Newz Forum: BASEBALL: Mets fire hitting coach Denny Walling

FLUSHING, New York (AP) - The New York Mets, with one of the least productive offenses in the major leagues, Tuesday fired hitting coach Denny Walling.

Bench coach Don Baylor will handle Walling's duties on an interim basis.

The Mets have managed just 257 runs in 62 games - the fourth-lowest total in the major leagues. Only Montreal (181) has been less productive in the National League.

Walling was in his second year with the team and was an ally of manager Art Howe, who has guided the team to a 95-128 mark in his 1 1/2 seasons at the helm.

A career .270 hitter in parts of 18 seasons, Walling was a teammate of Howe's in Houston and played for him in 1992.

Baylor, a career .260 hitter with 338 homers in 2,292 games, has served as a batting instructor with Milwaukee, St. Louis and Atlanta.