Diamondbacks fire pitching coach Mike Harkey
PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona Diamondbacks have fired pitching coach Mike Harkey.
Harkey held the position for two seasons and had been retained on the staff after manager Kirk Gibson was fired a year ago.
Harkey has coached in the majors for 16 years and was Joe Girardi's bullpen coach for six seasons with the New York Yankees before coming to Arizona.
Diamondbacks Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa would not comment on the reason for the firing, except to say that the club wanted to go ''in a different direction.''
La Russa says bullpen coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. is ''on the list'' as a possible replacement.
La Russa says the rest of the staff has been retained.
