12/22/24
August 27, 2007
Stroh's Lite: : The Houston Astros, mired in a pathetic 58 - 73 season just two years removed from a World Series appearance, fired Manager Phil Garner and General Manager Tim Purpura today. Things had gotten so bad that Purpura was actually booed during ceremonies honoring Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. The good news in all this? Cecil Cooper is now a Major League Baseball Manager (and team president)! Coooooop!
posted by The_Black_Hand to baseball at 04:08 PM - 12 comments
They retired Jeff Bagwell's surgery? How odd...
posted by bobfoot at 11:11 PM on August 27, 2007
They retired Jeff Bagwell's surgery? Perhaps the ceremony left everyone in stiches?
posted by Howard_T at 09:01 AM on August 28, 2007
I love that wins by my pirates are so rare that they lead to people being fired. Lets go Bucs Lets go Bucs
posted by Debo270 at 09:02 AM on August 28, 2007
Thank you Debo for giving me another reason to watch the Bucs.
posted by Steel_Town at 09:04 AM on August 28, 2007
If you get swept in a 3 game series by the Pirates, they take you out back and shoot you so Manager Phil Garner and GM Tim Purpura got off light.
posted by Debo270 at 09:07 AM on August 28, 2007
bring back Dierker
posted by texasred at 09:56 AM on August 28, 2007
You heard it hear first. within 10 years "Bags and Biggio Show"
posted by hump9n at 02:22 PM on August 28, 2007
Why is he also team president? That just seems odd to me since he's only interim manager and they'll start searching for a permanent one in a month. Cynically speaking, the 2005 Astros were the first team in over 50 years to play in the World Series without a single black player on their roster. Cooper is their first ever black manager, and without checking I feel comfortable assuming he's the first black person to hold a high front office position with them. Their season effectively lost, perhaps McLane saw this as a good opportunity to save some money; end a few ugly streaks in their hiring practices; score some points with minority fans, MLB's offices and watchdogs like Hank Aaron and the media; and do it all without having to make any serious long term commitments to anybody whatsoever. Evidently they didn't even have anyone sitting as team president before they tabbed Cooper -- there's no mention at all that Purpura filled that role. I really don't have anything good to say about McLane. I hope Cooper quits at the end of the season to take the Pirates GM job and finishes ahead of the Astros every year.
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 02:28 PM on August 28, 2007
BP has very little good to say about McLane. Good draft stuff, though.
posted by yerfatma at 04:35 PM on August 28, 2007
Interesting stuff. Thanks fatty.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:58 PM on August 28, 2007
Good article, yerfatma. I think, though, it might cut Purpura a little too much slack. Going against the conventional wisdom of trading players a year too early rather than a year too late, Purpura missed opportunities to cash in on career years from guys like Lidge, Burke and Ensberg and failed to either open up spots for, or deal, prospects like Jason Lane and Luke Scott. Instead, he has the horrible Jason Jennings deal and the worthless Woody Williams signing as his legacy. The handling of the Jeff Bagwell situation was a PR nightmare. I have a hard time making a case to defend Purpura, but I'm not an Astros fan. Maybe somebody with a more in-depth knowledge of the club can do a better job. It is astounding how many outfield prospects fail to live up to their expectations in Houston. They either have to leave to rise up or they never make it at all. Berkman, of course, but otherwise: Luke Scott, Jason Lane, Chris Burke, Willie Taveras, Bobby Abreu, Richard Hidalgo, Luis Gonzalez, Kenny Lofton, Steve Finley, Eric Anthony, Brian Hunter, Daryle Ward -- all highly regarded prospects, none reached their perceived potential over a stretch of time as an Astro (admittedly some, like Anthony, may have been overrated to begin with).
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 05:52 PM on August 28, 2007
Why is he also team president? That just seems odd to me since he's only interim manager and they'll start searching for a permanent one in a month.