HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros fired manager Bo Porter on Monday, saying the dismissal had less to do with the teams 59-79 record than the need for "new direction" and a "united message throughout the entire organization. Alex Gordon Jersey ." Porter was in his second season with the Astros and was succeeded by interim manager Tom Lawless, who worked in Houstons minor league system. Lawless first game in charge is Tuesday night at home against the first-place Los Angeles Angels. Bench coach Dave Trembley also was let go. Porter joined the Astros after working as a third-base coach for the Washington Nationals. The Astros went a franchise-worst 51-111 in his first season for their third straight 100-loss season. General manager Jeff Luhnow said the decision was not based on "our current level of competitiveness." The Astros entered Monday in fourth place in the AL West with the second-worst record in the league. "I recognize that our win-loss record is largely a product of an organizational strategy for which I am responsible," Luhnow said in a statement. "Rather, I made this decision because I believe we need a new direction in our clubhouse." Luhnow refused repeatedly to get into more detail about why Porter was let go as he fielded questions for almost 25 minutes on Monday afternoon. He did say that he had been mulling the move for a few weeks and that he made the final decision on Sunday. "Once you make a decision it is in everyones best interest to move it along," he said. "Its easier to wait until the end of the season in some respects, but its not fair to Bo and its not fair to us." Owner Jim Crane said the firing was "not an easy decision to make." It comes following recent reports citing sources who said Luhnow and Porter were not getting along. Luhnow wouldnt address those rumours other than to say that there were "numerous inaccuracies" in the reports. Porter issued a statement Monday afternoon. "During my time in Houston I dedicated myself to do everything I could to help this organization win, in the short-term and for the long-term," he said in the statement. "I am proud of what we were able to accomplish in Houston with an organization in transition. Im gratified we were able to bring some excitement to this city as a result of our improvement from 2013 to 2014." Starting pitcher Scott Feldman lamented Porters firing and noted the care and concern he showed when Feldmans father died earlier this season. He said he spoke to Porter on Monday and thanked him for the way he treated him throughout the season and particularly in that difficult time. "I hope he realizes that he was doing as well as he could given the circumstances," Feldman said. "Its tough to see, but Bos a strong guy and Im sure hell be back on his feet and back in the game whenever he wants to be." Whoever is hired as full-time manager will be the teams fourth since 2007, not including those who held the job on an interim basis. Luhnow said they hope to hire someone quickly. "What we will seek going forward is a consistent and united message throughout the entire organization," Luhnow said. "It is essential that as an organization we create an atmosphere at the major league level where our young players can come up and continue to develop and succeed. "Ultimately, I am responsible for creating that culture, and I will do everything in my power to do so -- even when it means making difficult moves like the one we made today." Porter was the first managerial hiring in Luhnows tenure, and he was unhappy it didnt work out. "It is a disappointment in that any time you bring in a new leader of any department ... you hope that the individual is going to be there for the long haul," he said. "In no way did we intend to hire someone for a short-term (transitional) period. As we look forward to the next hire, were looking for someone for the long haul." He said many people will help in the hunt for a new manager and noted that Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who re-joined the team in February as a special assistant following a stint with the Rangers, will be among them. The firing is the latest development in months of trouble surrounding the Astros that includes being the victim of hackers who accessed teams servers and published months of internal trade talks on the Internet, and failing to reach a deal with No. 1 overall draft pick Brady Aiken. "Its been a challenging summer for me personally and for us as the Astros organization," Luhnow said. "A lot of things happened not the way we scripted them to happen and weve had to react. Thats part of the job." Lawless was the interim manager at Triple-A Oklahoma City this season when manager Tony DeFrancesco was on medical leave. Adam Everett, who was also working in the minors, will replace Trembley as bench coach. Mike Moustakas Jersey .com) - The Oakland Athletics needed to rely on a lot of young pitchers to win an American League West title this season. Trevor Cahill Jersey . As if the individual strands of grey hair or the increasing amount of joint pain werent reminders enough, the impending end of Jeters career is a slap-in-the-face indicator of a generations fleeting youth. http://www.royalsteamproshop.com/Royals-Brian-Flynn-Kids-Jersey/ . -- Fantasy football owners and Denver Broncos fans can rest easy: Peyton Manning is back.Hes the fourth-ranked prospect for this years CFL draft but Jim Barker firmly believes Tyler Vargas football future lies south of the border.Varga, from Kitchener, Ont., ran for 31 yards and two TDs on four carries and added three catches for 39 yards in leading the North to a 34-13 win over the South in last weekends Senior Bowl at Mobile, Ala. That performance, combined with Vargas solid showing during the week of practice, further solidified Barkers belief the Yale running back will draw serious NFL consideration during its draft in April.He certainly didnt hurt himself (for the NFL draft), Barker said. The thing about Varga is hes a very good running back but he can do so many more things like catch, block and play special teams.Hes got a lot of versatility and I certainly think thats something people down there will notice and like about him.Varga practised at both fullback and tailback in Mobile. Bleacher Report, an American digital media company, listed the five-foot-11 224-pound Varga as one of its big winners from the Senior Bowl.He is one player who certainly made the most of every opportunity by showing he could deliver key blocks, catch the football and break tackles against NFL prospects, it said. In short, this kid flashed the versatility and toughness that generally will make an NFL roster as member of the special teams.Varga enjoyed a stellar senior season at Yale (8-2) with 1,423 yards rushing and a school-record 26 TDs. Twice he had five touchdowns in a game — inncluding the winning three-yard score in a 49-43 overtime win over Army — and ran for a season-high 204 yards and two TDs in a 45-42 victory over Brown. Paulo Orlando Jersey. That secured Varga the Bushnell Cup as the Ivy Leagues offensive player of the year and a first-team all-star nod. He also received second- and third-team All-American honours from The Sports Network and Beyond Sports Network respectively.Also of note, Varga had no fumbles among his 245 touches this season.Varga is also coveted by the CFL. The leagues scouting bureau ranked Varga fourth among the top 15 prospects for this years draft and the first skill-position player after offensive linemen Brett Boyko (UNLV) and Alex Mateas (UConn) and defensive lineman Daryl Waud (Western).That would make Varga a bona fide first-round prospect in Canada. However, if hes taken in the NFL draft or signed as an undrafted free agent, hed almost certainly fall from the first round as CFL officials looked at him as more of a future selection whod come north after an NFL tryout or tenure.Vargas NFL odyssey continues next month when he participates in the leagues annual combine in Indianapolis, which will attract over 300 of the top U.S. college prospects.Notes: Receiver John Chiles, who was scheduled to become a free agent Feb. 10, was released Tuesday by the Argos. Shortly afterwards, the Chicago Bears announced theyd signed Chiles. He spent two seasons with Toronto, registering 73 receptions for 1,200 yards and nine TDs. Cheap Hockey Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Avalanche Jerseys Cheap Hockey Stars Jerseys Cheap Hockey Wild Jerseys Cheap Hockey Predators Jerseys Cheap Hockey Blues Jerseys Cheap Hockey Jets Jerseys Cheap Hockey Ducks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Hockey Flames Jerseys Cheap Hockey Oilers Jerseys Cheap Hockey Kings Jerseys Cheap Hockey Sharks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Canucks Jerseys Cheap Hockey Golden Knights Jerseys Hockey Team Canada Jerseys ' ' '