Sports | Houston Astros Astros Dump Manager Garner, GM Purpura Houston owner says it's 'time for a change' in last-place operation By Joseph Fasano Posted Aug 28, 2007 5:13 AM CDT Copied Houston Astros manager Phil Garner, shown at a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007 in Houston, was fired Monday, Aug. 27, 2007 lessthan two years after leading the team to its first World Series. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (Associated Press) The Astros released manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura yesterday, temporarily replacing them with bench coach Cecil Cooper and the president of operations Tal Smith. The Astros, who have sunk to 58-73 under Garner and Purpura, are tied with Pittsburgh for last place in the National League Central, and owner Drayton McLane says it's "time for a change." Though Purpura has declined to comment, ex-skipper Garner says he wasn't entirely shocked by the news. Garner, however, seems less willing to blame his helmsmanship for the team's fortunes than the vicissitudes of the sport. "Things happen in baseball, and sometimes you never know," he said. Read These Next It started with failure to say 'thank you,' ended with murder. Freak accident kills a woman as she cleans her car. White House isn't happy about the pick for the Nobel Peace Prize. It landed on the 4th try. There wasn't enough fuel for a 5th. Report an error