Eddie Murray canned

The Indians are sinking ever-farther down the well of desperation, and Saturday's firing of hitting coach Eddie Murray proves it.
Murray, who has usually been the silent, glowering type in his baseball career, might not have made the best coach. Two years ago, when the Indians offense was struggling much like it is now, Murray was chastised for not taking enough initiative, for making players come to him for advice instead of seeking them out.
Last year, the Indians had a breakout offensive year, and all was forgiven. But that might have had more to do with having a healthy Matt Lawton and Omar Vizquel hitting at the top of the lineup than anything Murray did.
But whether Murray was or was not a good hitting coach isn't the point right now. This weekend's firing reeks of a desperate team looking for a fall guy. The move is a cop-out that doesn't address more serious talent and manager-oriented issues within the team.
Aaron Boone is as rusty as a 1978 Ford Limited, and having Ted Williams as your hitting coach wouldn't change that. Murray's firing also won't change Casey Blake's poor hitting instincts, Travis Hafner's bruised elbow, and the mental funk of Victor Martinez, brought about apparently by the pressure of a new contract.
Firing Murray also won't alleviate manager Eric Wedge's penchant for staying with pitchers too long and apparent inability to energize his team like, say, Ozzie Guillen with the White Sox.
A hitting coach's job isn't to push the buttons, it is to do the behind-the scenes work with players. A hitting coach is, above all, an advice giver. If the Indians are looking for a fresh start and more wins by canning Murray, they are misguided.