he had...meaning that he was more comfortable with a team of utility infielders than perhaps he should be.

For the new GM I'd like to see Drayton go beyond all likely expectations and shake things up with Kim Ng (currently w/ the Dodgers).  She could potentially bring an entirely different vision to the team.  There's a great (old, sadly) interview with her at BP for those who have a subscription.

Of course, even if such a thing were to happen, Drayton would probably gimp the whole process by getting Dusty Baker to manage...

Speaking of manager, you can put me in the "Ausmus Now!" camp.  At least it would get his bat out of the lineup :)

Hunsicker is supposed to have left because of Drayton's micromanaging, so we'll see what happens now.  The fans were very likely booing the wrong man yesterday.

Joe in Birmingham still remembers you fondly, Baggy.

Garner, on the other hand, I am sad to see go. He had his flaws, but he still seemed like a good manager to me, and I've agreed with most of his moves in the past. He seemed like a caricature of himself this year though, with all the platooning and different lineups and players playing out of position.

Anyway, best of luck to them both.

My thoughts, I liked Garner and will always have a soft spot for him just because he was at the helm when we went to our first World Series but clearly he had lost the players on the team. Not entirely his fault but call a spade a spade, changes needed to be done. As for Purp, just felt the job was too big for him. From the deals he made (Yes, Jennings!), his quotes in the media...it just seemed he always got the short end of the stick pretty much all the time. Some of it may be unlucky (like someone alluded to earlier) but what's that saying about good teams make their own luck....probably the case for GMs as well!

Anyway, we'll see how the Astros respond in the last month with Coop. Maybe the timing is a little strange but hey, the team is going nowhere this season, why bother to wait. It's a fresh start and I'm fine with that!

GO ASTROS!

SeoulStro

P.S. As I think it was "Tim" who said it above, if the Stros bring in Dusty Baker ~ I'll jump ship for sure as well! Please NO DUSTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Purpura said via email he wasn't going to comment publicly."

I think there's some good logic in that, and I'm sure it played a big role in Drayton's decision.

Once other GMs start valuing Houston as the place where you go to fleece the GM and raid him of decent players, you're pretty much done as a GM.

Keep in mind that the ESPN guys hardly ever get past the obvious, so apparently anyone close to the game has a pretty good idea of Drayton and his modus operandi.  If so, there are going to be some long hot summers ahead, even if we keep having record low temperatures outside .

Check it out.

I wondered what changes Cecil Cooper had in mind when he said changes would be made.  The GameDay line-up indicates the changes are't reflected in the line-up.

Loretta at short instead of Bruntlett - boo

Biggo at second  -fine with me -except it is not building for the future

Berkman at first and Scott in right - good - I hope he leaves Berkman at ONE position. Superstars are not utility players.

He would be the best GM in baseball.

Unless he had anything at all...... at all, to do with the Jennings deal