The A’s fire their pitching coach during a long losing streak. Here’s why
The Athletics are making a change to their coaching staff amid a rough stretch to their disappointing season.
The team began the All-Star break Monday by announcing it had fired longtime pitching coach Scott Emerson amid a nine-game losing streak after losing 17 of 20 games in June and July.
The A’s entered the All-Star break last in the American League in ERA (5.21), WHIP (1.47) and home runs allowed per nine innings (1.6). They ranked 29th in MLB in ERA+ (87). Notable young pitchers expected to become key contributors, such as Jacob Lopez and Luis Morales, had bounced between the major leagues and Triple-A while the rotation remained in flux.
Emerson will be replaced by bullpen coach Dan Hubbs for the remainder of the season.
The A’s have fallen eight games behind first-place Houston in the American League West and were 6.5 games behind the third American League wild-card spot. Their 41-55 record was the third-worst in the American League.
The A’s also have struggled in the bullpen after dealing star closer Mason Miller at the previous year’s trade deadline. Their 18 blown saves were the fourth-most in baseball, while their 57% save percentage ranked eighth-worst.
Emerson, 54, had been the A’s pitching coach since 2017. He had worked as a pitching coach throughout the organization’s minor league system, starting with the Modesto A’s in 2002, before taking the job with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats in 2013. He joined the major league club in 2014 as the A’s bullpen coach.
The A’s will begin the second half of their season Friday when they host a three-game series against the Washington Nationals at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
