The Athletics announced that running backs coach Scott Emerson has been relieved of his duties. Bullpen coach Dan Hubbs will take over on an interim basis until the end of the campaign.
Emerson got his gig in June 2017. He was the team’s bullpen coach before that but got a new title when pitching coach Curt Young was fired. Emerson’s tenure is mixed, though it’s worth arguing how much of the blame should be placed on him.
From 2018 to 2020, Athletics pitchers had a combined 3.88 earned run average, which is sixth best in the majors. During that time, the A’s played in the pitcher-friendly Coliseum and were widely competitive, making the playoffs in all three of those seasons. They missed the postseason in 2021 and went into a rebuild. From 2021 to 2024, the club’s ERA was 4.60, better than just four teams.
Last year, as part of a group planned to move to Las Vegas, they arrived in West Sacramento. They temporarily share Sutter Health Park with the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Giants. The park plays very well and is very different from the Coliseum. Since the start of last year, the A’s have a 4.91 ERA, which ranks them ahead of the Nationals and Rockies during that span.
Simply put, the rebuilding Athletics have shown more confidence on the offensive side than on the pitching side. Environment may be playing a role but the show seems to be full of solid regulars and a few stars, and the show’s crew doesn’t look close to being perfect. The team has felt competitive at times but recently hit a bad skid. They have gone 3-17 in their last 20 games, including a nine-game losing streak since the All-Star Break. They are now 41-55 games, 6.5 out of a playoff spot and likely heading into the deadline as sellers.
It appears the A’s decided a change needed to be made and fired Emerson while giving Hubbs his job. These are working at the college from 2020 to 2019, holding various titles for the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Southern California. He moved to pro football in 2020, being hired by the Tigers as director of game development and strategy. In 2023, the A’s hired him as a developmental coach. After the season, he was named bullpen coach.
It’s possible the A’s will be looking for a new bullpen coach after the season, though Hubbs may be pressured to move on to the future if he impresses the team’s decision makers over the next few months.
Photo courtesy of Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images
