Slumping Angels fire hitting coach Hatcher

ANAHEIM, Calif., May 16 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Angels fired veteran batting coach Mickey Hatcher Tuesday in an attempt to get the sputtering offense on track.

Hatcher was replaced by Jim Eppard, the hitting coach at their Triple-A team in Salt Lake City.

Hatcher had been with the Angels for 13 season but the team got off on the wrong foot this season, ranking 27th in the Major Leagues in runs scored and batting .250 as a team.

"Sometimes in the sports world a point is reached where perhaps a new voice is needed in order to attain the desired goals and objectives," General Manager Jerry Dipoto said in a written statement. "Unfortunately, we feel this is one of those times. Offensively, we have underachieved, and everyone shares in the responsibility of what has transpired thus far."

Most notable has been Albert Pujols, who has struggled this spring with a .212 average and just one home run, after signing a lucrative deal with LA as a free agent during the off-season.

Eppard has been in the Angels organization for 10 seasons.