Current coaching staff all just sort of waiting

Within this McTaggart notebook, you get to read about the current Astros coaching staff all excited about the possibility of coaching under manager Bo Porter.

Bench coach Joe Pettini:
"Yeah, I would [like to stay]. I'm 57 years old and have 11 years as a coach at the big league level and a few as a player, and I'm not quite ready to retire yet. I'd like to do it a few more years."

Pitching coach Doug Brocail:
"I love this job, but we have a lot of work to do. I'd like to see it through. I don't know what their thoughts are. Nobody's talked about it, but if they want to sit down and talk, I'd love to be back."

So, were you Bo Porter, who would you keep and who would you let go? Remember (and I can't find the link right now), there was an indication that the Astros will want coaches with American League experience...

Jon Heyman's managerial shortlist

Take this for what it's worth, but CBS Sports has a link to this possible managerial list, by Troller-in-Chief Jon Heyman.

Here's the list which, the post is quick to point out, Jeff Luhnow "didn't deride" (part of me loves this because it sounds like Luhnow has derided Heyman before):

Jim Riggleman, Sandy Alomar Jr., Joey Cora, Chris Maloney, Jose Oquendo, Mike Maddux, Tim Bogar, Joe McEwing and Joe Pettini.

Pettini is, of course, with the Astros now; Bogar interviewed last time around; Oquendo is with the Cardinals.

Since this is our blog, we humbly submit two other possibilities: Brad Ausmus, and Houston resident Bo Porter - whom we championed back in 2009. Smilin' Ken Rosenthal mentioned Porter as a possibility at the end of 2011 when it wasn't clear if the Astros would bring back Mills for 2012. We haven't seen Porter's name floating around anywhere, but he's been the 3B coach for the Nationals, after coaching with the Marlins.

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.