If you followed my tweets through the past season you might have noticed my occasional light-hearted comments regarding Lance Berkman and his stance on the whole social networking phenomenon.

While Berkman -- known around here as Puma -- understands the basics of Facebook and Twitter, he has no desire to participate. Considering he's a traditional meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, I fully believe him and respect his stance.

But while Puma might be a lost cause, it wouldn't shock me if more and more Major League players jumped on the bandwagon in the not so distant future and started Tweeting.

Right now, a handful of players already have Twitter accounts and many are active contributors. Twins closer Joe Nathan is one, and his recent entries have piqued my interest as I'm starting to realize how much control players could have over their own press -- if they choose go that route. Count me as one who hopes they do.

Nathan, whose Twins were eliminated from the Division Series by the Yankees, had a couple of bone chips removed from his elbow soon after the conclusion of the season. Normally this would be a routine, controversy-free storyline. But because Nathan's blown save in the Division Series contributed to the Twins losing, and because he is obviously an All-Star closer and one of the Twins marquee names, the surgery drew quite a bit of attention.

That part is par for the course, and Nathan, by all accounts, understands that. But when a local columnist took special liberties with his commentary, Nathan didn't hesitate to counterpoint -- through Twitter.

In a column suggesting the Twins trade Nathan, the columnist offered his take on how Nathan was feeling, physically, during his fateful playoff appearance. Here's how it read:

"Actually, this latest series turned irretrievably to the Yankees when Joe Nathan, a closer to whom the Pohlads gave a four-year, $48 million contract, choked in the ninth inning of Game 2 on Friday night.

"Nathan didn't fail because he was cheap talent. He failed because he couldn't breathe."

From what I could gather from Nathan's tweets, he didn't take exception to the "choke" comment. Rather, he didn't like the author's unauthorized (and might I add, inappropriately dramatic) take on why he blew the save in that ninth inning.

Thanks to Twitter, Nathan was able to give his side of the story.

Tweet 1:

"just read the reusse column. just to clarify:i am there to talk to reporters in good times and bad and i never talked to him once."

Tweet 2:
"to continue from previous message. he has no idea what i was thinking about out there. other than that i feel ok after a successful surgery"

I find all of this fascinating. In the past, Nathan would have had no way of expressing a counterpoint. Now, he not only has a medium by which to express his side of the story, but he can do it in a nano-second, reaching thousands with one click of the mouse.

Over the years, I've heard players grumble about being misrepresented in the media. Sometimes, it was a simple matter of their quotes sounding a lot worse in print than it did when they said it. In those cases, that was their own fault.

But many, many times, authors either get the facts mixed up or paraphrase what the player is saying -- and totally get it wrong.

In the past, there were few ways to rectify this, unless the reporter/columnist in question agreed to print a retraction. That almost never happens. So most of the time, players simply had to brush it off and move on.

Until now. If players do indeed buy into the social networking craze like the rest of us, this could be a very good thing for not only the player, but also for the fans, who don't always get the full story.

I cannot wait to see where this is headed, and how this affects the way reporters and players co-exist. Managers, too. Did you know Tony La Russa just started Tweeting?

______________________

Programming note: Manzella special on FS Houston Sunday

FS Houston will be airing a special "Spotlight" feature on Astros infielder Tommy Manzella that documents the moment he was called up to the big leagues from Round Rock to the end of the season. The show airs at 10 p.m. Sunday night on FS Houston. 

Narrated by Patti Smith, edited by Max Majia and with video contributions from Mike Orta, FS Houston went to Round Rock the last day of the season and followed Manzella from the moment he stepped off the field at Dell Diamond through his first game at Minute Maid Park. Who did he call first?  What did he think of first after finding out?  What did he have to do to physically get himself to Houston?  How did he handle the crush of people offering congratulations?

They followed Manzella through his first game day, beginning with his intial arrival to the ballpark through the end of his first homestand. They also talked with GM Ed Wade, Assistant GM Ricky Bennett, Triple-A manager Marc Bombard as well as with Manzella's family -- his dad, Tommy Sr. and sisters Monica and Mindy.  Manzella talks of his mother, Carol, who died a year ago after a six-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Friendly reminder that I'll be at Lucky's Pub at 801 St. Emanuel (four blocks from Minute Maid Park) on Thursday, watching Game 2 of the World Series and raffling off the signed Miguel Tejada baseball that nearly took my head off in July.

If that alone isn't enough to entice you to join in on the fun, the good folks at Lucky's are offering half-price pizzas to anyone who shows up in Astros apparel, plus many happy hour drink specials that will apply all night.

I'll be there at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game starts around 7:30 p.m. and we'll raffle off the ball sometime after that.

See you there!

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Once I learned that Brad Mills was hired as the Astros manager,I reached out to two good friends who have covered the Red Sox for parts or all of the last decade and asked them simply, "What do you think of Brad Mills?" Here's what I received back:

Friend No. 1:
"Mills is a genuinely nice guy and he did an amazing job turning the Sox into such a well-run machine. He's so efficient at everything he does. He's not a great quote but he's friendly and respectful. He's the ultimate taskmaster."

Friend No. 2:
"Tremendously organized. Probably the most organized coach I've ever been around. He had basically every day of Spring Training plotted out weeks in advance of camp, with charts on where everyone is at all times.

"He was a big help to Francona on the bench, helping pitchers with pickoff moves, etc., and aligning the defense, etc. He had great communication skills with the players and has been Francona's confidant since their days as roommates at Arizona.

"I've never heard anyone say a bad word about Brad Mills. And being around Francona on the Red Sox bench for the last six years can only help from an experience standpoint."

Two things stood out to me from these responses: 1) both said Mills was incredibly organized and 2) Friend No. 2 pointed out that Mills is good at aligning defenses. And can I just say, hallelujah on both counts. The Astros are already better off in '10 than they were in '09, and they're more than five months away from playing a game that counts in the standings.

I've heard from many of you over the last couple of weeks, and please allow me clear up a few misconceptions: coaches are responsible for much, much more than what you see them do during an actual game. Scouting reports need to be scoured. Spray charts need to be studied. Pitchers and catchers need to be prepped. And on and on and on.

Positioning has been an issue with this team for a long time -- too long. Just hearing that Mills had a lot to do with aligning the Red Sox' defense makes me feel like the Astros are on the right track. It seems like such a small thing, I know. But it's not. It's huge. Manager and coach pregame preparation can make all the difference between and winning and losing seasons.

Here's what Red Sox manager Terry Francona said about his now former bench coach:

"I've probably taken it for granted that everybody is where they're supposed to be because he's so good at it. We'll certainly have to make some adjustments. But his gain far outweighs any adjustments we have to make. Millsy embodies so much of what is good in baseball. For him to get an opportunity, it sure is nice. It sure is exciting for all of us."

I have no idea what kind of manager Mills will be and until he's actually sitting in the hot seat, none of us can make the judgment. But he was impressive during his press conference on Tuesday and I'm looking forward to seeing how he guides this team through a challenging transitional period.

_____________________

On another note, I haven't seen the press conference room at Minute Maid Park this packed since Roger Clemens unretired for the 97th time a few years ago. When I saw Drayton McLane in the hallway a few minutes before the press conference started, I jokingly said, "Congratulations on getting this over with before the World Series." He laughed and said the Commissioner called him three times -- twice Monday and once Tuesday morning. "He said, 'You have until 5 p.m. (Tuesday) to get this done,'" McLane recalled. That was the deadline -- hire a manager by then, or wait until after the World Series. The former reporter in me was thankful this thing was over and done with.

I'm sure most of you have watched the press conference on TV or online in some capacity. Sound bites are nice and photo opps are fun, but that doesn't give you the full experience. Here are some images from Tuesday's presser, some of which you won't normally see just by watching from afar. Enjoy.

_____________

The media waited inside the press conference room, but outside, Mills and several members of the front office chatted casually before entering the room. Kudos to Mills (seen here with assistant GM Ricky Bennett) for acting naturally as three or four photographers snapped close up photos.

A little to the left of Mills stood owner Drayton McLane and GM Ed Wade.

PR director Gene Dias (middle) gives the gentle, "OK, we're ready" signal, which is a nice way of telling the group, let's go. Time to start the presser.

The normal order of speakers at a major Astros press conference is 1)Wade; 2)McLane and 3) whoever they hired/signed. This announcement was obviously a big one, hence, the packed room. That's Larry Dierker in the front.

Mills came across very well at the press conference. When he was asked to hold up the jersey again, he held up the front instead of back. "The name on the front is more important than the name on the back," he said. Good move.

Once each speaker has answered questions at the podium, the formal part of the presser is over and it's time for "one-on-ones." TVs like this because it gives more of a personal touch. Beat/print reporters like this because they need more quotes than just what is said during the formal part.

Reporters headed in three directions -- most went to Mills, some went to Wade, some went to McLane. It's a media free-for-all.

Once word spread that hitting coach Sean Berry and Mills are friends and neighbors in California, Berry became a media target. Berry happened to be in town for a Make-A-Wish golf tournament (which was rained out Monday and rescheduled for November).

Nothing like a press conference to bring a couple of former Astros greats to the ballpark. Left, Enos Cabell. Right, Larry Dierker.

Photo opp No. 477: Mills checks out the field at Minute Maid Park. Photographers document every move while trying not to step on anyone.

Mills and Wade have a chuckle while getting situated:

Tal Smith (left), Mills, Wade

Then McLane joins in.

Side view.

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The Astros are offering a 25 percent discount for their 'Stros Under the Stars sleepover on Halloween night for fans who sign up between now and Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT.

The event, which takes place this Saturday, is the first-ever Astros sleepover and will offer a host of activities, including playing catch in the outfield, throwing in the bullpen, touring one of the clubhouses and running the bases.

The Astros will show game 3 of the World Series on the big screen in center field. Dinner will be provided by Chick-Fil-A. Click here for complete details, plus instructions how to register.

Through my years as a reporter for MLB.com, I always claimed -- only half-jokingly -- that if a foul ball was ever headed in my direction in the press box, my priorities would be, in order: 1) my computer; and 2) my face. The logic was simple: my face will heal. Without my computer, I cannot do my job, and therefore, I'm useless.

I've had some close calls over the years, but none as close as the one I encountered this year when the Astros were playing the Dodgers in Los Angeles, just after the All-Star break. Miguel Tejada fouled off a ball that spiraled at a high rate of speed -- right toward me. I was looking at my computer screen at the time, so my reaction was slightly delayed. The ball bounced onto a ledge, just in front of my computer, and rattled around a bit. I finally picked it up off the floor and proudly held it up, pretending that I caught it on the fly.

(I was somewhat surprised at my initial reaction -- I totally abandoned the "computer first" theory and focused on not being pummeled. So much for that.)

Anyhoo, I carried the ball around with me for a couple of months and at the end of the season, I decided to ask Miggy to sign it, with the intention of giving it away. And now, I'm ready to do just that.

I'm going to be at Lucky's Pub this Thursday (Oct. 29) watching Game 2 of the World Series, and, with the help of my buddy Sean Pendergast, I'm going to raffle off the Tejada ball.

I've really enjoyed the communication with a lot of you through Facebook and Twitter and my blog, but now I propose some real face time. I'm hoping you'll come out to Lucky's to watch the World Series and, if you're so inclined, talk a little Astros baseball. Feel free to ask questions, talk about the team, vent, complain, laugh, cry, scream...just don't throw things at me.

I'll be at Lucky's (801 St. Emanuel St., approximately four blocks from Minute Maid Park) at 6:30 CT and will hand out raffle tickets for the Tejada ball, which we'll give away later in the evening, during the game. There is no cost for this "Astros Night Out," other than your bar tab. No strings attached. No loopholes. Just a fun night out to watch and talk about baseball, and win free stuff.

Hope to see you there!

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Every year it seems as if the Astros play more road games on the weekends than home games during Spring Training. And when they were home on the weekends, it rarely coincided with spring break, which obviously is the most popular time for families to travel to Florida to take in some Grapefruit League baseball.

The Astros released their spring schedule on Friday, and there's good news -- the Astros are home parts or all of four weekends.

They'll play a split squad with the Nationals at home on Saturday, March 13 (with part of the team traveling to play the Cardinals), and on Sunday the 14th, they'll host the Braves.

The following weekend, they're home against the Blue Jays (Friday, March 19), Yankees (Saturday, March 20) and Mets (Sunday, March 21). They'll also be home the following weekend, hosting the Pirates (Friday, March 26) and Rays (Saturday, March 27).

Not a bad schedule, especially for those of you whose spring breaks fall in the middle of the month.

Astros Spring Training tickets will go on sale Saturday, Jan. 23 at 9 CT and can be purchased either online at astros.com, at the Osceola County Stadium box office (for home games only) or by telephone and in person at Florida Ticketmaster outlets.

Ticket prices for all but three games remain the same as 2009 -- $22 for Dugout Box Seats, $20 for Outfield Box Seats. $18 for Upper Reserved Seats and $15 for Outfield Reserved Seats. For Yankees, Cardinals and Phillies -- tabbed "premium games" -- the ticket prices will be $25 for dugout, $23 for outfield box, $21 for upper reserved and $18 for outfield reserved.

Season tickets may be purchased now by calling (321) 697-3201. Season ticket prices are $436 for Dugout Box Seats, $398 for Outfield Box Seats, $360 for Upper Reserved Seats and $303 for Outfield Reserved Seats.

2010 Houston Astros Spring Training Schedule (subject to change, all times TBA)
Friday March 5 at Detroit
Saturday March 6 vs. Atlanta
Sunday March 7 at Atlanta
Monday March 8 vs. Toronto
Tuesday March 9 at Mets
Wednesday March 10 vs. Florida
Thursday March 11 at Washington
Friday March 12 at Toronto
Saturday March 13 vs. Washington (SS)
                             at St. Louis
Sunday March 14 vs. Atlanta
Monday March 15 OFF
Tuesday March 16 at Yankees
Wednesday March 17 vs. Washington
Thursday March 18 at Detroit
Friday March 19 vs. Toronto
Saturday March 20 vs. Yankees
Sunday March 21 vs. Mets
Monday March 22 vs. St. Louis
Tuesday March 23 at Pittburgh
Wednesday March 24 at Mets
Thursday March 25 at Philadelphia
Friday March 26 vs. Pittsburgh
Saturday March 27 vs. Tampa Bay
Sunday March 28 at Florida
Monday March 29 at Pittsburgh
Tuesday March 30 vs. Philadelphia
Wednesday March 31 at Atlanta
Thursday April 1 vs. Detroit
Friday April 2 vs. TBA at Minute Maid Park
Saturday April 3 vs. TBA at Minute Maid Park

As much as I love watching baseball, after sitting through 200 or so games (including Spring Training), there's something to be said about the offseason. The business side of baseball never really stops, but it's always fun to attend offseason events that keep you thinking about baseball, without actually watching it.

Several past and present baseball personalities -- all of whom have Astros ties -- are scheduled to play in the Astros Alumni Golf Tournament on Nov. 17 at Wildcat Golf Club. Golf enthusiasts are encouraged to sign up for the event, which will raise money for the Astros in Action Foundation.

You'll recognize several names of participants, including Jeff Bagwell, Jim Deshaies, Larry Dierker and former-manager-turned-current-managerial-candidate Phil Garner.

The complete list, as of Wednesday, Oct. 21:

Eric Anthony, Alan Ashby, Bagwell, Kevin Bass, Enos Cabell, Deshaies, Dierker, John Edwards, Garner, Bill Heath, John Hudek, Mike Jackson, James Mouton, Carl Warwick and Brian Williams.

Bagwell

Milo Hamilton will serve as event emcee.

Those wishing to participate can register online at www.astros.com/community or by calling 713-259-8979. Individual registrations are $250 and registration for a team of four starts at $1,000. Other sponsorship opportunities ranging from $500 to $10,000 are also available.

____________________

If golf isn't your thing, maybe spending the night under the stars at Minute Maid Park will pique your interest. On Halloween night -- Saturday, Oct. 31 -- the Astros are hosting 'Stros under the Stars, presented by Sunny 99.1.

This event marks the first-ever Astros sleepover in a night that will offer a myriad of activities, including playing catch in the outfield, throwing in the bullpen, touring one of the clubhouses and running the bases.

The Astros will show game 3 of the World Series on the big screen in center field. Dinner will be provided by Chick-Fil-A. Click here for full details, plus instructions how to register.
____________________

Speaking of Astros alumni, I was happy to read that Jose Cruz has agreed to return to the team in a new role. According to this story, details of Cruz's new duties will be worked out in the near future.

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When you watch Ed Wade being interviewed on television you get the buttoned up version of the Astros GM, straightforward and deliberate speaker who likes to keep things business-like when he's on the record.

But Wade has a sharp sense of humor and is known to come up with more than a few one-liners when he's speaking off-the-cuff.

Wade summed up his feelings perfectly when discussing how round two of the managerial search will be much different from the first go-around.

"We've been open on this thing, but I don't want it to get to the point of 'Dancing With The Stars,'" Wade said to MLB.com, referring to the reality TV show that votes off contestants as the program progresses.

In other words, the rest of the managerial search will be conducted privately. No more post-interview meetings with the media and no more lists of finalists made public (although I would imagine most of the names will leak eventually -- that's just how it works in today's world).

The final two candidates were interviewed Monday -- Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills and first base coach Tim Bogar. The next step will involve the search committee sitting down and narrowing the field of candidates. Wade has made it clear the next public announcement will be when they decide on a manager, and it's anyone's guess as to how long that process will take.

Brad Mills.

Tim Bogar.

Two members of the Red Sox coaching staff -- bench coach Brad Mills and first base coach Tim Bogar -- will interview with the Astros today as the club wraps up its first round of managerial interviews. Then it's on to round two, which theoretically could begin as early as later this week.

When the process began I figured the Astros would make an announcement regarding a managerial hire once the World Series ended. But the interviews are moving swiftly and you have to wonder if they might even want to have a decision made earlier. With so many offdays between the two League Championship Series and the World Series, there might be time to get this done. The World Series doesn't start until Wed., Oct. 28.

That said, if Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin is a finalist, and his team ends up winning the National League pennant, that might slow down the process.

Mackanin flew from Los Angeles to Houston on Saturday, stopping off long enough to interview before continuing on to Philadelphia, where his team had a day off between NLCS Games 2 and 3. Phil Garner had a much easier schedule, seeing he simply drove to Minute Maid Park from his home in The Woodlands.

You can read a full transcript of Garner's meeting with the media here.

_________________

As soon as Garner walked into the interview room Saturday, I couldn't help but notice he was wearing his National League championship ring. "Nice move," I said. He laughed. Coincidence? I think not.

Pete Mackanin.

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The Astros have conducted interviews with six managerial candidates -- Dave Clark, Al Pedrique, Ned Yost, Randy Ready, Bob Melvin and Manny Acta -- and will conduct four more: Phil Garner and Pete Mackanin on Saturday, and Tim Bogar and Brad Mills Monday.

A lot of you have asked me who I think has the inside track and you've probably noticed that I've been hesitant to offer up much insight as to who might have an edge. There's a good reason for that -- mainly, it is impossible for me to size up the candidates during a 10-minute media briefing and tell who was the most impressive during his 2 1/2 hour interview session with the club's decision-makers.

I like Clark's familiarity with the current club and Pedrique's wealth of knowledge and array of experiences in the Minor and Major League ranks. I like Yost's credentials as a former skipper in the Astros' division and Ready strikes me as approachable, smart and good with people. Melvin has an authoritative air when he walks into a room and obviously has the big league managing credentials on his extensive resume. Acta is hugely impressive, having managed Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman and Wandy Rodriguez while working his way up through the Astros' organization. He's one of those people you just like immediately.

Obviously, I have a bit of familiarity with Clark and Pedrique, since they're currently working in the Astros' organization. And we all know what Garner brings to the table, so no mystery there. I know Bogar well from his days playing for the Astros from 1997-2000 and later as a manager in the Minor League system.

The media sessions this week just weren't designed to determine who would is best for the job. They were simply quick question and answer sessions that didn't dig too deeply under the surface.

I will say this -- it is my feeling that the Astros are leaning toward hiring someone with prior big league managing experience. If that is the case, then there are seven with a leg up: Clark, Pedrique, Yost, Melvin, Acta, Garner and Mackanin.

You've been following the search...who do you like?

Clark?

Pedrique?

Yost?

 Ready?

Melvin?

Acta?

With about a week left in the season, after manager Cecil Cooper was dismissed, I stood with one of the coaches behind the cage during batting practice and we talked about the pending fate of the rest of the staff.

This particular coach understood the business, and he realized that with managerial changes usually come coaching changes. "No one's safe, obviously," the coach said. Then we both looked into the direction of Jose Cruz and I said, "well, almost no one." Then we chuckled. Cruz's job security was a well-known and accepted fact in Astros annals. It was often compared to a seat on the Supreme Court  -- a lifetime assignment, for as long as he wanted it. Or so we thought.

Turns out, Cruz's security as a coach wasn't so rock-solid. Late Tuesday, the news broke that he was removed from his post as first base coach and offered another position in the organization.

Cruz was one of four removed from the Major League coaching staff. Pitching coach Dewey Robinson, bench coach Ed Romero and bullpen coach Mark Bailey were also dismissed and offered jobs in the organization.

Only Robinson declined. He'll move to the Tampa Bay organization in 2010.

The Astros, predictably, are in the midst of a bit of a public relations mess. That comes as no surprise, considering Cruz has, rightfully, carried the tag of "franchise icon" for more than 30 years and has held up his end of the bargain by being a model Astros citizen -- friendly, kind and accommodating to the fans, the players, the front office. He's always available, and he's always smiling.

So from a PR standpoint, this wasn't a good day. From a baseball standpoint, however, I am having a hard time understanding some of the outrage. The Astros would like to keep Cruz on staff and he was offered another position -- a very fair position, in my opinion -- that will allow for him to be in uniform as an instructor for Spring Training, as well as suit up for batting practice during regular season home games. During games, Ed Wade wants him in the booth with the rest of his brain trust, and when the team is out of town, Cruz will work as a community ambassador, a la Jimmy Wynn and Larry Dierker.

When the story first broke, it was portrayed as Cruz being fired, which he was not. That Wade was not asked to comment in the initial story added to the confusion.

I've been here since '97 and have seen four managerial changes and countless coaching changes. Very rarely, if ever, were the coaches asked to stay in the organization in other capacities. That the Astros thought enough of the four coaches they dismissed to try to keep them surprised me, to be honest. I was especially surprised to hear that Romero will manage the club's Rookie League team. Usually, the coach who was brought here by the since-fired manager doesn't stand a chance to stay in the organization (See Lamont, Gene, and Mansolino, Doug).

Regardless, the Astros made their decisions, and quite frankly, the fate of the coaching staff really shouldn't come as a big shock. Of the last four non-playoff seasons, 2009 was the worst, in my opinion. I've never seen the bottom fall out in September like it did this year. Morale among the players that have been around for a while was at an all-time low.

This wasn't the fault of one particular person, or two people, or three. I'm certainly in no way pinning this on Cruz. But when things get this bad, personnel changes are inevitable. New ideas. New communication. New clubhouse atmosphere. New faces. A new start. That's what happens when things get bad and quite frankly, that time has come for the Astros.

I'm not going to throw a bunch of company-written talking points at you about how change is tough and sometimes decisions are made that aren't popular and blah blah blah. A lot of you are mad, and that's entirely understandable.

But I'm also not going to pretend the Astros weren't flawed. The problems were wide-spread, and sometimes, the truth hurts. And the truth is, the Astros took the field 162 times last year and rarely were they the most prepared team in the ballpark. That falls on a whole host of people -- starting with the manager, and his coaches.

Yea, change stinks. Unfortunately, losing stinks more.

________________

The Astros began their managerial search in earnest Wednesday, first interviewing Dave Clark, followed by Al Pedrique. Here are a couple of shots from the "postgame" meetings with the media (and you can also read McTaggart's coverage of the day's events here):

Clark answers questions from reporters.

Al Pedrique followed later in the afternoon.

A back-of-the-room shot of Pedrique's presser.

Most of the media traffic was in the back, where the cameras were set up.

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The names of the Astros managerial candidates slowly began to leak from all ends of the country starting last week, and with every Bob Melvin, Manny Acta and Ned Yost tidbit that made its way onto the airwaves and internet sites, I wondered how long it would be until the Astros decided to simply reveal the names of all of their managerial candidates.

Clearly, they had two choices: stay tight-lipped about who they were interested in and wait for all names to inevitably become public anyway, or just simply reveal the candidates themselves and end the media's relentless scavenger hunt.

The latter makes life easier for everyone and saves time for the general manager. When one reporter uncovers a name and publishes that name, Ed Wade then has to spend the rest of his day fielding calls from the other reporters who are looking for confirmation on the name leaked. This can go on all day, all week, all month.

As a reporter, times like these -- whether I was covering a manager search, a GM search or the free agent/hot stove season -- were incredibly pressure-filled. You're never sure what your competition has, so you simply have to make sure you are doing everything you can to not be beaten on a story. This meant cold-calling potential manager/GM candidates and figuring out what the team is doing by simple process of elimination. It meant getting a tip and stalking the guy at the airport. It meant calling representatives of free agents who played a position the Astros needed to fill and trying to figure out who the team was pursuing. It is a long and painstaking process and for every one thing you uncover, there are 10 other storylines that ended up going nowhere.

That brings me to present times. The Astros' original plan was to reveal two managerial candidates per day, the day before those candidates were to interview with the team. But by Monday, six of the 10 candidates had been leaked anyway, so the Astros decided to go ahead and just give out the list.

This has been perceived by some as a circus. I disagree. Sure, it's unconventional, but we're not living in the stone ages. It's a world of 24-hour news cycles and the internet, and the list of media outlets trying to cover a story has quadrupled in the last 10 years. Keeping major news under wraps is pretty much impossible.

So the Astros got ahead of the story, revealed the names and are making every candidate available to the media once his interview is complete. In turn, life became a lot easier for Wade and the media, and the fans benefit as well, because they're going to be able to follow along with the process as it's happening.

The full schedule of interviews can be found here.

The Astros' interest in Phil Garner, and Garner's interest in the Astros, came as a shock to everyone. Heck, I had him on my "no chance" list. But the longer I think about it, the more sense it makes. And Garner seems sincere with his desire to return. 

The Astros managerial search just got a whole more interesting. This is going to be a fun couple of weeks, regardless of the final outcome.

The Astros revealed their list of 10 managerial candidates and the list consists of a handful of former skippers -- including one of their own, Phil Garner. Yes, you read that right. Phil Garner.

The full list: interim manager Dave Clark, Minor League Field Coordinator Al Pedrique, former Brewers manager Ned Yost, Padres hitting coach Randy Ready, former Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, former Nationals manager Manny Acta, Garner, Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills, Red Sox first base coach Tim Bogar and Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin.

Everyone but Mackanin will interview this week, and Mackanin will meet with the Astros brass once his team is finished with the postseason.

The managerial candidates will be interviewed by a committee made up of Astros President of Baseball Operations Tal Smith, general manager Ed Wade, Assistant General Managers Ricky Bennett, David Gottfried and Bobby Heck and Special Assistant to the General Manager Enos Cabell.

Clark and Pedrique will be the first of 10 candidates to be interviewed. All candidates will be available to the media following their respective interviews.

"We're excited about the entire group of candidates," Wade said. "All 10 candidates have a great deal of experience and are held in high regard throughout Major League Baseball. Clarkie and Al are great internal candidates and are very well-respected both inside and outside the Astros family."

The interview schedule will go as follows:

Wednesday, October 14: Dave Clark, Al Pedrique
Thursday, October 15: Ned Yost, Randy Ready
Friday, October 16: Bob Melvin, Manny Acta
Saturday, October 17: Phil Garner
Monday, October 19: Brad Mills, Tim Bogar

Following the first round of interviews, the Astros expect to select a short list of finalists who will then meet for a second round of interviews with Smith, Wade, Astros Chairman and CEO Drayton McLane and Astros President of Business Operations Pam Gardner.

I don't know if Aaron Booooone plans to continue his playing career in 2010, but if he has decided to hang it up, he might have broadcasting in his future.

Boone has been providing color commentary during the Dodgers-Cardinals National League Division Series on ESPN radio, and on Friday, MLB Network announced Boone will join its team of analysts throughout the postseason.

Boone, Kevin Millar and Carlos Pena will serve as guest analysts on "MLB Tonight," as the network plans for 100 hours of live postseason coverage throughout October.

First up is Millar, first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays, who was part of the 2004 Boston Red Sox that won the team's first World Series in 86 years. He'll appear on MLB Tonight from Oct. 9-11. Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Pena, who faced the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 World Series, will be on the show October 12 and 13.

Boone, who hit one of the most memorable home runs in postseason history as part of the 2003 New York Yankees, will appear from October 19-21.

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The new FiveSeven Grille in center field at Minute Maid Park is eye-catching with its modern decor and splashy photographs of Jeff Bagwell (Five) and Craig Biggio (Seven), and apparently, these attributes didn't go unnoticed by the experts.

Earlier this week, the Astros revealed that the Texas Gulf Coast chapter of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) awarded Houston-based architecture firm Kirksey the First Place Interior Design Award in the hospitality category for the FiveSeven Grille.

The competition was open to licensed interior designers and architects in Houston and the Gulf Coast area, and projects could be located anywhere if they were completed within the last two years. 

"The Astros are thrilled with the work that Kirksey did in bringing FiveSeven Grille to life," said Astros President of Business Operations Pam Gardner. "The design work captures the feel and excitement of a fun, clubby destination, while showcasing Astros' icons Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio in dynamic fashion. It has been a great gathering place on game days and provides a wonderful location for private parties on non-game days."

The FiveSeven Grille pays homage to Bagwell and Biggio with various photos taken during their tenure with the club that are displayed throughout the restaurant and bar. It is available year-round for private parties and events. For booking information, please call 713-259-8808.

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Chris Sampson didn't get the callup when rosters expanded on Sept. 1, but he had plenty of offseason projects to keep him busy when his season in Round Rock concluded a month ago.

Sampson and former Brewers farmhand Kade Johnson are building a baseball academy in Baytown, which, according to their new web site -- http://www.lonestarbat.com -- will be opening soon.

The academy offers private baseball and softball lessons, clinics and cage rentals for baseball and softball teams or individual players. It also includes five extra wide 70 foot batting tunnels, an Iron Mike pitching machine, baseball and softball pitching machines, indoor pitching mounds and video analysis.

I moved to Houston 12 1/2 years ago, and at some point in year three or four, I became offended when I'd hear disparaging remarks about my new hometown. I don't remember exactly when Houston started to feel like home, but it did, and it still does, and I'm always quick to point out all of the wonderful things about this city that outsiders either don't know, or choose to ignore.

Houston has everything, and while others may focus on the three months of extreme heat and humidity, I like to elaborate on other things, like great people, diverse culture, wonderful restaurants, affordable housing and, yes, a loyal and passionate fanbase for all Houston sports franchises.

I watched a lot of football and basketball when I was in college, but when baseball became my full-time job, the other sports fell off my radar. Including Spring Training, regular season and portions of the postseason, I will watch somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 baseball games a year, and when it's over, well, switching the TV over to another sport is about as desirable as sitting through 2 1/2 hours of rain that delays a game between two non-contenders the day before the season's over.

That said, I always root for the hometown teams. Good sports franchises translate to added prestige for a city, and I'm all for every Houston team -- pro and college -- winning. Houston has had some lean years baseball and football-wise, but that should not deter from the fact that this city has great fans, and tremendous facilities.

Apparently, we're not the only ones who have noticed. In its annual "Best Sports Cities" edition, Sporting News has Houston ranked at No. 11. The publication ranked a total of 399 cities.

"People just don't like either the Texans, Rockets or Astros. The fans here will support all the teams and really know what's going on," Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson told Sporting News. "I've been a Rockets season-ticket holder for six years. That's the biggest thing I've seen that's different than other cities. They just really love their sports and support the teams."
 
This year's Best Sports Cities are ranked by a system that assigns points to a variety of categories, including a city's number of teams, its regular-season won-lost records, playoff berths, bowl appearances and tournament bids, championships, applicable power ratings, fan fervor, attendance and more.

See the full listing here.

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Getaway day on Sunday was a little different than normal, because nearly half of the players didn't travel back on the team charter. While we do have a several locals -- Michael Bourn, Doug Brocail, Lance Berkman, etc. -- most of the players are not from Houston and therefore made their own flight arrangements after the final game of the season at Citi Field.

Of the 33 or so players on the roster, only 17 traveled back to Houston. That made the packing up phase postgame Sunday a little more rushed as players made a quick getaway to catch other commercial flights or personal charters.

There was time, however, for a lot of goodbyes among teammates, and in the minutes immediately following the game, most players walked around and exchanged hugs and handshakes.

One particularly poignant moment occurred after the final out of the game. As the Mets walked off the field, Darin Erstad asked Mets third baseman David Wright to fetch third base and give it to Erstad, who handed it off to Geoff Blum moments after the final out. The players in turn presented it to Aaron Boone inside the clubhouse.

Few, if any, know what Boone has planned for the future. I sense he knows what he's going to do regarding his career, but he's keeping it to himself for now. If I had to guess, I would say he'll probably retire. I thought it was a nice move for manager Dave Clark to start Boone at third base Sunday, which very well could have been Boone's last game in a Major League uniform.

If Boone wants to play again, I would imagine he'd have to sign a Minor League contract and try to make a team out of Spring Training. I'm not sure he'd want to take that route. The important thing was getting back on the field this year, to prove to himself that he could still play after going through open-heart surgery. I was amazed that he made such a quick comeback and while he didn't get any hits in the little playing time he did receive, it was a real pleasure to simply watch him play again after everything he went through.

The season is over for the players, but things are just getting started for the front office. Obviously, finding a manager is the club's top priority. I wouldn't expect any announcements arriving anytime soon -- in fact, if this was done before the start of the world Series I'd be surprised. (After the World Series begins, the Commissioner asks teams not to make any major announcements until it's over).

As for me, I'll be continuing with the blog and Twitter throughout the winter, obviously with slightly less frequency. Still, there's plenty going on in the offseason -- Winter Meetings, hot stove rumors, Astroline, caravans and banquets, among other things, and I'll be there for all of it. I'm also planning to have some fun, starting with traveling to Weir, Miss., to attend the opening of Roy Oswalt's restaurant "Homeplate Fish and Steakhouse," which he built from the ground up (with a little help from his friends).

Although it was a disappointing season on the field, it wasn't all gloom and doom. Wandy Rodriguez had a terrific season and was named by Houston voters as the team's Pitcher of the Year. Michael Bourn was named Most Valuable Player after an unbelievable breakthrough season both offensively and in the field.

Jeff Fulchino, who didn't even make the team out of Spring Training, proved to be one of the most stable relief pitchers, and in turn, he was voted Rookie of the Year. Brian Moehler, one of the most professional and dedicated players I've ever met, was awarded with the Darryl Kile Award.

On a personal note, thanks to all of you for following me as I documented the Astros through the season. There are many great things about this job, but the best might be that I now have time to interact directly with the fans, both on this blog, Twitter and Facebook, as well as my direct email. Without your participation, this wouldn't have been much fun. I'd be sitting in the press box saying, "Is anyone even reading this?"

But I always knew you were, so thank you. Here's to 2010. Talk to you soon.

In the meantime, enjoy one last batch of photos from the final trip of the 2009 season.

Dave Clark addresses the media following the final game in New York.

Tejada talks to reporters about falling one hit short of 200 for the season.

Back in Houston...one last time unloading the equipment truck.

Obviously, players packed up their lockers before the last road trip.

An eerily quiet clubhouse...that's Brian Moehler on the right, waiting patiently for his equipment bag. Moehler's having surgery to clean out his knee at 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Sean Berry and Moehler, hoping their bags are on that first shipment.

An empty manager's office...for now. Who will occupy it in 2010? Stay tuned...

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Back in the old days (10 years ago), I never could remember which train to take to get to Shea Stadium. It's one of those things where you think you've got it memorized, but then in the year that passes between trips, inevitably, it fails to stick in the memory.

Then the 2000 offseason arrived. Braves pitcher John Rocker went on his now famous tirade to Sports Illustrated writer Jeff Pearlman about everything he didn't like about New York. He was mean, bigoted, fierce...and, turns out, strangely helpful.

Obviously, I'm not condoning Rocker's behavior, which I found offensive and deplorable, and embarrassing. But he started that famous line of hatred with "Imagine having to take the 7 Train to the ballpark..."

And from then on, I never forgot which train to take to Shea. All thanks to Rocker, who was rightfully booed out of just about every ballpark he appeared in after his tirade and thankfully has been out of baseball for years.

But he did leave one lasting impression, inadvertently so.

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Trying to not lose my cell phone and coat while pulling my computer bag behind me was challenging enough, but at the same time, I also attempted to snap a couple of shots of the outside of Citi Field, the brand new home of the New York Mets. You can see MLB.com writer Brian McTaggart and radio announcer Brett Dolan in the shot, and you'll notice they're not waiting for me to catch up to them.

Inside, the ballpark is pretty impressive, and not just because anything would be a gigantic upgrade from the eyesore that was the old Shea Stadium. Citi Field has all the charm of a new ballpark -- nice field and scoreboard, plush accommodations in the clubhouse and club levels -- and overall, I give it a thumbs up, although I'll spare you my whining about the ridiculous guessing game I had to play trying to get to the press box.

More random shots:

Dave Clark, who hopes to have a shot at the permanent manager's job once the season ends, chats with pitching coach Dewey Robinson.

Chris Johnson says hello to Steve Sparks, who is filling in for Jim Deshaies in the TV booth this weekend.

I have no idea what Aaron Boooooone was doing in this shot but it always cracks me up that he cannot resist giving some kind of strange pose when there's a camera around.

Hunter Pence grants a pregame interview to FS Houston's Greg Lucas.

Roy Oswalt is one of the most bored men on earth right now. It's one thing to be a starting pitcher with nothing to do for the four days in between starts. It's quite another to be shut down for the year because of a bad back and having NOTHING to look forward to, other the pending opening of his new steakhouse this fall.

You've heard us talk/write plenty about Assistant GM Bobby Heck, who was brought on staff a couple of years ago to take over the Astros' scouting department. Now you know what he looks like. That's him on the right, talking to TV announcer Bill Brown.

From the Twitter files:
Why is Blum still starting over Chris Johnson? I can see Tejada over Manzella, he has a shot at 200 hits. But Blum? Really?

I'll be honest -- I have no idea. These days, when I post the lineup on Twitter, I cringe, because I know I'm about to be hit with a stream of responses wondering why the kids aren't playing.

I understand that Dave Clark wants to give Tejada every chance to reach 200 hits on the year, and I grudgingly agree.

I'm not suggesting Clark bench the veterans indefinitely. But in a three-game series, I see nothing wrong with simply mixing in Tommy Manzella or Chris Johnson or Edwin Maysonet for just a game here and there.

The current regular Astros lineup has contributed to a likely fifth-place finish. I seriously doubt one or two kids are going to mess up that chemistry.

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A couple of weeks ago I was at the FiveSeven Grille waiting for the FS Houston postgame show to begin, when a fan approached me with his opinion about the coaching staff. Mainly, he wanted to talk about hitting coach Sean Berry. Actually, he wanted to yell and wave his arms wildly while going on and on as to why Berry needed to be fired. His reason was simple: Lance Berkman is having a bad year offensively, and it's Berry's fault.

I read a lot of baseball coverage from around the country, and many sportswriters receive the same complaints from their fan base -- the pitching stinks, so fire the pitching coach. The hitting stinks, so fire the hitting coach. The manager stinks, fire him. And on and on.

I understand the frustration from fans when the team doesn't win. I've probably watched 140 of the 158 games the Astros have played so far this year, and I often seethe up in the press box just as you are while watching or listening to the games at home. So I get it. What I don't understand is why everyone is so quick to blame the coaches for players' shortcomings and so unwilling to acknowledge the good things they've done.

I have no idea what general manager Ed Wade will decide regarding the coaching staff after the season. But I do know that Berry has had a lot to do with Michael Bourn's breakout year, and that he has been a constant presence in Hunter Pence's ascension through the system, either as a roving hitting instructor or presently as his hitting coach. Shouldn't that count for something?

I realize that it is difficult to determine how much a coach's coaching impacts a player's stats, but is it fair to blame Berry for Berkman having a bad year? Berkman is a 10-year veteran and I have to assume he knows what he's doing at the plate. Yet he's hitting .270, so it's Berry's fault? Bourn is the MVP of the 2009 Astros and Pence was an All-Star. Why doesn't Berry get just a smidge of credit for that?

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As a reporter, I loved when the Astros played the Rangers in Arlington. Not because I liked it there -- to be honest, it's not close to being one of my favorite road venues -- but because it gave me the rare opportunity to avoid the airport. And when you're on the road every other week for six months, it's that type of break that helps you get through a season.

When the schedule allowed, I'd make the four-hour drive to Arlington the day of the first game of the series, and I'd leave soon after the final out was made. No airports, no rental cars, no security lines. Nothing. Just my very own car, waiting for me in the parking lot at the ballpark. I wasn't on anyone's schedule but my own and while it doesn't sound like a lot, it was.

That brings me to present times. After the game in Philadelphia tonight, we're going to bus it to New York. The estimated total travel time is one hour and 45 minutes, from Citizens Bank Park to our hotel in Manhattan.

Yes, I realize that the way Major League teams travel is luxurious compared to commercial travel. But it's still a process and at this point in the season, we're all a bit travel-weary. So it'll be nice just to ride on a bus for a couple of hours and end up at point B at a reasonable hour. Again, it's the little things.

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It's been four years since Milo Hamilton traveled with the Astros, but he's made a few exceptions, like when the team is playing at a new ballpark. Hamilton will call the games this weekend from Citi Field, his 57th ballpark from which he'll broadcast a game in an announcing career that has spanned six decades.

Milo flew to New York earlier on Thursday with his son, Mark, plus Astros Senior Vice President of Premium Sponsorships Jamie Hildreth and Jamie's wife, Theresa. Milo will brodcast the three-game set between the Astros and Mets with radio announcer Brett Dolan.

I'd like to take a quick moment to address Milo's health situation. He recently finished an eight-session treatment to regulate his white blood count, and he will meet with doctors next week to discuss how the treatments went and what's in store for his future. This is not a new development -- Milo has had a chronic form of leukemia since the mid 1970s and his recent treatment was necessitated because of his health history. As Milo explained to me a couple of months ago, this is to prolong his life, not to save it.

A recent blog stated simply that Milo has "cancer," with no explanation of the circumstances surrounding the disease. Technically, yes, it's cancer. But this is not a new thing, as Milo has spent the last 35 years living with his illness.

I hope this clears up any confusion that report may have caused.

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Friendly reminder that Steve Sparks will fill in for Jim Deshaies on the TV broadcast this weekend in New York. J.D. will be away attending his brother's wedding, but I have to say I found the conspiracy theories a lot more interesting than the truth. No, J.D. is not flying to Houston to interview for the manager's job. That would be impossible anyway, considering Tal Smith and Wade are both on the trip. But we did get a good laugh about that when I shared it with J.D. and Tal on the bus to the ballpark today.

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