NEW YORK, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- In a move that came as little surprise, the New York Yankees announced Wednesday that hitting coach Gary Denbo will not return in 2002.
The obvious fall guy for the Yankees' .183 batting average in the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 40-year-old Denbo served as New York's hitting coach for just one season.
"The Yankee organization appreciates all of Gary's efforts, but we felt a change was necessary as we go forward," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said.
Denbo was named batting coach on Nov. 20, 2000 after spending 11 seasons in the organization as a minor league coach, manager and hitting coordinator as well as assistant director of player development in 2000.
He replaced Chris Chambliss, who was the team's hitting coach when it won World Series titles in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
However, many of the Yankees credited Denbo -- reknowned for his use of video and ability to dissect a swing -- as the reason they were successful due to his work during spring training and with them throughout their minor league careers.
With aging veterans such as Paul O'Neill, Scott Brosius and Chuck Knoblauch, the Yankees struggled at the plate through most of the 2001 season, culminating in a seven-game World Series in which they scored only 14 runs.
New York's .183 average was the lowest by any team in a seven-game World Series.
