The list of potential candidates for the Astros’ open managerial job could include former Indians and Nationals manager Manny Acta, former Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu, former Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch, Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, and Angels bench coach Dino Ebel, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman writes. (Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times previously wrote that Ebel was a candidate for the position, and ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweeted that the Astros had interest in Wakamatsu, with Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle being the first to note some of the other names.) Other potential candidates include Joey Cora, Bob Geren, Jim Riggleman, Bengie Molina, Tony Pena, Chip Hale, Tim Bogar, Mike Maddux, Dave Martinez, Tom Lawless, Pat Listach and Tony DeFrancesco.
Astros GM Jeff Luhnow has suggested that he might prefer candidates with previous big-league experience as a manager or bench coach. Heyman also notes that Wakamatsu and Hinch could fit the Astros’ desire for a manager with sabermetric leanings. Acta was previously a minor league manager in the Astros system, and he declined a chance at the Astros’ managerial job in 2009 in order to become the Indians’ manager.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Bob Melvin’s name doesn’t surface
Seriously, how does Manny Acta keep getting work and interviews?
Connie Macta still getting managerial offers? Wow.
Why would anyone want to work for this GM. Your the puppet and he controls the strings. Was Bo Porter a bad manager. I don’t know he didn’t get a far chance. Another organization who uses computer analysis to judge players. The guy totally botched signing Aiken and looks to face charges. If I’m a manager looking for work I’m staying away from the Astros.
Bo Porter was a bad game day manager, and a bad club house manager, who probably burned ever bridge he will ever have by taking his problems with players/GM to the media and to the owner. That isn’t to say that the Astros GM is good, but Porter is literally the exact opposite you would want from a manager.
I cannot fathom the possibility that Acta, Wakamatsu, Hinch, Riggleman, or Pena would consider an offer. Yes, everybody wants to manage in the show, but these guys have already done it before and working in an apparently oppressive environment would not be a place a veteran wants to jump on board. It’s going to have to be a first-timer to take the reins in Houston. That’s a polite way of saying they’ll hire somebody who either doesn’t know any better or is just desperate for their first bite of the apple.
I can’t believe they would even consider Wakamatsu. I want to see guys like Dave Valle or Dave Martinez managing a big league team. Valle with professional playing and managing history, interviewed for M’s skip opening this summer–guy has been in the game forever. Martinez could help lead Astros as well. He knows the system. Time to give these guys a chance and stop having failing managers
Dave Martinez would be good, but I think Tom Lawless has been doing a really good job as the interim. They’ve been playing well and improving, and his demeanor is less uptight, which seems like it’s a better fit for this particular clubhouse.
And…man, that bat flip during his playing days…you HAVE to love that!