Random reactions, comments and notes on the hiring of Brad Mills as Astros Manager.
Terry Francona on Brad Mills and his new role with the Astros (from Amalie Benjamin at the Boston Globe):
“He’s wanted this. I’m so proud, not just of him, but for him. He’s not going to shortchange anybody on effort. He embodies so much of what’s good in our game. I’m so happy for him. This meant a lot to him, as it should. I’m so thrilled for him. How much we’re going to miss him, sure, but it’s so far outweighed by happiness.”
“Attack is a good word,” of how Mills will take on his new role. “He’s got a lot of skills that are going to help make him a successful manager. He understands communication. He respects the players. I think he’ll make the players be accountable, all the things we’ve talked about for six years in Boston. He’s a smart baseball person and he’s a very good person. That’s a pretty good combination.
“We’ve been friends for 30 years. You can’t replace that. He got his chance to do his own thing. We’re so happy for him, but replacing him won’t be easy, that’s a given.”
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More from Francona on Mills (from Ian Brown at MLB.com):
“I’m proud for him. He’s one of my best friends, not just in the game but in life. We’ve been together for 30 years. It’s a little bit bittersweet, because it’s our loss, [but] their gain far outweighs how I feel about losing him.”
On whether Mills is ready to step up to the next level:
“I think he’s ready. He’s been ready. That’s subjective, but he’s been working his whole life toward this. When he was second in charge, he did a great job. Now he’s going to be making the decisions, and he’ll do a great job. You can’t find a better guy. He deserves this opportunity. Again, I hope he takes it and runs with it. I’m thrilled for him.”
On not having Mills by his side in Spring Training next year:
“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.”
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Tim Bogar on the Mills hiring (via Tag’s Lines):
“He’s put in his time and diligence in being a bench coach for [Francona] for a long time and learned quite a bit from him and also his time with the Expos and all the way back to Philly. If there’s one guy who deserves a chance to run a team, it’s Brad Mills. Having a chance to run the Astros is going to be perfect for him. Not only is he a capable manager, but also one of the best teachers I’ve been around.
“With the [Astros’] situation on the left side of the infield and the catching situation [and playing youngsters], he’s going to be perfect for those young players. Being in Boston and being round veteran players, he knows how to handle them and knows how to do things to compete and he obviously understands the pitching aspect of it.
“I think they made a great hire, and Brad is going to be everything everyone is looking for as a manager. He may not be a huge name, but you can’t ask for a better quality individual.”
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Footer chimes in with the skinny on Mills from Friend No. 1 and Friend No. 2 (Alyson’s Footnotes)
“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.”
A couple of things stood out to Footer from the 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.
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Astros players and a coach on having Mills as their new manager (by McTaggart at Astros.com):
Lance Berkman
“Certainly I’d love to get together with him before we get started at some point to meet him and talk to him and see kind of what he’s all about and that sort of thing,” Berkman said. “It’s weird because at least with the other managers we’ve had, going into the season we knew a little bit about him. He’s kind of an unknown to me, but I’m looking forward to getting to know him. I’ve heard great things.”
Hunter Pence:
“I’m excited to look at the next chapter of the Astros and our season and hopefully we get moving in right direction.”
“We all have to get to know each other and really get on the same page and get started winning and get a winning attitude and mentality,” Pence said. “It’s the first time since I’ve been here a manager has come in from outside the organization, so I’m just looking forward to seeing what he’s going on.
“[General manager] Ed Wade and [owner] Drayton [McLane] and all the Astros management believe in this guy. He must have something going on and he was with a winning ballclub in Boston. It’s exciting to have a leader like that.”
Sean Berry:
One person that does know Mills well is Astros hitting coach Sean Berry, who lives relatively close to Mills in central California. “He’s got everything you need to be a successful manager and bringing those intangibles and that experience from Boston, that should really help him,”
Bud Norris:
Astros pitcher Bud Norris played with Mills’ son, Beau, in the Arizona Fall League and against him in college. Norris, who’s one of the young players Mills will have to rely on in years to come, listened to the press conference to announce Mills’ hiring and was thrilled with what heard.
“He had a good demeanor and good approach,” Norris said. “It’s good to hear him say the fact he appreciates the veteran guys and he’s going to push them and it sounds great because I know he’s going to push me, too, and I liked to be pushed. If we can fill in those last pieces in the lineup card, we should have a good outlook for next year.”
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