Astros Begin Managerial Search

Astros owner Jim Crane picked up his first managerial candidate at the airport today. Bo Porter, a Houston native, currently serves as third base coach of the Washington Nationals. He has held that post since last season. Prior to that, he worked in the same capacity with the (then) Florida Marlins, even serving as their interim manager when Fredi Gonzalez was fired during the 2010 season.

Bo Porter is the first, of what is perceived to be several candidates that the Astros will interview for the vacant manager job. After a complete franchise overhaul (expected to be completed this offseason with renovation to Minute Maid Park), GM, Jeff Luhnow will hire his first manager. Names like former Astros catcher, Brad Ausmus, Miami Marlins coach Joey Cora, St Louis Cardinals coaches Chris Maloney and Jose Oquendo, Texas Rangers coach Mike Maddux, Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez, Boston Red Sox coach Tim Bogar, Chicago White Sox coach Joe McEwing and current Astros bench coach Joe Pettini will likely all at least be under consideration and some will be interviewed. The fact that we are already interviewing individuals that currently have a job with another team tells me this process will likely move quickly. I didn’t expect candidates currently with another team to be interviewed until the offseason, so this is a surprise but, a welcome surprise.

The one thing I hoped for when the team was sold to Jim Crane was that we disassociated ourselves from the Drayton McLane era Astros. Front office, coaches, scouts, everybody. I’m not the kind of person who wishes for someone to lose their job, but this franchise desperately needed a breath of fresh air and a change of direction. Jim Crane, Jeff Luhnow and George Postolos have certainly done that. I’m not even sure there is currently a coach or front office executive still here that was hired by McLane. They are even changing the uniform, making stadium modifications and getting a new mascot. I doubt there has ever been a team who has undergone that many changes in the span of one year. I like it.