Overview
- The Athletics dismissed Scott Emerson and promoted bullpen coach Dan Hubbs to interim pitching coach, a change the team announced Monday as it began the All-Star break.
- Emerson had been with the A’s organization since 2003, served as big-league bullpen coach from 2014 and was promoted to pitching coach in June 2017.
- Poor run prevention drove the move: the club has a 5.21 team ERA, the worst in the American League, and the rotation posts a 5.30 ERA.
- The coaching change follows an extended slump for Oakland that included a nine-game losing streak entering the All-Star break and a stretch in which the team lost 17 of 20 games, leaving them 41-55.
- Hubbs will lead the staff through the end of the season while the A’s assess longer-term options and prepare for the trade deadline and offseason decisions that could reshuffle the pitching staff.