Oscar Acosta returns to the scene of the crime Tuesday with his new team, the Texas Rangers.
Acosta’s supporters thought it was criminal for the Cubs to fire a pitching coach who had helped lower the team ERA from 5.25 in 2000 to 4.03 last year.
But Acosta was fired at the end of the 2001 season for conduct deemed unprofessional. While manager Don Baylor has kept details of their relationship private, others in the organization say Acosta crossed the line by bad-mouthing members of the front office and challenging Baylor to fistfights.
Acosta also refused to work with pitchers whom he considered undisciplined, such as reliever Carlos Zambrano and right-hander Julian Tavarez, who was traded to Florida.
Acosta remains close with Cubs pitchers Kerry Wood and Jason Bere.
Bere, who starts Tuesday, said he planned to talk with Acosta “at some point during the series.”
Bere called Acosta after the Rangers hired him to be their pitching coach in November. But they have not spoken lately.
“I know they’re in a not-so-good situation,” Bere said, meaning he wouldn’t want to bother Acosta during the season. “[The Rangers] expected better things than what they’re doing. So do we.”
The Rangers are in last place in the American League West at 27-40, one game worse than the Cubs. Their team ERA of 5.17 ranks second worst in the American League as Acosta has received little from newcomers Chan Ho Park, Dave Burba, John Rocker and Hideki Irabu.
Acosta is expected to take a low-key approach in his return to Wrigley. During a May visit to Comiskey Park, he wished the Cubs well and said Baylor didn’t deserve the blame for the slow start.
