Quick decision on Cooper

New Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade plans to make a quick decision on the future of interim manager Cecil Cooper.

Wade joined the Astros for the final seven games, holding a brief meeting before Sunday night’s game against St. Louis. He planned to meet formally with Cooper and the coaching staff on Thursday and stressed that he came to the job without any candidates in mind.

“Everybody that I’ve talked to within the organization is very happy with what Cecil has done, and I have no reason to feel otherwise,” Wade said. “In the interview process, I said I don’t come with a ‘my guy’ list. “I don’t have a preconceived plan of a lot of changes.”

Cooper was the bench coach before Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura were fired on Aug. 27.

Cooper has openly campaigned for the job on a permanent basis. The Astros were 58-73 when he took over and went 10-13 in his first 23 games. The Astros have not conducted a formal search for a replacement.

Cooper said his initial meeting with Wade went well.

“Very nice, very cordial, very open,” Cooper said. “It sounds like we’re on the same page and that’s good.”

Cooper also was happy to hear he wouldn’t have to wait long.

“Sure, I want to know, but I’ve got to do what I do,” Cooper said. “It’s not going to affect how I manage the game or deal with people.

The Astros are finishing out their first losing season since 2000. Wade said he doesn’t think the Astros, who made it to the World Series in 2005, will require a major rebuilding effort.

“Aberration is a good word,” he said. “We hope that’s what this is. All you’ve got to do is look at the give-and-take that’s taken place within the division all season to recognize there might be opportunities to get it turned around sooner rather than later.”

Wade, who was fired by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005 after eight seasons as GM, is beginning his second stint with the Astros. He worked in public relations for Houston early in his career in the 1970s.

Clearing the bases

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shaun Marcum will have surgery Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. … Philip Humber’s first major league start will come Wednesday for the Mets against Washington, a game certain to have postseason implications. The right-hander has only four appearances in his brief major league career, all of them out of the bullpen.