Tigers’ ex-pitching coach Bosio says he’s ‘crushed’ by firing
Pitching coach Chris Bosio said Thursday he was fired by the Detroit Tigers for using the word “monkey,” but insists he didn’t say it in a racial or demeaning context.
Bosio told USA Today he used the word while talking about pitcher Daniel Stumpf, who is white. Bosio said Stumpf is nicknamed “Spider Monkey” because of the faces he makes while lifting weights.
Bosio said an African-American clubhouse attendant overheard the conversation. Bosio told USA Today that “the kid thought we were talking about him. He got all upset. He assumed we were talking about him. I said, ‘ No, no, no. We’re talking about Stumpf.’”
“I swear on my mom and dad’s graves, there was nothing else to it,” he told the newspaper.
General manager Al Avila said Wednesday that Bosio was fired for making insensitive comments to another team employee. Avila declined to offer additional details.
“I have to take seriously what the comments were,” Avila said. “And, the action we took was appropriate.”
Bosio told USA Today that he was “crushed” about his firing. Bosio said he plans to hire an attorney to help determine whether to sue for wrongful termination.
Bosio was in his first season as Detroit’s pitching coach after serving in the same role for six years with the Chicago Cubs.
The Tigers promoted bullpen coach Rick Anderson to replace Bosio. Roving pitching instructor A. J. Sager will be the team’s bullpen coach until Triple-A Toledo pitching coach Jeff Pico takes his place next week. JEWELL MAY MISS REST OF SEASON» Los Angeles Angels rookie reliever Jake Jewell has a broken right leg and could miss the rest of the season. The Angels put Jewell on the 10- day disabled list Thursday, a day after he was injured in a game against Boston. He’s scheduled to have surgery today. Jewell was carted off the field at Fenway Park on Wednesday night. Called up from Triple-A earlier in the day, he appeared to catch his cleat as he covered the plate on a run-scoring wild pitch and fractured his fibula. CORR EA OUT WITH STIFF BACK» Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa is heading to the 10day disabled list because of a stiff back. Correa sat out games on Tuesday and Wednesday, and wasn’t in the lineup Thursday night at Tampa Bay. The Astros say he’ll be put on the DL today. RED SOX ACQUIRE PEARCE » The Boston Red Sox acquired veteran first baseman/outfielder Steve Pearce in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night. Dave Dombrowski, the Red Sox president of baseball operations, announced the deal after Boston’s 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Dombrowski said the Red Sox are getting Pearce and cash considerations from Toronto in exchange for minor league infielder Santiago Espinal. DAR VIS H SUFFER SS ET BACK»YuD ar vi sh won’t be rejoining the Chicago Cubs’ rotation this weekend after sustaining a setback during a bullpen session on Thursday. Manager Joe Maddon says the Japanese right-hander felt pain in his right arm. Darvish will return to Chicago to be evaluated, and won’t pitch Saturday as scheduled.