Struggling Angels fire hitting coach Hatcher
The Los Angeles Angels fired hitting coach Mickey Hatcher on Tuesday and replaced him with Jim Eppard, who had been the hitting coach at Triple-A Salt Lake City.
Despite their 4-0 victory over the A's on Tuesday, the Angels have been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball.
They have been shut out eight times this season and ranked 23rd in runs scored heading into Tuesday's game. After Tuesday's action, they are 16-21, seven games out of first place.
Hatcher also had a difference of opinion with slugger Albert Pujols, whose acquisition in the offseason was expected to make the team a serious contender. Hatcher told members of the media what Pujols had said during a team meeting about hitting, and Pujols was annoyed when he found out that Hatcher had made public what Pujols thought would remain private.
"We think the absolute world of Mickey as a person and thank him for all of his contributions to this organization," said Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto. "Sometimes in the sports world a point is reached where perhaps a new voice is needed in order to attain the desired goals and objectives. Unfortunately we feel this is one of those times. Offensively we have underachieved and everyone shares in the responsibility of what has transpired thus far."
Eppard is in his 10th season in both the Angels organization and with the Salt Lake City Bees.
He had spent eight seasons in the Colorado Rockies' minor league system as well.
