Tigers fire pitching, bullpen coaches

Sep 28, 2008 - 10:30 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Detroit Tigers fired pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and bullpen coach Jeff Jones on Sunday.

Although the season is not yet over for the Tigers, who will play a make-up game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday, the club dismissed the two coaches immediately following Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

"The two glaring problems with us this season was the pitching and the defense," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "Somebody had to pay the price."

Hernandez was first hired as the team's pitching coach after the 2005 season and has served in the position for the last three seasons. However, the Tigers' pitching staff struggled all year and entered Sunday with the fourth-worst team ERA in the majors at 4.87.

High-profile starters Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis and Kenny Rogers had disastrous seasons as the Tigers' season unraveled quickly.

Detroit, tabbed by many as a preseason contender in the American League, also blew 27 saves.

Jones spent two seasons as the bullpen coach, taking over for Lloyd McClendon prior to the 2007 campaign.

"These coaches were just outstanding and they will be missed," Leyland said. "I just feel terrible. They were true professionals."