It’s near the end of the season and the Houston Astros are wasting no time in their search for a permanent skipper to take the helm for next season and beyond.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Astros have taken interviews for at least five candidates:

Sources: #Astros have talked to at least five managerial candidates by phone: Ebel, Hinch, Lovullo, D. Martinez, Wakamatsu. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 24, 2014

MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reported that the Astros have been granted permission to speak with Phil Nevin, the Astros former No. 1 draft pick:

Baseball source confirms the Astros have permission to interview Phil Nevin for their managerial post. He’s managing at Triple-A Reno. — Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 25, 2014

Nevin went on to carve out a respectable career after his somewhat hostile split from the team and has been managing as of late in the minor leagues — most recently with the Toledo Mud Hens and the Reno Aces, both Triple-A affiliates over the past few years.

But right now, it’s Tom Lawless‘ time to shine…

He seemed to rise from the ashes of the Labor Day firing of Bo Porter, the Astros manager for the nearly the past two seasons.

Lawless had a hot 3-0 start before cooling off to a 10-10 record going into this weekend, the last series of the year against the New York Mets.

As a consequence, the interview will be held in New York tomorrow.

I’ve noticed the Astros look a bit different out there in terms of strategy — they’re not always dependent on the long ball and Lawless seems to be quite cerebral in terms of setting the table with the pieces he has to work with to win.

Porter did all he could but I just don’t think that he had a chance after the run-in he had with Jeff Luhnow last month.

It has been said that Lawless has an easygoing managerial style to which it has been received well by the players themselves.

Lawless, 57, has been with the Astros organization for six years — this year, he was an infield coach with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks and also briefly served as the interim manager for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Redhawks while Tony DeFrancesco was undergoing cancer treatments.

I honestly think that Lawless has a shot at the job but with the field being so crowded with quality candidates it remains to be seen if he gets the nod.

The field will be even more crowded as the MLB season comes to a close.

One can only hope that the Astros’ organization works like many — promoting from within.

If anything, if he’s not selected, he should be strongly considered for the managerial position with the Hooks since he has history there.

The outspoken Keith Bodie, who had been in the organization for 16 years, was fired earlier this month after managing the Hooks for the past three seasons.

I’m sure their 67-73 this past season and third-place finish in the Texas League South Division factored into that.

He would be perfect for that situation but it’s all a matter of if he wants the job…

We shall see…

But good luck to Tom, the guy definitely should be managing for somebody…

Go ‘Stros!