Rangers Fire Showalter as Manager

Buck Showalter was fired as manager of the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, ending four seasons in which he was never able to get a team with several young All-Stars above third place in the AL West.

Texas was 80-82 this season, its sixth losing record in seven years since making the playoffs in 1999. Showalter was 319-329 with the Rangers, his third managerial job, and still had three seasons left on his contract.

“You never heard me make an excuse all year, and I’m not going to start now. We just didn’t get it done,” Showalter said. “They want to go in a new direction with a new voice. With the shelf life of managers, I feel fortunate.”

Showalter was the AL manager of the year only two years ago, when AL MVP Alex Rodriguez was traded in the spring and the Rangers went on to contend for a playoff spot until the final few games of the season.

“Buck has been a tremendous asset to this organization,” General Manager Jon Daniels said. “He worked hard both on and off the field with the best interests of the Rangers in mind. However, we thought it best at this time for a fresh perspective.”

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The Houston Astros extended manager Phil Garner’s contract through 2008 and fired pitching coach Jim Hickey.

The Astros retained bullpen coach Mark Bailey, hitting coach Sean Berry, bench coach Cecil Cooper, first base coach Jose Cruz and third base coach Doug Mansolino.

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Barry Bonds had surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow, which caused the San Francisco slugger pain and swelling throughout this season. Bonds, who had the operation Monday, said he expects to resume his off-season workout regimen later this month.

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Philadelphia catcher Mike Lieberthal had surgery on an injured stomach muscle. Rehabilitation should take six weeks.