Astros' manager-elect still coaching third for Nationals

Like a lot of Americans in a tough economy, Bo Porter has two jobs.

Porter is the Washington Nationals' third base coach and the Houston Astros' manager.

The Astros hired Porter to replace Brad Mills on Sept. 27 on their way to finishing with the worst record in the major leagues for the second season in a row at 55-107. They were 56-106 in 2011.

Porter says there is no conflict of interest. He is putting all his energies into his job with the Nationals as they are playing the St. Louis Cardinals in a National League Division Series after winning the NL East and posting a 98-64 record in the regular season that was the best in the major leagues.

Porter is so serious about his Nationals duties that he didn't even fly to Houston for an introductory press conference. Instead, he talked with the media on a conference call.

"I'm excited as I can be about becoming the Astros' manager but it's like I told the media the day I was hired -- I'm not going to talk about the Astros' situation until the Washington Nationals are finished playing, which I hope isn't until after we win the last game of the World Series," Porter said. "It wouldn't be fair, otherwise."

Porter does allow that watching the Nationals go from losing 102 games in 2008 and 103 games in 2009 to the postseason in 2012 gives him a good feeling that the Astros can duplicate that same type of climb.

"It makes me that much more excited about the challenge ahead of us," Porter said.