After four seasons under veteran manager Dusty Baker, in which the Astros won three division titles, two AL pennants, and one World Series, the team is on the hunt for a new skipper. Baker, who had been managing on and off since 1993, announced his retirement following Houston’s loss in Game 7 of the ALCS. Presumably, the Astros always knew this was a possibility – Baker’s contract was up at the end of the season – but the manager didn’t tell the team his decision until last week. Thus, it comes as little surprise that general manager Dana Brown will take his time searching for a replacement.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday (including Brian McTaggart of MLB.com), Brown revealed the team has no timeframe to hire a manager. In fact, they have not yet begun to interview candidates. “We’re not going to rush through this,” he explained.
Brown’s comments conflict with a statement owner and chairman Jim Crane made a few days ago, when he said, “We’ll work on [hiring a new manager] quickly… We’ll have a fluid search and work as fast as we can to get somebody in place” (per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle).
Nevertheless, it makes sense why the Astros aren’t hurrying this decision. Baker, 74, won’t be easy to replace. While his choices didn’t always sit well with more analytically inclined fans, he brought decades of experience to the table. He earned his first managerial gig before most of today’s active managers had even begun their playing careers. Moreover, he is widely respected and beloved around the game for his people skills and unique style of leadership.
As Brown said, “I’m looking for someone with some leadership ability, someone that could run the clubhouse, of course, looking for someone with great feel for players and managing players.” In other words, he’s looking for another Dusty Baker.
A long and drawn-out hiring process isn’t out of character for the Astros, who waited until January last offseason to hire Brown as their new GM. Crane played an unusually influential role in the team’s decision-making over the first two and a half months of the offseason, as did front office adviser Jeff Bagwell. In the same vein, Crane and Bagwell will reportedly have an “immense say” in choosing the next manager of the Astros, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
While Brown insisted that he has no timeline, he thinks it’s possible he could set up interviews during the general manager’s meetings, which begin November 7. The team is clearly in the preliminary stages of the hiring process, but they are widely expected to consider bench coach Joe Espada and former Tigers and Angels manager Brad Ausmus. More recently, they were linked to former Brewers manager Craig Counsell, whose contract with Milwaukee officially expired on Tuesday. McTaggart notes that third base coach Omar López could be another contender.
Been linked to Ron Washington as well
No. Just no.
She don’t lie…..
Omar Lopez is the Astros 1st base coach. (Although he has filled in at 3rd base when Pettis has been out).
Better hire AJ Hinch
No reason they shouldn’t take their time finding the right person even if in the Twitter world everyone is always in a rush.
Joe Maddon
Doesn’t feel like he will ever manage again because of his outspoken nature.
I don’t think so.
After the interviewing Espada has been doing think deserves a shot. He has been with team longer than Dusty. Ausmus I liked as a player but would he have done what Dusty did with this team. The fans and players were with him and more. Ausmus as GM even not sure. But will Espada stay with coaching staff. Could new pitching and hitting coaches help. I would hope find some ideas soon.. I would not want to rush but who knows. I would hope to perhaps have a manager set. Then start of new year work on coaching staff. But wonder if will be down to Espada, Counsell and Ausmus for manager. As I really do not see anyone else.. Espada as manager and Lopez as bench coach. Myself someone like Washington not sure.
Your Translation App needs to be updated texasgal…
I feel like Espada has paid his dues and should be in line for the promotion to Manager unless the Astros are able to hire Counsell.
Several teams are looking for managers all at once. Theres some candidates out there, not many good ones though.
The hot new item is Craig Counsell so he’s going to be probably someone the Astros will at least either check in on or get interview in.
Crane and Brown’s comments don’t necessarily conflict.
Bagwell is a Houston icon but his advice last year was to sign Jose Abreu.
I agree. As a player I am a Jeffy fan. I’m not a fan of him as an announcer or an advisor. He was the Astros hitting coach for half a season and he decided it was too much work. Like a lot of great players, big ego, and not much else.
Huge fan of the player, but he needs to be a face in the crowd. Dana Brown is the GM, let him do his job.
Baker was handed more stacked teams than arguably any manager in the history of the game, and only won one championship. The man has always been highly overrated…
Completely agree. His defenders act as if he took a team of bench warmers that he turned into all stars. If anything, his poor managing caused them to only win one.