Mariners fire hitting coach Chris Chambliss
SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Mariners will not retain hitting coach Chris Chambliss for 2013 after another season during which their offense was among the worst in baseball.
The Mariners made the announcement on Thursday. The rest of Seattle's coaching staff will return next season.
Chambliss was Seattle's hitting coach the past two seasons. The 63-year-old previously was the hitting coach for the New York Yankees and Mets, St. Louis and Cincinnati.
The Mariners finished last in baseball this season in batting average (.234), on-base percentage (.296), slugging percentage (.369) and on-base plus slugging (.665). They were also last in baseball in most major offensive categories in 2011 as well.
General manager Jack Zduriencik says the search for a new hitting coach will begin immediately.
The Mariners made the announcement on Thursday. The rest of Seattle's coaching staff will return next season.
Chambliss was Seattle's hitting coach the past two seasons. The 63-year-old previously was the hitting coach for the New York Yankees and Mets, St. Louis and Cincinnati.
The Mariners finished last in baseball this season in batting average (.234), on-base percentage (.296), slugging percentage (.369) and on-base plus slugging (.665). They were also last in baseball in most major offensive categories in 2011 as well.
General manager Jack Zduriencik says the search for a new hitting coach will begin immediately.
I think the Mariners need more help than firing the hitting coach. How about a new GM, a new Manager, a new Communications Department, a new PR Department and a whole lot more.
No need to worry M fans, after they move in the fences there going to shorten the pitching mound to 45' and shorten the bases to 60', yes M fans doing whats best for northwest baseball...
So this poor guy is the fall guy huh...Go Hawks
I believe that is now 10 hitting coaches in 10 years.
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Hmmm. What is the common denominator in this failure?
 @NBA_Is_Useless I don't know. What is it?
 @TheTruncheon  @NBA_Is_Useless Ownership/Front office.
I'm agast!
Bad. Really bad. I can't believe it. Did the M's not see the improvements from last yr to this yr? Isn't that what you asked for? Unless you expected more of a perfect improvement.
They should fire everyone from the club President on down.
This team has been pathetic for over a decade, and mostly it's the owners to blame. All they've done is pay for one marquee player and a bunch of stiffs so they can profit [slightly] instead actually trying to field a winner.
It's not just the hitting coach! Fire the manager!!! Please!!! How many losing seasons under him? It's not rocket science!
i'd like to apply...i've never been in the big leagues but i'm hitting the tar of the softball in our league...
The hitting coach isn't the problem. Chuck and Howard are the problem. Fire them....oh wait, there isn't anyone to do that. Sell the team to local ownership.
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kthxbai