A’s fire third base coach Mike Gallego; Ron Washington takes over

He had been the third base coach for the past seven seasons under manager Bob Melvin.

The Oakland Athletics hired him as an infield instructor in May and he returned to the field Monday when they made him their third-base coach in place of Mike Gallego. Josh Phegley was out at the plate on August. 7.

Gallego, who was drafted by the A’s and got here to the large leagues with Oakland, was in his seventh season because the A’s third base coach and in his 19th yr within the group general. At the time, Gallego was realistic about his position after Washington’s hire. Semien’s play improved, but there was too much overlap between Gallego as third base coach/infield coach and Washington, a former third base coach and infield coach. And with the A’s mired in lifeless final within the American League West with the worst document within the league, it was exclusively a matter of time.

Gallego said, “I could see the writing on the wall”.

Mike Gallego has been relieved of his duties.

“I stated if issues do not change drastically, there may be a drastic change”, Gallego stated.

That kind of flippant remark comes easily to Gallego, who likes to play with words as he talks. It helps defuse the strain of a life spent in baseball. It was not a very good state of affairs with each Wash and I there. I appreciate all that Wash does. “He clicked proper approach with Semien”.

“It was a hard decision”.

“I think we are at the top of the league in getting guys thrown out at home”. We are part of this game, and it can be a cruel game.

He said viewing the game from outside the dugout helped.

“He’s a very energetic guy and very passionate about what he does”, Melvin said. The A’s start a three-game series with the Mariners Monday night in Safeco Field.

Washington discovered concerning the choice from Melvin Sunday night time. The team has wanted to have the full benefit of his energy and knowledge in the dugout and on the field, particularly with a number of young players, and more likely to be called up in September.

Washington had nothing but praise for the job that Gallego did. The first he mentioned was the number of runners thrown out at home this year.

“I did not judge Gags”.

If given the opportunity to manage again, Washington said, “I’d definitely be interested”. “As a result of I’ve accomplished that job, in that job you do not decide anybody”. “Obviously they’d been thinking about it for a while, and when you’re under a microscope, everything becomes even bigger”. When you’ve been in that hot seat, you know not to judge. “I assumed he did an incredible job”. I coached other guys to coach third base. “Third base to me is instinct”. When I came back here, this wasn’t my personal goal.

“What I was doing, I felt like I was making a difference, but now I really get a chance to make a difference because I can be around to answer (player’s) questions”. I’ll still be doing the same early work.

“This isn’t something I haven’t done before”.