The Houston Astros have requested and received permission from the Red Sox to interview first base coach Tim Bogar and bench coach Brad Mills for their vacant managerial job. Bogar, who played for Houston from 1997-2000, managed two Single-A affiliates of the Astros from 2004-05. He was named Apalachian League Manager of the Year in ’04 and South Atlantic League Manager of the Year in ’05. This was Bogar’s first season in Boston. Mills has been Terry Francona’s bench coach in Boston for six seasons. He has a 6-5 record as Sox manager when covering for Francona. Mills, who played alongside Francona with the Montreal Expos in 1981-83, managed 11 seasons in the minor leagues for the Cubs (1987-92), Rockies (1993-96) and Dodgers (2002). He was first base coach for the Phillies under Francona from 1997-2000.