Greg Rajan, friend of Astros County, and Hooks' beat writer for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, had this to say for AC on the dismissal of Hooks manager Luis Pujols:
I'm really not surprised by the news. In Double-A, managers really don't stick around for longer than two or three years, as organizations move guys around, some more than others. Having Dave Clark here for three seasons was atypical, and Pujols' two years falls in line with most tenures. I think Pujols was ripped unfairly at times, because when it's all said and done, a manager is really only as good as the players you give him. The 2008-09 Hooks just did not have that much of a talent base in comparison to other teams in the Texas League.
To me, the biggest thing about Wes Clements' hiring is it shows that the core of Corpus Christi's 2010 team will be from Lancaster. Given the aggressive player-development approach Ed Wade promised when he took over, the move makes sense. Clements is familiar with these players and his presence should make their transition from high-A easier.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
