Ex Packers boss to take over

Cowboys get their man at head coach, hiring Super Bowl winner McCarthy

Cowboys get their man at head coach, hiring Super Bowl winner McCarthy
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Mike McCarthy

The Dallas Cowboys did not act quickly in deciding former head coach Jason Garrett's fate. The decision dragged out for nearly a week after the season.

They did, however, move quickly once the decision to fire Garrett was made.

The Cowboys on Monday named former Packers boss Mike McCarthy to be the new head coach in Dallas.

McCarthy sat out last season after being fired by the Green Bay Packers 12 games into the 2018 season.

Solid track record

In 13 seasons in Green Bay, McCarthy went 125-77-2 in the regular season for a .619 winning percentage. In the playoffs, he was 10-8 and the Packers won the Super Bowl after the 2010 season.

The Packers made the playoffs nine times in his 13 seasons, including three trips to the NFC Championship Game. Interestingly, he had a 7-3 record against the Cowboys.

The negatives

Things did not end well for McCarthy in Green Bay. The Packers went 7-9 in 2017 and were 4-7-1 in 2018 when he was let go with four games remaining in the season. He sparred with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the end of his tenure, and the Packers bounced back to go 13-3 in the year after McCarthy was let go.

An upgrade over Garrett

Still, his numbers tower over Garrett's. The former Cowboys coach was 85-67 over his 10 years in Dallas, making the playoffs just three times and going 2-3 in those appearances, never getting past the divisional round. Garrett had only one losing season, going 4-12 in 2015, but the Cowboys went just 8-8 this season in a year where they were expected to be Super Bowl contenders.

The bottom line

If McCarthy can replicate his successful seasons in Green Bay, Cowboys fans should be thrilled. However, if the Cowboys get the McCarthy who was run out of town after two losing seasons, the hire will be considered a failure. Odds are they will get good McCarthy, as sometimes teams just need a new voice after a long tenure. The Cowboys certainly needed that after 10 years with Garrett.

With McCarthy, they have that new voice. Whether or not it translates to new results remains to be seen, but the Cowboys have their man.

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The Guardian beat the Astros, 7-5. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

José Ramírez and David Fry homered and Brayan Rocchio added a two-run double as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Houston Astros 7-5 on Monday night to snap a 10-game skid.

The victory is Cleveland’s first since June 25th and comes a day after losing to Detroit in 10 innings Sunday.

The score was tied with two outs in the sixth and the Guardians had two on when Rocchio doubled to left field off Steven Okert to put them on top 6-4.

With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Victor Caratini connected off Matt Festa (2-2) on a shot to right field to get Houston within 1.

However, Fry connected with two outs in the ninth to give Cleveland an insurance run.

Emmanuel Clase pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save.

Taylor Trammell added a three-run home run for his first hit this season and Isaac Paredes had a solo shot for the AL West-leading Astros, who lost for just the second time in eight games.

Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee allowed four hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Colton Gordon (3-2) yielded seven hits and five runs in 5 2/3 innings for the Astros.

There were runners on second and third with no outs in the fifth when Steven Kwan lined an RBI single that hit Gordon in the head. The pitcher fell to the ground as his cap flew off but quickly got to his feet. He was checked on by a trainer and threw some warmup pitches before remaining in the game.

Ramírez homered to left field with two outs in the inning to make it 4-0.

Trammell’s shot to the seats in left field cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the inning.

There were two outs in the inning when Paredes smacked his home run off the foul pole in left field to tie it and chase Bibee.

Key moment

Rocchio’s double that gave Cleveland the lead for good.

Key stat

The Guardians won despite going 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Up next

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (9-3, 1.82 ERA) opposes Guardians LHP Joey Cantillo (1-0, 3.41) when the series continues Tuesday night.

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