RSS
Home
Astros pick up manager Cooper's option. Why?
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Cecil Cooper will be back next year. It's a little early to make that decision.
Over the weekend, the Astros quietly picked up the option on manager Cecil Cooper's contract for 2010.
It's hard to say whether or not Cooper is a good manager or not. In reality, a manager doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of difference anyway.
He's managed his pitchers oddly at times, but for the most part, he seems competent.
But did Cooper really deserve to have his contract extended?
The argument for is that he would be a lame duck manager and players would not respond to him if that move wasn't made.
Really? If the players aren't listening, you aren't doing a very good job and don't deserve to be back. If they are, then you are doing a good job and the contract will take care of itself.
Cooper is a good guy, but this has nothing to do with that; the sample size as a manager isn't enough to make a determination. It's certainly not enough to warrant an extension.
When he took over for Phil Garner in 2007, he went 15-16. Last year, the Astros were a surprising 86-75 and if not for hurricane Ike, probably sneak in to the playoffs. If this is for lastt year, why not do it then?
This year, the Astros are 4-8. It's too early to truly tell, but if they win 70 games, would Cooper have earned his extension? Would fans come back next year without a change? Would the blame fall on general manager Ed Wade for the team he has pieced together? Owner Drayton McLane? President Tal Smith? All of the above?
It's simply too early to tell about Cecil. He might win manager of the year, lead the Astros to the World Series and make everybody happy.
What would be so wrong with seeing if he actually did it first?
This is no knock on Cooper. But it is yet another curious decision under the Ed Wade regime.
Curious, because it was a decision that didn't need to be made -- yet.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpg)
