The Astros have fired manager Bo Porter, according to a team press release.
Bench coach Dave Trembley has also been relieved of his duties. Tom Lawless
will be the club’s interim manager for the rest of the 2014 season.
As reported last week by FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, a divide had grown
between Porter and Houston GM Jeff Luhnow. Porter felt that Luhnow was
overly critical of his in-game strategy, and he also didn’t think his own
opinions were being heard within the front office. Porter was also upset
that he wasn’t consulted when Mark Appel was brought to Minute Maid Park for
a throwing session in July, a move that also drew complaints from several
Astros players.MLB: Houston Astros at Texas Rangers
As part of the team’s official statement, Luhnow predictably didn’t address
any specific issues between he and Porter, yet hinted at differences of
opinion by saying “I believe we need a new direction in the clubhouse.”
“What we will seek going forward is a consistent and united message
throughout the entire organization. It is essential that as an organization
we create an atmosphere at the Major League level where our young players can
come up and continue to develop and succeed. Ultimately, I am responsible
for creating that culture and I will do everything in my power to do so —
even when it means making difficult moves like the one we made today.”
Porter was hired as the Astros’ manager in September 2012 and officially
took over the job on Opening Day 2013. He had a 110-190 record with the
rebuilding club, and Luhnow noted in his statement that Porter’s record wasn
’t the issue: “I recognize that our win-loss record is largely a product of
an organizational strategy for which I am responsible.”
This has not been a stellar year for the Astros front office, as the Porter
firing is the latest in a series of controversies that have emerged in
Houston this season. There was a dispute over George Springer‘s promotion,
several of the team’s trade discussion notes were leaked online and the
Astros were heavily criticized for both their failure to sign first overall
pick Brady Aiken and their subsequent decision to pull out of an agreement
with fifth-rounder Jacob Nix. It’s not surprising that Luhnow won this
apparent power struggle with Porter given how much the franchise has invested
in Luhnow’s rebuilding plan, yet the questions about Luhnow’s stewardship
of the team will inevitably continue until the Astros start to produce on the
field.
This is Lawless’ first time managing at the Major League level, as he has
worked as a manager, coach and roving instructor within the Astros’
organzation for several years. Former Astro Adam Everett has also been
hired to take over as bench coach. According to the club’s press release,
the Astros will “immediately” begin looking for next long-term manager.
據傳太空人隊的GM Luhnow和總教練Porter不和，球季還沒打完就先讓Porter下台一鞠躬
，板凳教練Dave Trembley也跟Porter一起走，新的教練將由Tom Lawless擔任。
這兩年Porter帶的戰績是110勝190敗~
心得:觀念這麼久真是辛苦了，太空人連續三年都拿到狀元籤，今年戰績比過去幾年好一
點的關係，今年可能拿不到狀元籤了~