Former Rangers manager Jeff Banister could be returning to a dugout in Texas. The Astros will interview Banister for their managerial vacancy this week, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports.
Houston represents familiar stomping grounds for the 56-year-old Banister, who attended the University of Houston. More recently, he managed the Rangers to a 325-313 record with two AL West championships and a pair of playoff berths from 2015-18. The Rangers went in another direction during the last of those seasons, in which they struggled to a 64-88 mark on Banister’s watch. But Banister stayed in the majors last year as a special assistant in Pittsburgh’s front office.
For the Astros, who have moved quickly to replace the fired A.J. Hinch, Banister’s the latest experienced manager to garner interest from the club. The Astros have already interviewed or will meet with Buck Showalter, Dusty Baker and John Gibbons. Cubs third base coach Will Venable and broadcaster Eduardo Perez have also drawn their attention.
puhl
Excuse me while I puke.
Please, hire anyone but Bannister.
VegasSDfan
Anyone? How about Arod.
2weeks
how about jason garrett
8
Perfect fit
All American Johnsonville Dogs
Astros should hire a brand new coach but a former catcher.
AJ Pierszynski, Mike Piazza, Pudge Rodriguez (former rangers player), Charles Johnson, Joe Mauer, Jason Veritek, Bengie Molina
My vote would be for Pudge, Veritek, or Molina
lfcredsox
why?
DarkSide830
thats exactly what they shouldn’t do right now.
jbigz12
Jesus Christ I’m Assuming you have no clue who AJ pierzynski is or you’re an excellent troll. If it’s the latter, I commend your performance
User 1104686089
Haha Pudge isn’t going to coach in Houston. If he was interested in managing he would already be a bench coach for Woody in Arlington!
cleve1969
Brad Asmus …
victorg
Ditto on Brad Asmus … and or Bring on Biggio or Spears.
axisofhonor25
Yeah baby. I liked this guy during his tenure in Arlington. Entertaining tirades as well. He will help them keep on track.
sippycups
This guy is the equivalent (if not worse) of “the clap” that was the HC of the cowboys for the past decade. PLEASE, hire him in Houston. We in Dallas will thank you for that just as much as we thank the Giants for hiring “the clap”
bobtillman
Well, you’re right about the Gints hiring “the clap”. I would think the LAST thing you want to do is saddle a new, young HC with is an OC who probably lusts for the job himself. So you hire the kid, and hire his replacement at the same time. Dumb. And it ain’t like Garett showed any imagination running an offense that had the talent to do some outside-the-box things. They were dull, with a team that should have been anything but.
I’m not sure Bannister fits that mold; he’s supposed to be very bright. And the FO experience doesn’t hurt. His failures in Texas at the end are pretty easily explained by the talent level.
CursedRangers
Agree with everything, except Banny’s
Failures were also due to his communication style. Or lack thereof…
ES00018
Great choice for the Astros I hope they get him , great guy great leader. Plus he’s not putting up with any BS. He was let go way to soon by the Rangers!!
jbigz12
I think Banister makes some sense. He has some FO experience. He’s open to the analytical side of things. AJ Hinch was a big fat flop his first go around in Arizona. Compared to that, Banister’s resume isn’t so bad. Plenty of guys have done much better the 2nd time around.
bigdonkey44adam_dunn
Bannister would be a great hire, hope it happens!
Jim Carter
The headline worried me, but I was ultimately satisfied. As I called it earlier, the comment on top for every potential Astros hire is negative. The other commonality is the absence of a preferred candidate.
charles stevens
Banny has a hot daughter with a provocative twitter account. That’s worth a hire if you ask me.
snotrocket
Confirmed. Smoke show.
Painful itch
As a Ranger fan that actually watched and attended games, I hated losing this guy. He overachieved with the pitching he had to work with. Class guy and I’d really hate to see him hired in division. Good for him
southern lion
Just hire someone and let’s move on, please!
coldgoldenfalstaff
As much as Astros fans loathe Banister for his time with the Rangers and the manager of the year that should have gone to Hinch, look at the other names.
Banister is a good manager and he’s good with analytics, pitchers and younger players.
Which is more than I can say for all the rest of the old boy game manager retreads foisted on Crane.
I’d prefer Espada as manager, and wouldn’t mind Venable or Ibañez, as a younger up and coming analytics-friendly secondary group.
But Banister is by far better than Baker, Gibbons, Showalter or whatever aging old boy has-been they pull in next.
victorg
i dont think that young up and comer equals Analytics.
thomasg2018
Crane will hire whoever MLB tells him to.
charles stevens
Is that you Shippy?
lsujedi
What’s Woody Williams doing these days?
number1dodger
I just heard Houston may loose their 2017 World Series title. Along with Boston to the dodgers.