DisAstros

So the Astros fire manager Phil Garner and GM Tim Purpura yesterday, the fallout from a season that hasn't seen the team within sniffing distance of .500 since the first month of the season. And by "Astros" I mean owner Drayton McLane. I've had dealings with McLane in the past, and can honestly say that he's a better owner than the late John McMullen. Houston fans with long memories will understand why that's not a ringing endorsement.

I feel bad about Phil Garner being shown the door. He's always been a capable guy, and the worst sin of his I can remember is sticking with closer Brad Lidge one pitch too long in the NLCS against St. Louis (yes, last year's inconsistent play was troubling, but even the Yankees founder on occasion). With the way the team was gutted by bad player moves from upper management this year, I can't think of any other manager who could've done better. He joins a long line of good guys who've been shown the door by McLane, starting with Art Howe and Larry Dierker.

Tim Purpura's ouster doesn't bother me so much. Anyone who'd ship Willy Taveras off for the dregs Houston got in return doesn't deserve to run a major league team. He also stuck with mentally fragile closer Lidge two seasons too long, which is significantly worse than what Garner did. The sad thing is, Purpura shouldn't have been in that position in the first place. That came about because McLane ran off brilliant GM Gerry Hunsicker--architect of the Astros teams that were perennial playoff contenders through the late 80s and early 90s--with his meddling ways. Hunsicker's now with Tampa Bay, and McLane's ego is such that he's refused to even consider bringing the man back.

I don't expect the Astros to be good again any time soon. McLane is a sucker for razzle-dazzle, and too often mistakes rah-rah for production (case in point: Terry Collins). I know there've been grumblings among the Houston faithful, and McLane's never been as popular as he once was. But now without the fan-favorites of Bagwell and Biggio to generate goodwill, are we about to see Houston turn it's back on the fiasco the Astros have become? Shoot. Where's Nolan Ryan when you need him?

Now Playing: Ravel The Best of Ravel