The A’s, in last place and underperforming in all areas, fired pitching coach Curt Young on Thursday.
Young, 57, was the longest serving employee in uniform in Oakland A’s history; he played for the A’s from 1983-91 and he served two stints as pitching coach, from 2003-2010 and from 2012 until being let go Thursday.
“Stuff happens,” Young told The Chronicle by phone. “I felt it was coming. I’m just honored to be with a great organization for so long. They’re ready for a new voice. That’s the way it is in this business.”
 
 
A’s fire longtime pitching coach Curt Young
 
 
Bullpen coach Scott Emerson will take over as pitching coach and minor-league instructor Gil Patterson will serves as the A’s bullpen coach through the weekend.
Pitching was expected to be the A’s strength this season, but with every one of Oakland’s starters except Jharel Cotton making at least one trip to the disabled list and set-up men Sean Doolittle and John Axford both on the DL for stretches, the staff has not fared well. Oakland has the third-worst ERA in the league, at 4.83. 
The team has allowed the most runs in the league, 351 - but 46 of those were unearned thanks to the A’s major-league high 63 errors, 15 more than second-place Boston and Tampa Bay.
Oakland also has scored the second-fewest runs in the league, 274 and the A’s are batting a league-low .239. They have the worst record in the league, at 27-38.
According to sources, there was concern that some of the team’s top young pitchers were not making strides as quickly as expected, including Cotton, who’d been lights out last September but whose ERA this season stands at 5.52, and reliever Frankie Montas, who had a 6.91 ERA when sent down Sunday.
Young’s 23 years in an Oakland uniform surpass Dave Duncan Mike Gallego and Dave McKay, who all spent 15 years with Oakland as players and coaches.
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle
 

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