Astros shake up coaching staff for 2008

[KFDM COOP]

Astros shake up coaching staff for 2008

Third-base coach Mansolino not returning

The Astros shook up their coaching staff today, announcing pitching coach Dave Wallace and third base coach Doug Mansolino would not be returning next season. Also, senior director of player personnel and scouting Paul Ricciarini will assume different responsibilities in the organization.

Jackie Moore, who spent this year at the manager at Class AAA Round Rock, will join manager Cecil Cooper's major league staff as bench coach, and director of pitching development Dewey Robinson will replace Wallace as pitching coach. Wallace has decided not to return for a second year because of family reaons, but could stay in the organization.

Jose Cruz, who moved to bench coach from first base coach when Cooper took over for Phil Garner on Aug. 27, will return to first base coach next year. Also returning are hitting coach Sean Berry and bullpen coach Mark Bailey, who served as first base coach the final month of the season.

Moore, who just completed his 51st year in baseball, has been the manager at Round Rock since 2000, which has been the Astros' Class AAA affiliate the past three years. He attended Belliare High School and spent three seasons as the manager of hte Oakland A's.

Moore has also served as bench coach for Colorado (1996-98) and coached at the big league level with Milwaukee (1970-72), Texas (1973-76, 1980, 1993-94), Toronto (1977-79), Montreal (1987-89) and Cincinnati (1990-92), where he won a World Series ring.

Robinson served the past two seasons as director of pitching development after spending three previous nine years as the team's minor league pitching coordinator. He previously coached 10 years in the White Sox organization, including two years as the bullpen coach.

The Astros will begin a search for a new third base

[WHBaseball14]

That would b neat if they got bagwell or biggio to coach 3rd because of their baserunning skills