The Houston Astros have fired manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura less than two years after the two were responsible for guiding the team to its only World Series appearance.
The team announced the moves at a Monday afternoon press conference, naming Cecil Cooper as interim manager and Tal Smith as interim GM.
Garner took over as Astros manager on July 14, 2004 and posted a record of 277-252, but the club was floundering in fifth place in the NL Central this year with a mark of 58-73.
As interim skipper in 2004, Garner guided the team to the NLCS, a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. After being named full-time manager on November 2, 2004 -- a day after Purpura was named GM -- Garner led the club to its first-ever National League pennant in 2005.
The Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series, then finished in second place in 2006 with 82-80 record as a late-season rally for a playoff spot came up just short.
Garner, who played with the Astros from 1981-87, has also managed the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. He has a career managerial record of 985-1,054.
Purpura was in his 14th year with the Astros. Prior to taking over the GM role in November 2004, he was the club's assistant general manager and also directed the team's player development system.
Cooper was in his first season as the Astros' bench coach after spending two years managing at Triple-A Indianapolis of the International League. He had a record of 130-156 with Indianapolis.
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