Dierker Resigns After Five Years With Astros

Larry Dierker resigned as manager of the Houston Astros on Thursday, after leading them to four division titles in five years but losing in the first round of the playoffs each time.

The Astros tied for the National League’s best record, 93-69, and won the National League Central this season before being swept by the Atlanta Braves in their division series.

“We wanted to go further. We wanted to move on,” Dierker said. “But we never did.”

Dierker, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, looked more relaxed than in some of the tense moments during the season and playoffs.

“If you look around the room and all the club officials, you realize I am the only one who is on vacation,” Dierker said.

Dierker said he felt the strain of five years as manager.

“It’s been tough, tougher than I anticipated,” Dierker said. “I understand looking at this from a player’s standpoint. Sometimes, things can get stale. I think I reached that point with this team.”

Houston went 2-12 in the postseason under the former Astro pitcher and broadcaster.

General Manager Gerry Hunsicker said Dierker, who has one year left on his contract, will be offered a position in the team’s front office. Hunsicker said he doesn’t have a list of candidates to replace Dierker.

“He will continue to play an important role with the Houston Astros,” owner Drayton McLane said. “I’d like to thank Larry five years later for taking that bold venture and making it work. It was a major accomplishment.”

Dierker’s strategy was questioned late in the season, when Houston lost 10 of its last 12 games, including the playoffs.

He bristled during the final week of the regular season, when fans at Enron Field booed as the Astros repeatedly walked San Francisco’s Barry Bonds during his pursuit of the single-season home run record.

“I don’t think they are fans of ours if they do that,” Dierker said at the time.

After Game 1 of the playoff series against Atlanta, Dierker snapped at questions about bringing reliever Mike Jackson into the game in the eighth inning instead of usual setup man Octavio Dotel. The Braves hit Jackson hard and won, 7-4.

“I was probably too outspoken,” Dierker said Thursday. “I don’t mean by verbally yelling but in the sense that when you guys asked a question, I gave you the whole answer. I didn’t leave anything unsaid. I probably should have. Sometimes you caught me when I was mad. But I don’t regret it.”

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Kansas City Royal catcher Brent Mayne signed a two-year contract that guarantees him $5.5 million.

Mayne, a former Cal State Fullerton standout, gets $2.5 million next season and $2.75 million in 2003 under the deal.

Mayne rejoined the Royals last June in a trade with the Colorado Rockies. He was a first-round draft pick by the Royals in 1989 and played for the team from 1990-95 before being traded to the New York Mets.

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Keli McGregor, an eight-year veteran of the Colorado Rockies’ front office, was chosen to succeed Jerry McMorris as team president.

McMorris, one of the Rockies’ principal owners, will continue in his role as chairman.

In his new position, McGregor, 39, who played in the NFL, will oversee both the baseball and business operations of the club.