Exclusive Q&A with new Astros GM Brown

HOUSTON — Dana Brown was employed because the Astros’ common supervisor three weeks in the past, and he has since been on a crash course to stand up to hurry on the group, the roster and the ins and outs of Houston. He’ll depart for West Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday for the beginning of Spring Training, the place the crash course will proceed beneath the Florida solar.

Brown was capable of take a while lately and reply some questions on his new job and his new residence in Houston with MLB.com:

MLB.com: It’s been a few weeks since you’ve got been employed. What’s it been like getting up to the mark on the job?

Brown: Getting in right here, I wished to make it possible for I’ve met with all the division heads within the entrance workplace and a number of the different staff and a number of the folks within the [Astros] Foundation, a number of the folks in advertising and marketing. Just attending to know a lot of the staff right here, and naturally I’ve had a number of conversations with [manager] Dusty [Baker] and some with the coach, director of journey. So simply getting used to speaking to a whole lot of the workers right here and simply attempting to get to know them.

MLB.com: What have you ever discovered in regards to the staff up to now and what’s been your No. 1 query once you sit down with these division heads that you just wish to discover out?

Brown: Yeah, so it has been nice, simply going over the staff. In reality, we had a 40-man roster assembly [Monday]. And I do know the gamers as a result of we performed towards [the Astros], but it surely’s completely different once you play a fast collection versus a complete lengthy 12 months. So, you are attempting to get to know the gamers, the place your depth is, you wish to know the place your potential holes could also be, the place their publicity is. You wish to get to know [which players] are you able to prolong long run and people sorts of issues. So, you understand, it is the entire managing of the roster that you just set your sights on.

MLB.com: You talked about some attainable contract extensions with some gamers. Obviously, Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier are on the prime of that record for the Astros. Where do you stand with that? Are these conversations which have already began?

Brown: We’ve began. Tucker, we have been in dialog. Some of the stuff was began previous to me coming. We had some talks with Tucker, in fact, as a result of it is arising on the arbitration listening to, and Javier, he is additionally arising on the arb listening to. … We’ve been in touch with a number of the brokers to get some thought course of.

MLB.com: You waited a very long time to be a GM and now you’ve bought the keys — what adjustments do you wish to make now that you just’re in cost?

Brown: Well, the troublesome half proper now’s the timing of the rent so near Spring Training. The beginner workers has already began scouting, the participant growth workers will probably be in camp shortly, the large league staff will probably be in camp. So it is most likely troublesome to make a lot changes. If there’s a possibility to possibly add anyone, we are going to add anyone. But on the finish of the day, it is a whole lot of stuff that is been in movement previous to me getting right here, and you are taking over a World Series champion. And so that you wish to are available in and possibly assess the place a little bit bit, after which begin to consider the place you wish to make a number of the changes and incorporate a few of my expertise and thought course of as we transfer ahead.

MLB.com: I’m certain you’ve got been to Houston a number of instances. What’s your opinion of town? And how a lot are you wanting ahead to getting round city a little bit bit, attending to realize it higher?

Brown: Well, it is humorous, I’ve at all times preferred Houston as a result of I’m a worldwide service member with United, so every time I’d fly to Houston, it was fairly enjoyable. So I used to be like, “OK, I’m going to Houston. This is great.” But I’ve gotten to know the city a little bit bit. I’ve gotten to a number of the higher eating places. Me and [Seton Hall teammate Craig] Biggio went and had dinner the opposite night time. We caught up and we talked rather a lot in regards to the Major League staff and a number of the imaginative and prescient of constant the profitable custom. So I’ve gotten to a number of the eating places, a number of the higher tremendous eating.