BASEBALL

DODGERS FIRE EDDIE MURRAY

The Dodgers fired Hall of Famer Eddie Murray as hitting coach Thursday after completing a three-game sweep of the NL Eastleading Mets in which they got 31 hits and scored 18 runs.

Bill Mueller, hired as special assistant to general manager Ned Colletti during the offseason, will serve as interim hitting coach.

Colletti said the move had been considered for some time.

” We don’t do anything here quick or without a lot of thought and a lot of compassion,” he said during a telephone conference call. “We feel like there’s a lot of the season left and the offense can be a lot better than it is. We decided to do it now.”

Manager Grady Little said Murray was told of the decision following a 9-1 victory over the Mets on Wednesday night.

“I think his reaction was the normal reaction you would expect after hearing what we just told him,” Little said. “The expectation for this offense was a lot greater. Hopefully a change will get it going. “

HOCKEY

FLAMES HIRE KEENAN AS COACH

Mike Keenan is making another stop in the NHL. He returned as coach of the Calgary Flames on yesterday — his eighth head coaching job in the league. Keenan agreed to a three-year deal and replaces Jim Playfair, who will remain with the team as an assistant after leading the Flames to the playoffs in his one season as head coach.

“Together, they will do remarkable things for this team,” Flames general manager Darryl Sutter said at a news conference.

The well-traveled Keenan won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994, and yesterday was the 13th anniversary of that title.

“I’d love to stay here and end my career here,” Keenan said.

His last job in the league was general manager of the Florida Panthers, but he resigned in September, 2006 after more than two years running the team’s day-today operations.

Last season, the Flames were 43–25–10, finishing eighth in the Western Conference.