Bowa confirms managerial interview with Astros

ST. LOUIS -- Larry Bowa, who was in Houston on Friday to talk with the Astros on what general manager Jeff Luhnow called "baseball-related matters," confirmed on Monday in an interview with SiriusXM's Mad Dog Radio that he did, indeed, interview for the vacant managerial position.

Bowa, a longtime Major League player, manager and coach, is one of four known candidates to have interviewed with Luhnow, owner Jim Crane and team president George Postolos for the position, joining Nationals third-base coach Bo Porter, Rays bench coach Dave Martinez and Astros interim manager Tony DeFrancesco.

In a radio interview with host Chris Russo, Bowa said that Luhnow reached out to him.

"It was a good interview," Bowa said. "It depends on what they're going to do, and it depends on what I'm going to do. I like what I'm doing now. There's no stress involved. You don't have to worry about winning and losing. So we'll see. It was a good conversation."

Bowa, 66, has been a studio analyst for MLB Network since early 2011. He managed the Padres in 1987 and 1988 and the Phillies from 2001 to 2004. He also served as a coach with the Phillies, Angels, Mariners, Yankees and Dodgers.

The Astros, who are rebuilding and are one win shy of their second consecutive 100-loss season, would be a good challenge, Bowa said.

"It's a young team," he said. "[Luhnow] brought up my record when I took over the Phillies. It was a young team, and we did pretty good. So we'll see what happens."

Since taking over as GM last December, Luhnow has surrounded himself with analytical minds, which makes Bowa an unusual fit, but Bowa's decades of experience in the dugout could be just what the Astros need.

Bowa told Luhnow that while sabermetrics are good, the human element is vital.

"He agreed," Bowa said. "He says, 'You know, we are very flexible. We watch a lot of stuff.' And, like I said, I take all those numbers and look at them, and there's some that you just, you know, you use, and it's very beneficial to you. And there's others ... You can't measure a guy's heart.

"When you go out to the mound to make a pitching change and you look into a guy's eyes, that tells you a lot, as opposed to, sometimes, numbers. But they have a very good front office in line right now. I do think that team's going to be pretty good in about three or four years."

Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reported that Red Sox bench coach Tim Bogar could also be on the Astros' radar. Bogar interviewed for the position prior to then-Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills getting the job prior to the 2010 season. Bogar, who played for the Astros, remained on Bobby Valentine's staff after Terry Francona left Boston.