Al Pedrique out, Pettini in

Al Pedrique - bench coach for the past two seasons - has resigned his position after he was told that he was being reassigned to Bullpen Coach, a void left by Jamie Quirk's move to the Cubs.

Pedrique:
“I’m leaving. I resigned after being told I was going to be the bullpen coach.”

Short. Sweet. To the point. Hemingway would love it.

McTaggart says the Astros have hired Joe Pettini, who had spent the last ten years as Tony LaRussa's bench coach in St. Louis.

Luhnow, on Pettini, to Mark Berman:
"The way he runs spring training. The way he organizes all of the fundamentals, he really brings so much experience to the game. He was a minor league field coordinator for many years before that. He just has a really deep understanding of all the elements of the game. His experience is invaluable and the fact that we were able to get someone like him is an opportunity I really felt we couldn't miss."

Here's a Derrick Goold story on Pettini from May 2011:
Pettini, 56, doesn't have the headlines or longevity of pitching coach Dave Duncan, he doesn't have the former-player following of Jose Oquendo, but he has emerged was La Russa's utility coach. Pettini's daily role is as bench coach, but at times he's filled in for Oquendo as third-base coach, he's taken over at first base when Dave McKay is ailing, and no coach is busier than Pettini when it comes to spring training.

Here's a Pettini interview with the Birdhouse, a Cardinals blog. Spoiler: Pettini uses geometry for infield defensive positioning.
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Also, the Astros hired Matt Sinatro as the ML Catching Coach/Advance Scouting Coordinator; Dan Radison is now a special assistant in player development; Mike Elias as a special assistant to the scouting department.

Radison was fired by the Nationals with Jim Riggleman when he said Riggleman was his "best friend in the whole world."
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But if you're Bobby Heck or Fred Nelson, don't worry, 'cos you're staying right where you are.

Everyone will come back in 2012!

Everybody on the Astros' coaching staff will return in 2012, according to Ed Wade - even if he doesn't.

Wade:
"We think they’ve done a really solid job when you take into consideration that we have so many different developing players on this team."

The only one who hasn't accepted is pitching coach Doug Brocail, who needs to check with his wife:
“Right now, I just have to sit down with Mama (his wife) and the kids. Everybody knows I love the job and big league jobs don’t come every day, but I told her I’d sit down with her and we’d figure out something that’s hopefully compatible and go from there.”

Thoughts?

Using Mark Melancon

Here's a good piece shared with us by Citizen Andrew on the usage of Mark Melancon in Sunday's loss to the Pirates.

We admittedly missed the game for various reasons and, personally, I'm a happier man for it.

Al Pedrique gets nine innings to show his stuff

Because Brad Mills has been suspended for tonight's game against the Cubs, and Aneury Rodriguez has been suspended for three games for the Beanball Incident against the Marlins. Rodriguez will appeal the suspension, meaning he's available to give up a few hits, walk a few guys, while he awaits a verdict. Al Pedrique will manage the game tonight.

So your Tuesday afternoon poll:

Astros extend Mills, other coaches

The Astros have extended the contracts of Brad Mills, Brad Arnsberg, Dave Clark, Bobby Meacham, Al Pedrique, and Jamie Quirk to a two-year extension.

Wade:
"We are extremely pleased with the jobs that all of our coaches have done this year. Brad Mills has set a great tone and the coaches have worked hand-in-hand with Millsie to make sure that the structure works, that the players are well-prepared and that we are taking advantage of every opportunity to get better. They all are true professionals."

Perhaps you noticed one prominent name missing: that of hitting coach Jeff Bagwell. What about it, Wade?
"When Jeff accepted the hitting coach's job during the season, he did so with an understanding that we would both have a chance to reassess the situation at season's end. We have clearly stated to Baggy that we want him to continue in the job and he wants to make sure that his family is on board before committing."

We couldn't be happier about this.

Mills won't be afraid to rip one out

An interview with Brad Mills by McTaggart.

On respect and communication:
"It is definitely going to be one of the biggest things I'm going to bring with me from Terry. He knows how to balance that relationship with the players. Plus, when you have to tell a guy sometimes something he doesn't want to hear, I think Terry does a good job of that balance. And that's a big thing that I want to bring with me."

Things like, "Hey. Run to first base."

On Al Pedrique:
"I have all the confidence in the world in him. Our relationship has taken off on the right foot, and I am excited about him having that responsibility and being with me. The six years I've been with Terry and those experiences, I think I'm more inclined to give him a lot of responsibility and just kind of watch how he does some of those things. But I have no qualms about him. He's going to be an absolutely outstanding bench coach, and a big support for me."

Mills and coaches respond

Hey, so there are some responses to the new hirings made by the Astros...

Mills:
I'm very happy to be able to put a staff like this together. We're getting experience, knowledge and guys that have a passion for the game. They know how to teach a team. I think it's going to be a great staff.

Wade, on Arnsberg:
Brad's got great credentials. We were really excited when we found out he was available. There were some unresolved issues, and they gave him a chance to go out and look around, and he very quickly moved up to the top of our list, and we were able to bring it to closure. He has a lot of experience with young pitchers and veterans.

Go ahead and count Cito Gaston as the unresolved issue - an issue which I'm hoping we'll hear from some of our friends in Toronto about.

Arnsberg:
I am elated and excited to join the Astros family. I want to give a special thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays for everything they have done for me over the last five years and for understanding that I am closing one chapter of my life and opening another. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the amount of confidence that [owner] Drayton McLane, Ed Wade, Brad Mills and [assistant general manager] Dave Gottfried had in me to entrust me with this group of Astros pitchers, and I promise not to let them down.

Al Pedrique:
I'm very happy and thrilled that Brad Mills has given the opportunity and the Astros have given me the chance to work with Brad Mills, and I'm sure it's going to be an exciting year. I know we have a lot of work to do, and it's an important part of the job. Mills is doing a great job putting the coaching staff together, and I'm sure there will be a good chance to hopefully turn this organization around.

Man, I hope that everyone first- and last-names him all season long. For as long as I can stand it, I will refer to our new manager as solely "Brad Mills."

Brad Mills on Bobby Meacham:
Having a guy with Bobby's knowledge and expertise working with our infielders and to have his experience as a Major League coach is extremely valuable.

Wade, on the endorsement Meacham got from Brian Cashman:
I made several phone calls because I was familiar with his career, but I didn't have any first-hand knowledge of Bobby. Brian said he's one of the classiest guys he's ever been around. I have respect for what Brian has done in New York, obviously. Knowing that Millsie felt strongly about him made it easy for us.

Yeah, because Cashman doesn't have much else going on right now...

Some hirings and a declining

So of course nothing happens all morning, and then I go to the doctor and that's when all of today's news happens. Maybe.

The Astros have announced that Brad Mills has hired Al Pedrique on as the Bench Coach, and Bobby Meacham as 1st base coach.

Yesterday we noted that the Phillies had granted permission for the Astros to talk to Meacham. That must have been one short conversation. Meacham comes to the Astros from the Phillies' Class-A Williamsport team.

So here's your coaching staff for 2010:
Manager: Brad Mills
1st Base coach: Bobby Meacham
3rd Base coach: Dave Clark
Hitting Coach: Sean Berry
Pitching Coach:

Nope. No pitching coach yet, but Brian McTaggart says that announcement could come by the end of the day.

And in other roster moves, the Astros were faced with a decision with Doug Brocail:
1) Pay the 42-year old $2.85 million in 2010
2) Buy him out for $250,000.

They made the right choice and bought him out.

Ed Wade:
"I've got great respect for Doug. He's a tremendous competitor and has great makeup. I talked to him this morning to tell him we're not going to exercise his option and he was very professional about it. At this point in time, it behooves us to give some of these young relievers a greater chance to be with us for the coming season. I don't envision us heading back in that direction from a playing standpoint, but we did talk about the potential of staying involved in the organization in player development, and Ricky [Bennett] is going to have conversations on that."

Brocail:
"It's one of those things I will talk over with the powers that be and see what they have to say. I won't rule it out. As of right now, I'm just trying to heal up and see how I'm going to feel over the next two or three months."
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After Ed Wade exercised Moehler's $3 million option, instead of buying him out for $250,000, I was nervous about the looming decision on Brocail. He's a great competitor, he tried some wacky crap to come back and make a contribution, and he seems like a good guy. But this was the right decision.

Footer, tweeting Pedrique

Al Pedrique also had his interview today, and Alyson Footer was there to catch his response in 140-character bursts. Here they are, in their entirety:

"I will bring a lot of energy and passion for the game and hard work. I'm very positive. Communication is a big part of my philosophy. Players need to understand we all need to be on the same page to make it work."

She goes on:
Pedrique also spoke at length about the importance of the veteran players being leaders. Clearly, we're not the only ones who realize there are some leadership issues with some of the highly-paid superstars.

Clark, Pedrique speak

Some quotes from the first two candidates, Dave Clark and Al Pedrique, as they head into their interviews.

Clark:
“Let's get it on. I've been anxiously waiting for this day to come. My thing is to go in there and let them know my feelings toward the organization and some of the things I'd like to do when I'm named manager. We need to get back to that winning atmosphere, get back to that winning attitude. We feel there are a lot of kids that are in our minor league system that will be ready to play up here in a couple of years. The current team that we have right now, if we can just hold on — and by hold on I mean keep winning until these guys get here — these guys may be the guys that put us over the hump and keep us on top for many years.”

Pedrique:
“I feel very happy for this opportunity the organization is giving me. I'm waiting for my interview at 1:30 p.m. to see what the process will be in the interview and what the questions are and what they want to know about me regarding the organization's philosophy and my philosophy and what chances I have to manage the team. Yeah, I know the system pretty well. The last two years I dealt with the players and dealt with the staff in the minor leagues. It gave me a good feel for our minor league system. Last year as coordinator it gave me a good idea of the players that are in the minor league system.”

Of these two, who has the best chance?

McTaggart's Tale of the Tape on Clark and Pedrique

I was working on this, and McTaggart beat me to it. A comparison of Clark and Pedrique.

Notably, Clark:
Made managerial debut in 2003 at Class-A Lynchburg in Carolina League and was named league's Manager of the Year. In 2004, he managed at Class-A Hickory in the Pittsburgh organization and went 85-55 and won the South Atlantic League title. The Astros hired him in 2005 and he managed for three years at Double-A Corpus Christi, leading the Hooks to the 2006 Texas League title and winning Manager of the Year honors. He managed at Triple-A Round Rock in 2008 and went 64-79.

Al Pedrique, notably:
He managed for eight years in the Minors, posting back-to-back winning seasons in 2002-03 at Double-A Tucson in his final two seasons as skipper. He began managing in 1995 and guided the Astros' Class-A affiliate in Michigan in 1999-2000, winning the Midwest league title in 2000. He's also managed in the Venezuelan Winter League and the Arizona Fall League.

JJO's Fave Five

JJO is also pimping Garner, but here are the five managers who have the best shot, according to JJO, based on the interviews I've conducted and the research I've done on past managerial searches Ed Wade has run.

Garner, Brad Mills and Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin, Dave Clark, Al Pedrique.

And add Bob Melvin, while you're at it. And Al Pedrique

MyFoxHouston has a report that former Diam'ndbac's manager Bob Melvin has been contacted about the open managerial job in Houston.

Melvin:
"I'm honored to be considered for this job in what I consider to be a great organization that commits to winning every year. In that respect I am very happy."

And add Al Pedrique, as well. Wade:
"I think Al is a tremendous baseball man. I think he'll make an outstanding big league manager. Al is a great asset to the organization."

Whether or not he'll make an outstanding big league manager in Houston remains to be seen.

So to recap, here are you're confirmed managerial candidates (in no particular order):
Bob Melvin
Al Pedrique
Dave Clark
Tim Bogar
Brad Mills
Manny Acta

Jim Fregosi has not been confirmed but is strongly linked to the candidacy.

The Houston Press has your vote of confidence...

And it's tucked, somewhere. The HP headline is "Your next Houston Astros manager should be..." But there's only who it shouldn't be. And I'm sure this is what Drayton means when he says the Astros have the best fans in baseball:

Seeing as it's Drayton McLane doing the hiring, I'm sure that no matter who gets the job it will be the wrong person.

In the worthwhile portion of this post, Royal crosses names off the list.

Dave Clark: Clark's primary qualification for the job seems to be that the players really, really, really like him. His other qualification seems to be that he's been the team's third-base coach, and he's sucked as badly as a third-base coach as Cooper sucked while he was Phil Garner's bench coach. So while it's okay to let Clark run out the string, it's probably safe to say that if this guy is managing the team in 2010 then this team will probably suck just as bad as this current team.

Jim Fregosi: Fregosi led the then-California Angels to their first playoff spot in 1979, and he led the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in 1993 -- he was also the guy the Angels traded for Nolan Ryan. But he's not known for his ability to develop young players, and he's also known as a guy who tends to let the players run the clubhouse, and I would think the Astros are tired of guys like Carlos Lee leading the clubhouse.

Manny Acta: Acta had the misfortune of managing the Nationals, who have been one of the worst teams in baseball since moving from Montreal to Washington. This was more the fault of a bungling front office than it was Acta, but seeing as how the Astros' front office has been a bunch of bungling fools since Gerry Hunsicker left, and seeing as how the Astros seem to be as bereft of talent as the Nationals, then Acta is the wrong guy. This guy might be able to win with talent, but he's proven that he can't win with old, washed-up veterans and a non-existent pitching rotation.

Al Pedrique: Pedrique seems to be under consideration because he's already part of the Astros system. And frankly, seeing how awful the Astros organization has been this decade, that should be an automatic disqualification.

Jeff Bagwell/Craig Biggio: Jeff Bagwell has given no indication that he wants to manage...And watching Craig Biggio's "me first" form of playing should be evidence that he shouldn't be a major-league manager. Besides, except for Biggio with a bunch of high school kids, none of these guys has any managing experience. We're talking Drayton McLane here, so their lack of managing experience doesn't matter because he probably thinks -- and is probably right -- that there would be enough fools out in the city who would buy tickets for Astros games because one of these guys was managing.

Brad Ausmus: I think Ausmus would be a fantastic manager. Some of the best current managers are former catchers -- Mike Scioscia with the Angels, Joe Girardi with the Yankees, Joe Torre with the Dodgers, and Bruce Bochy with the Giants are just four that I can think of. But I also think he needs to actually earn a managing job. Let him go to the minors for a couple of years, or work as a bench coach. But his first job upon retiring as an active player shouldn't be as the manager of the Houston Astros.

Back on September 8, Royal put forth Frank Robinson as an option for Coop's replacement. He is also someone who would punch Lance Berkman in the mouth (but he'll have to get in line). Royal said:
He has never managed a team to the playoffs. So he appears to be just another manager who has been given the opportunity to fail with multiple managing jobs. But it's for this reason that he's the best possible manager for the Astros next season...Robinson was able to get Alfonso Soriano to stop pouting and to make an effort when he was forced to change positions, so think of what he could with the likes of Carlos Lee. And if Robinson couldn't command the respect of the Astros clubhouse, then it's just not possible to tame that clubhouse and massive changes elsewhere need to be made.