Astros Close To Hiring New GM

The Astros search for a replacement for Tim Purpura may be coming to an end. The baseball world is atwitter with reports that the new GM will be selected as soon as today. After interviewing eleven different candidates, owner Drayton McLane and team president/acting GM Tal Smith (pictured, on left) have narrowed the field and will be making an announcement some time this week.

The leading candidate right now is Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro, Jr., who is a protege of Smith's. Amaro's former boss in Philadelphia, Ed Wade is also still in the running and there are further rumors that both Amaro and Wade might be hired, with Wade taking a senior adviser position to complement Amaro in the GM chair. Jim Beattie is also still in the running, but the smart money is on one of the Phillie alumni as the new guy.

The new GM will be tasked with rebuilding a depleted farm system while also keeping the 'stros competitive in the rough and tumble NL Central. All this will have to be done on McLane's budget, which consists of $50 and a bundle of expired TGI Friday's coupons. Good luck to all the candidates, and remember: everyone here is a winner! Except the losers. And Miss South Carolina.