[Lefty Noob]

I haven't heard too many rumblings about Houston Astros manager Phil Garner losing his job, but there are some out there.

According to Houston Chronicle writer Richard Justice's blog, "Drayton McLane knows fans are sick of... Garner... Replacing Garner is easy. Cecil Cooper is ready, willing and able to step into the office. I don't know if he'd be any better, but that's a risk you take when you make a change. Garner is competent. That's it. Competent. He's not Jim Leyland or Tony La Russa. He's not going to take an 81-81 team and make it a 90-72 club."

"He has made a string of awful decisions during games recently, but that could be a byproduct of having tried all the logical things," Justice continues. "Perhaps the only real argument for firing him is that most managers reach a point where players no longer listen. I don't know if Garner is there yet, but if he keeps doing stupid things, he's going to lose his clubhouse... His bigger problem has been a problem since Day One, and it didn't hurt him in 2004 or 2005. He over-manages. He's a hunch player in a numbers age. In a twist, his greatest strength might also be his biggest weakness. He never buries a player. He keeps putting them in position to succeed. In his continuing quest to get Morgan Ensberg, etc., going, he probably cost the Astros some games."

So, do you agree with Justice, Astros fans? Is it time to fire Phil Garner?

[azrael492]

I say leave him alone. he is a good manager. How many times have they made a second half run to contend. I think teams should keep their good managers. They are too hard to find to begin with.