In 2009, the Rays broke franchise records in runs, home runs, on-base percentage and walks. They were a fantastic offense, even better than the one from 2008’s breakout campaign, and if it weren’t for a starting pitching staff with nary a WHIP under 1.2 (and only one under 1.3) the Rays would probably have been in the playoffs yet again.
Rays Fire Hitting Coach After Best Hitting Season Ever
↵But they weren’t, and so they fired someone. This happens. It’s just that, well, it would seem to make more sense to fire the pitching coach here. Instead the Rays fired hitting coach Steve Henderson. According to the AP, here’s why:
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↵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.
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Situational hitting? Really? You can understand Maddon and company wanting to maximize those awesome new offensive stats -- and perhaps the Rays offense, young as it is, was set to improve no matter who was coaching it -- but still, that's a rough reason to get fired. Not as rough as, say, the financial system collapsing and GM closing a local plant ... but still: rough. Somewhere Henderson is looking over the Rays' 2009 stats and muttering. "Honestly, what more do they want?"
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