Bosio fired for insensitive comments

The Tigers dismissed pitching coach Chris Bosio on Wednesday for using insensitive language directed at a team employee.

Tigers general manager Al Avila announced that the team learned of the allegation and began investigating Tuesday. He didn’t elaborate on the comments in the announcement but said they violated both Tigers company policy and the terms of Bosio’s employment contract.

ESPN reported that the comments were racially insensitive.

Avila and manager Ron Gardenhire met with Bosio after Tuesday night’s game against the A’s. Bosio was informed of his dismissal when he reported to work before Wednesday’s game.

“I can’t tell you what his response was, but there was really not a whole lot of dialogue,” Avila said. “Nobody likes to fire anybody, but sometimes you have no choice.

“I talked to the parties involved. I decided that we needed to act quickly based on the information. We acted upon what we felt was right and we stand by it.”

Tigers players and coaches were informed before the news was made public.

“This is not easy for any of us, the players or coaches, but this organization is all about respect,” Gardenhire said. “This organization had to act and it did.”

Bosio was hired this winter as the Tigers’ pitching coach after spending the last six seasons with the Cubs. Tigers bullpen coach Rick Anderson was promoted to pitching coach for the remainder of the season. Roving minorleague instructor A.J. Sager will serve as bullpen coach on an interim basis.

Triple-A Toledo pitching coach Jeff Pico will join the Tigers next week to take over as full-time bullpen coach.