MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Two years ago http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-colin-moran-jersey , the Minnesota Twins made Derek Falvey their chief baseball officer with the precondition that Paul Molitor remain as manager.Molitor presided over a playoff team and won the American League Manager of the Year award in 2017, but the Twins slipped backward this season. Last week, Falvey and general manager Thad Levine decided the time was right to hire their own manager.Citing pursuit of more productive development by their younger players, Falvey and Levine fired Molitor on Tuesday while offering him an opportunity to remain with the organization in an undefined position in baseball operations.“This wasn’t about our record this year. This is about what we think is best as we continue to grow a young team in the direction toward being a championship contender,” Falvey said.Falvey and other club executives expressed confidence that Molitor would stay with the Twins beyond the 20 years he has already worked for them in various roles, including the final three seasons of his Hall of Fame playing career.“I fully respect that decision,” Molitor said in a statement distributed by the team. “I will forever be grateful for the opportunity they gave me to serve in the role as manager for these past four years. I’m going to consider their genuine offer to serve in a different capacity to positively impact the Twins from a different role.”The Twins went 305-343 under the 62-year-old Molitor, with one appearance in the playoffs in 2017. They were 78-84 this year, long out of postseason contention after a series of early setbacks to several key players.Falvey and Levine, in a news conference at Target Field to announce the change, didn’t articulate specific reasons for firing Molitor or desired qualities they’re seeking with his replacement. The 20-minute session with reporters was largely filled with praise of Molitor’s acumen and attitude, including a willingness to employ data-driven, new-age strategy like defensive shifts and starting a game with a relief pitcher.With a backdrop of the struggles this year by center fielder Byron Buxton and third baseman Miguel Sano, the players long targeted as franchise cornerstones, the Twins have a need for new approaches and voices for their prospects that stretches beyond the main man in the dugout, however. Soon after Molitor was dismissed from his post David Freese Jersey , the Twins announced the firing of seven minor-league coaches and two strength and conditioning coaches from the major league staff.“In conversation with Paul last year at that time, we did look at what the future could look like if he wasn’t managing,” Falvey said. “It’s never the right time to make a difficult decision, and it’s never easy. You have to weigh all the factors that we learned about this team this year, where we are and what need to do moving forward. We felt like now was the time to have that conversation with Paul.”After the Twins went 85-77 and reached the wild-card game last season, Molitor was given a new three-year contract. Before Minnesota edged into the postseason, there was buzz that Molitor might’ve been let got at the end of last season.“I don’t really think that that was a huge roadblock to them,” Pohlad said. “I mean, everybody wanted the situation to work out, and I did too, because Paul’s a personal friend and he’s done so much for our organization and is so important to our community. So I feel good about that decision.”Executives often prefer to pick their own managers, though, and Falvey and Levine will now undertake that task. They’re willing to wait until after the World Series to decide, they said, in case a candidate is still participating.“This is an eye toward the future,” team president Dave St. Peter said. “What puts us in the best position to dig out of this hole that we’re in?”The Twins acquired relievers Fernando Rodney Tyler Glasnow Jersey , Addison Reed and Zach Duke, starting pitchers Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi and designated hitter Logan Morrison over the winter, but Rodney and Duke were the only additions who couldn’t be considered disappointments on the field.Shortstop Jorge Polanco was hit with an 80-game suspension to start the season for a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance, and starting pitcher Ervin Santana’s recovery from surgery on his middle finger was painfully slow. Catcher Jason Castro suffered a season-ending knee injury. Second baseman Brian Dozier labored through the summer with substandard production. Rodney, Duke, Lynn and Dozier, along with shortstop Eduardo Escobar and relief pitcher Ryan Pressly, were all traded to contenders in July and August.Molitor, who spent the final three seasons of his Hall of Fame playing career with his hometown team, held several roles within the organization before he was named the 13th manager of the Twins for 2015.Molitor was a roving minor league instructor, focusing on baserunning and infielding, from 2003 through 2013 with a one-year stint as hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners in between. He was bench coach for the Twins under manager Tom Kelly in 2000 and 2001 and then an assistant coach under manager Ron Gardenhire in 2014 with emphases on baserunning, bunting, infielding and in-game strategy.“What we’re aspirational of controlling is identifying that young core of players we’ve talked about for years, in this community, and applying ourselves this offseason to try to have those guys collectively take a step forward http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-adam-frazier-jersey ,” Levine said. “And I think if we do that, the wins and losses will probably take care of themselves, and the gap we see right now between ourselves and the Cleveland Indians will start closing pretty rapidly.” HOUSTON (AP) — One night after misplaying a fly ball that led to a six-run inning by the Astros, Nick Martini quickly got over his miscue and came up with another big hit against Houston.Martini hit a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning and the Oakland Athletics defeated Houston 4-3 Tuesday night, snapping the Astros’ six-game winning streak.The A’s moved within 1 ½ games of the AL West-leading Astros.“That’s a great team win,” Edwin Jackson said. “It’s a big win for us. It’s no secret we needed to come out today and get a win after (Monday’s) game.”Ramon Laureano drew a one-out walk from Roberto Osuna (1-2), Jonathan Lucroy singled and Martini followed with his double.“My mindset was hopefully he tried to get ahead with something early,” Martini said. “I didn’t want to fall behind. I was fortunate he put one in the zone, and I put a good swing on it.”Osuna said he was trying to go up and in but he missed down the middle. He was most disappointed in the walk to Laureano.“That never happened in the past, to walk a guy with four straight balls like that,” Osuna said.Martini misplayed a fly ball by Josh Reddick and then overthrew second in the eighth inning of Monday’s 11-4 win by the Astros.“Like I said yesterday, just get over it pretty quick,” Martini said. “You know what happened. I can’t change it. I wish I would have made that play, but I think that will happen a lot less than it will actually happen. I forgot about it today and came to the park and just tried to have a good approach.”Martini also hit a tying RBI double in the ninth against Houston on Aug. 17.“He’s come up with some big hits for us,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “And beat the shift — he did it last time here, too. Hit a ball to center field like that. He’s got a pretty good idea at times when he needs to start his bat a little bit earlier.”Jeurys Familia (8-4) pitched a scoreless eighth. Blake Treinen worked a perfect ninth for his 33rd save. Oakland’s bullpen threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings.“Their backend is as good as anybody’s Chad Kuhl Jersey ,” Houston manager AJ Hinch said. “They get the lead, they come in and they’re tough to hit, which is one way they win. They don’t win if they don’t score. Three of their four runs were either walk or hit by pitch, so they took advantage of their opportunities.”Alex Bregman’s two-out, two-run double in the Houston fifth off Edwin Jackson made it 3-all.Matt Olson hit a three-run homer that gave Oakland a 3-1 lead in the third. Charlie Morton walked Jed Lowrie and hit Khris Davis with two outs before Olson’s 24th home run of the season.Houston took a 1-0 lead in the second on a groundout by Tyler White, scoring Carlos Correa.Morton allowed three runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.Jackson gave up two earned runs and four hits with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.SPRING IN HIS STEPAstros CF George Springer made two diving catches in the first three innings. He sprinted in on Davis’ shallow pop fly, diving forward to make the catch and end the first. In the third, Springer rushed to his right, diving into the left-center gap to rob Martini of extra bases.TRAINER’S ROOMAthletics: LHP Sean Manaea was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis, and Melvin said Manaea would not throw for “a while.” Melvin said: “We’re hoping to get him back sometime this season. … Whether that happens or not, I’m not sure.” … LHP Brett Anderson was placed on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained left forearm. Oakland recalled RHP Ryan Dull from Triple-A Nashville.Astros: C Brian McCann (right knee) took batting practice before Tuesday’s game. The team is leaning toward waiting until Saturday to activate him.UP NEXTAthletics: RHP Trevor Cahill (5-3, 3.44 ERA) will start the series finale Wednesday, looking to rebound after allowing five runs in five innings in his last outing, a loss at the Twins on Thursday. Cahill is 1-3 with a 6.92 ERA on the road this season.Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (10-10, 3.54) starts Wednesday seeking his second straight win after allowing two runs over seven innings in his last start Friday at the Angels.