Maroon87
08-27-2007, 02:11 PM
Last Edited: Monday, 27 Aug 2007, 2:05 PM CDT
Created: Monday, 27 Aug 2007, 1:54 PM CDT
FOX 26 Sports has learned the Houston Astros fired manager Phil Garner Monday in a sweeping move to shake up the team that is in last place in the National League Central Division.
Team owner Drayton McLane said bench coach Cecil Cooper will assume Garner's job on an interim basis.
"You never like to get fired," Garner told FOX 26 Sports. "The good parts are I'm so happy to have been able to come back and have been something very exciting for this city.
"We got to the World Series and I'm grateful for that. It has been a wonderful ride and I have had a great deal of fun. All the players, including Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, have been really special.
Garner said the timing of the move didn't bother him
"It really doesn't make a difference," Garner said. "If you think it's time to do it, then do it. There's no right time or wrong time. The worst thing you can do is drag it out."
"I feel great for Cecil Cooper. I hope this turns into something more than aninterim job. He's the most qalified for rthe Astros job.
"I am sliding into private life.
Garner, who was in his fourth year as Astros manager, led the Astros to the National League championship and their first ever World Series in 2005. He had a 277-252 record with the Astros but the team was only 58-73 this year and had languished under .500 most of the season.
A former major league player for 15 years, the 58-year-old Garner played with the Astros from 1981-87. He also played in Oakland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and San Francisco before going into coaching in 1989. He was a member of the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates World Champions and batted .479 in the championship series.
He first became a manager in 1992 and in eight seasons with Milwaukee, three with Detroit and four with Houston, Garner had a combined 985-1,054 record.
Cooper was in his third season as Houston's bench coach. Cooper, a 17-year veteran of the major leagues, came to the Astros after two seasons managing Triple A Indianapolis in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He was 66-78 and 64-78 in two seasons with the Indians.
Created: Monday, 27 Aug 2007, 1:54 PM CDT
FOX 26 Sports has learned the Houston Astros fired manager Phil Garner Monday in a sweeping move to shake up the team that is in last place in the National League Central Division.
Team owner Drayton McLane said bench coach Cecil Cooper will assume Garner's job on an interim basis.
"You never like to get fired," Garner told FOX 26 Sports. "The good parts are I'm so happy to have been able to come back and have been something very exciting for this city.
"We got to the World Series and I'm grateful for that. It has been a wonderful ride and I have had a great deal of fun. All the players, including Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, have been really special.
Garner said the timing of the move didn't bother him
"It really doesn't make a difference," Garner said. "If you think it's time to do it, then do it. There's no right time or wrong time. The worst thing you can do is drag it out."
"I feel great for Cecil Cooper. I hope this turns into something more than aninterim job. He's the most qalified for rthe Astros job.
"I am sliding into private life.
Garner, who was in his fourth year as Astros manager, led the Astros to the National League championship and their first ever World Series in 2005. He had a 277-252 record with the Astros but the team was only 58-73 this year and had languished under .500 most of the season.
A former major league player for 15 years, the 58-year-old Garner played with the Astros from 1981-87. He also played in Oakland, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and San Francisco before going into coaching in 1989. He was a member of the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates World Champions and batted .479 in the championship series.
He first became a manager in 1992 and in eight seasons with Milwaukee, three with Detroit and four with Houston, Garner had a combined 985-1,054 record.
Cooper was in his third season as Houston's bench coach. Cooper, a 17-year veteran of the major leagues, came to the Astros after two seasons managing Triple A Indianapolis in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He was 66-78 and 64-78 in two seasons with the Indians.