The Astros have lost eight straight games and currently sit in fifth place in the NL Central, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that they will likely dismiss manager Brad Mills after the season. GM Jeff Luhnow said that no change is imminent, however.
"We haven’t talked about next year at all," said Luhnow. "I’ve told everyone we’re going to wait. I’m not even thinking about it at this point … Brad has done a good job. We get along well. There is no reason to make a change … At the end of the year is when I’m going to spend time looking at all aspects of the operation. But I’m not spending time on it right now."
Mills was hired prior to the 2010 season when the team was under different ownership with a different GM. Jim Crane purchased the club from Drayton McLane last year, and Luhnow was hired during the offseason. Mills is under contract through the end of the season with a club option for 2013. The Astros are 164-243 under his watch and finished with the worst record in baseball a year ago.
This was a no-brainer
Kinda wondering if Boston might bring him back and say goodbye to Valentine.
I was wondering the same thing.
Although, I wonder if they aren’t hoping to get Farrell in a couple years.
If/when Bobby V is shown the door? none of francona’s staff please, other than Farrell. Let’s wait until AA hears it from restless Jays fans. Maybe another year? Can’t see them skipping ahead of the NYY, even TB and even the O’s are looking like “my guys” from olden. Toronto won’t be able to jump ahead of those 3 and Farrell will unjustly pay the price. Manager always does.
Possible. But then there’s still what I’m really hoping for… Varitek.
The funny thing is after halfway through this season it seems to make more sense. Tek has the the level head, already has the respect of the players, and experience with Boston media. Add to that the 2 rookie managers this year are both having a decent amount of success.
I do hope they get Varitek to manage one of their minor league teams next year to see how he takes to it. I think he could make a good manager, and as you said he has plenty of experience/respect in Boston. I wouldn’t have wanted to throw him in there right away, and I would prefer it to be a couple years down the road so it’s less like he’s coming back to play with his teammates, but I do think he could be that guy at some point.
In that quote he makes no inclination of dismissing him next year. ?
Time to start speculating so… Francona? Oquendo? Bagwell? Biggio? Ausmus? I wouldn’t mind bringing Garner back. I’d lean Oquendo because of Luhnow’s STL connections.
I don’t think Bagwell would take it.
I’d prefer Biggio or Ausmus. But would approve of Francona or Oquendo.
Bagwell likes being retired. He actually did a good job in his one year as hitting coach, and they really wanted him back, but he walked away. I don’t think Biggio would be a good manager. No facts, just a hunch.
I would go Francona, Ausmus, Oquendo, in that order. Francona’s a winner, but would he be on board with managing a rebuilding team? Ausmus is a Houston favorite, and he’d be getting his feet wet while the kids learn from him. Oquendo has a foot in the door with Luhnow as mentioned by cason. I don’t think the Astros could go wrong with any of these 3.
Did you listen to Brad Ausmus’ interview on NPR? He sounded smart and likable.
I didn’t know he was on. Is the interview archived?
It was an interview on Fresh Air last year, you could find it with Google.
Ausmus is a Dartmouth graduate, he’s definitely smart.
So, they’ll hire a manager who’ll oversee a rebuilding? Whoever gets hired better make the organization understand that this team will be bad for at least the next 3 years. Guess the manager after Mills replacement gets fired will inherit a competitive team built on the next 3 number one picks.
I think Mills gets along well with both the front office and the players, but isn’t much of a field general — has a tendency to leave pitchers in too long, takes out batters who are hot and put in those that are cold etc. Of course, he’s also been dealt the hand of below-average talent at the major league level. The good news is that all of the Houston farm teams are playing .500 ball or better, so hope is on the horizon. I think what a young team will need is someone who is a top notch field general and also commands leadership — maybe Luhnow can coax LaRussa out of retirement for a 2-3 year stint (hoping).
LaRussa is a terrible manager.
I didnt know winning 3 World Series meant you are terrible.
Or winning 2728 games and six pennants. Of course, Connie Mack had a losing record as a manager, and he’s in the HOF, so what do I know?
Connie Mack look distinguished while compiling that losing record (he also owned the A’s most of the time) as “Mr. Mack” as his players and even the umpires called him, wore a suit and tie, top hat and all to every game in the dugout while managing and never a uniform..
Totally relevant.
I don’t think Luhnow would hire any former Astro Managers. He seems to like to do things his own style. I could see Pettini ( the bench coach) being hired thought since he worked under La Russia and has the connection with Luhnow. Maybe even a young 1st base coach somewhere who is bright but has no Head coaching experience.
On all of his hires and trades this year he seems to have gotten upside types and thought out of the box from the norm
He should get the best bench coach he can find that is currently in the American League.
Say, someone from Mike Scioscia’s staff. I’m not always convinced Mike is a good manager, but I do know everyone that left his bench coach spot to be a manager has performed well.
Why wait?
When the Astros move to the American League all of the bad karma surrounding this team will evaporate. It’s been a while since the Astros were considered a playoff contending team. Being placed in the AL West they will have to deal with the Angels and Rangers, but a new start with a new manager gives them hope. No brainer.
Of course, they won’t be playing real baseball anymore, but some people don’t care about that…
The Lastros are terrible. They have 5 players making over $1m a year and I suspect that number will be lowered by the end of July and certainty by the beginning of the 2013 season. I don’t see a lot of upside since the new owner took over the team. He will be complaining by the 2013 season about attendance and wondering why FANS don’t support a team that has lost over 100 games for two seasons (2011 & 2012). Buy some players and put a decent team on the field.
One more candidate…..Tony DeFrancesco, the Astros AAA manager. He has their Oklahoma City AAA team in first place.
Can’t blame a guy for being dealt a poor deck of cards. Come back to the Sox Millsey, you’ll be used properly here.
And he will improperly use your bullpen, guaranteed. Can’t count how many times he puts guys in situations they’ve repeatedly failed, when he has other options.
Braves lost 8 games in a row earlier in the season Fredi should have been fired
Man, I’d hate to see Millsy get canned. But if he is unemployed, the Red Sox should bring him back as the Manager in waiting. He was gone before 2011 came so he is clean of the stink of the collapse.
If the Stros did want to consider anyone from the current staff, Dave Clark should at least get an interview. Players seem to respond positively to him.
I was hoping that the Astros had cornered the market on all the Brad Mills in the baseball.
Mills is an even-tempered guy, not easy when you have a losing team. But after watching just about every game I must say that many times he makes very questionable decisions. He does not manage the bullpen effectively and tends to bench young guys after a couple of bad games. The list of evidence of his lack of management skill is too long to detail, just take it from the Astros fans- he can’t cut it.