Purpura is looking for a coach with lots of major league experience,
but he also wants a Ronald Reagan clone, a great communicator .
Someone that can relate to the veterans and the young pitchers.

"On a pitching staff you have many different personalities and you really
can't handle any two players the same way" ,Purpura told me .
"Being able to communicate is the key to being a good pitching coach."

Basically, the pitching coach has to be a politician. He has to find that key ingredient
that allows a player to get it , to understand what he's trying to relay.

The Astros will have someone in place soon, and the real work with the staff
will start with Nolan Ryan's pitching camp in late January .