McRae, Pujols fired -- combined for 212 losses.

[Bozidar]

These two managers lead the two teams that tied for the worst team in baseball. The next worse team, the brewers, finished with one more win.. And they've fired their CEO, and GM.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0930/1439306.html

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays fired manager Hal McRae on Monday and announced he will remain with the team as assistant to the general manager.

The Devil Rays and Detroit Tigers finished tied for worst record in the major this season at 55-106. The Milwaukee Brewers were 56-106.

Tampa Bay also released pitcher Wilson Alvarez, shortstop Chris Gomez and pitcher Tom Martin.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0930/1439071.html

DETROIT -- Manager Luis Pujols was fired Monday by the Detroit Tigers after their worst season in six years.

Pujols, who replaced Phil Garner in April after an 0-6 start, led the Tigers to a 55-106 finish, tied for the worst record in the major leagues. His winning percentage of .355 is the lowest for a manager in club history.

The Tigers lost to the Blue Jays 1-0 Sunday, ending their worst season since they went 53-109 in 1996. Detroit had the worst record in the major leagues after the All-Star break (24-51).

Team president Dave Dombrowski orchestrated an early season shakeup in hopes of reviving a franchise that hasn't had a winning season since 1993. But Pujols failed to provide a spark on the field or in the clubhouse and couldn't stop the losing.

"I don't think anybody was surprised'' by the team's poor play, Dombrowski said. "I'm not going to place the blame on anybody.''

Dombrowski hopes to have a new manager by the end of October. He mentioned only one candidate by name: Bruce Fields, who managed at Triple-A Toledo this season. Former Tigers star Alan Trammell is thought to be high on the team's list.

Trammell is the first-base coach for the San Diego Padres.

"To be honest with you, if they call, I will talk to them. And if that happens, then we'll have to wait and see,'' Trammell said Sunday. "It's a situation where I've been out here for three years now with the Padres, I'm from here and I'm very happy here. But again, if anybody was to call -- not just the Tigers -- I think at this point in my career, I would sit down with somebody.''

Pujols, a Dominican, was the Tigers' first minority manager. He was the team's fourth manager since Sparky Anderson's 17-season tenure ended in 1995.

Pujols managed the Tigers' Double-A affiliate in Erie, Pa., last season, his first in the organization. He was a major league catcher with three teams from 1977-85.

When Garner was fired after six games, it tied the quickest firing of a manager at the start of a season since 1900. Baltimore fired Cal Ripken Sr. in 1988 after the Orioles lost six games en route to an 0-21 start.

"Luis did a very professional job with his staff members, worked extremely hard, and they walked into a very difficult situation,'' Dombrowski said.

[Coney36]

As long as these teams don't improve their rosters, they're gonna keep on losing...firing managers and rehiring new guys ain't gonna do much good. These guys are coaches and what-nots, they ain't miracle makers.

[Sascha]

You almost had me shocked.. :finger3:
But well, Luis Pujols... no surprise

And there won't change anything next season unless some players have breakout seasons or the teams decide to do some trades and sign some FAs...

[berriYankee]

I heard on Baseball Tonight last night that Hal McRae will be hired as an assistant to the General Manager of the DRays, so he will not be leaving the team altogether.