Astros fire Garner, Purpura

by DaveinHouston on Aug 27, 2007 3:00 PM CDT Comment 16 comments

Well I guess Uncle Drayton can't fire himself. I don't know that Garner could have made more of such a weak roster, but Purpura definitely deserved the axe -- Jason Jennings' signing alone has been a total disaster. Of course that would have never happened had Uncle Drayton ponied up the bucks for Clemens and Pettite to stick around another year.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/5086447.html

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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My short response to this...

DAMN!!! Both have done excellent jobs over the last few years, and it seems that the Drayton love affair gone bad with Roger Clemens has messed that organization up more than anything else over the last few seasons.

by Damen Jackson on Aug 27, 2007 3:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I always thought Garner

was a respectable manager, but Purpura wasn't that good. Letting go of Taverez was a huge mistake. Ensberg shouldn't have made the team this year.

However, their hands were tied by having to start an over the hill Biggio for 1/2 the season until he got hit 3000.

Go Riverhawks!

by Neifi Puppy on Aug 27, 2007 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Biggio

Just like us Cubs fans, the Astros fans have overvalued prospects and Chris Burke is turning out to be one of them. Some will say he'll improve with more playing time, but I doubt he'll turn in appreciably better numbers next year than Biggio has this season. Burke's OPS is about 20 pts lower than Biggio. He's gotten more playing time this year, but managed to lose 100 pts on his OPS. Not a good sign for this "heir apparent".

by DaveinHouston on Aug 27, 2007 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mistake?

Not sure why Taveras is much of a mistake.

He had a good rookie year, and ever since has been less than mediocre.

His career OPS+ is 78 - that is bad. Sure... he is having a better year this (OPS - 87), but still not great. Remember that he is hitting in a hitter's paradise.

His production is easily replaceable.

visit the mindful mission.

by big_lowitzki on Aug 27, 2007 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, giving up Taveraz was no loss

Buchholz and Hirsh on the other hand have already contributed more at the major league level than Jennings did this year.

by Wreckard on Aug 27, 2007 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno why.....

....but Drayton McLane has always bugged me. I know other owners sit near the field, but this guy sits directly behind home plate for every game and never, ever looks happy. it's got to be a bit unnerving for some of those players.

The Astros, like the Giants with Bonds, haven't been able to get younger because of Biggio, Bagwell, Clemens, et al. We'll see if this helps any, but I doubt it.

Santo Forever!

by BeerCub on Aug 27, 2007 3:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe we can crab Loretta before the waiver

wire deadline is up for Ronnie and possibly Ohman

Milw-09-24-98--Brown in for defense--bases loaded--flyball--HE DROPPED THE BALL!!!NO NO NO, cubs lose 8-7

by Ivy Walls on Aug 27, 2007 3:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Honestly?...

I suspect that Ohman is going back in the Monroe trade after the season ends, and I'd be falling out of the chair shocked if Mark Loretta has cleared waivers.

by Damen Jackson on Aug 27, 2007 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

speculation or confirmed?

I have not heard the definitve

Milw-09-24-98--Brown in for defense--bases loaded--flyball--HE DROPPED THE BALL!!!NO NO NO, cubs lose 8-7

by Ivy Walls on Aug 27, 2007 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jennings....

... was acquired by trade, not free-agent signing. Willy Taveras and Jason Hirsh went to the Rockies.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Aug 27, 2007 4:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

horrible trade

huh? At the time it looked like it might be a good trade but it looks like it is now biting Houston in the ass..

Now that he is back, play Matt Murton!!

by Chanman25 on Aug 27, 2007 7:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Taylor Buchholz went to Colorado too

and has put up better numbers than Jennings! I should have read my post more carefully -- thanks for setting things straight.

While not quite Brock for Broglio, that trade was widely denounced at the time and the noise has only gotten louder. Jayson Stark said things very well:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2993768

by DaveinHouston on Aug 28, 2007 7:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hou had a nice run

...and made it to the WS even without Bagwell as I recall...ran into a juggernaut then with White Sox and that was it...very successful franchise throughout 90s and first half of 2000s was bound for letdown and now they have to rebuild...won't be good for a while and unclear what the plan is unlike LAD, Colo, Ariz., building with youth.

Good to see maybe Cubs can beat up on them...don't we play them 6 games rest of way?

by writerinwrigley on Aug 27, 2007 7:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

re: Hou had a nice run

Yup, the Cubs play Houston six more times: 8/30, 8/31, 9/1 (home) and then 9/11, 9/12 9/13 (away).

Let's hope the Astros don't experience the kind of "new manager bounce" the Reds have. And let's hope the Cubs can exact some serious payback for the sweep they suffered in Houston last time around.

"I've said it before, if we don't win in my lifetime, when I die, I'm going to find that [expletive] billy goat and kill him." ~ Ron Santo, 8/27/07

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 28, 2007 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs