Rays part with hitting coach
The Tampa Bay Rays have fired hitting coach Steve Henderson following a season in which the Rays set team records for runs, home runs, on-base percentage and walks.
Henderson had been with the Rays organization for 12 seasons, including five as hitting coach. The team also said Monday that the position of quality assurance coach held by former major leaguer Todd Greene has been eliminated.
Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said by not renewing the contract of Henderson the club was not blaming him for the team finishing 19 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East a year after winning the division and AL pennant.
Although the Rays improved statistically in a number of offensive categories, situational hitting woes have been a concern for both Friedman and manager Joe Maddon.
Five other members of Maddon’s staff – bench coach Dave Martinez, third base coach Tom Foley, first base coach George Hendrick, bullpen coach Bobby Ramos and pitching coach Jim Hickey will return in 2010.
Marlins skipper: By most measurements, the Florida Marlins overachieved in 2009. They finished six games out of first place in the NL East with baseball’s smallest payroll. They were 12 games above .500 while outscoring opponents by six runs. They had the third-best record in franchise history even though four of their five starting pitchers performed below expectations.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez’s job is in jeopardy anyway.
Owner Jeffrey Loria is upset the team failed to make the playoffs, and the Marlins have declined to say whether Gonzalez will return next year, even though he received a contract extension through 2011 just eight months ago.
ESPN.com reported Saturday that Bobby Valentine, an analyst for the network and a former major league manager, is talking with the Marlins about a job. He recently ended a six-year run as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League.