October 3rd, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
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October 3rd, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 1:58 PM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
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October 3rd, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^
Jim Leyland.
Next question.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^
Leyland isn't an upgrade
October 3rd, 2016 at 12:00 PM ^
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October 3rd, 2016 at 12:14 PM ^
It helps when you have a pitching staff that has Verlander, Scherzer, good Sanchez, and Fister, as opposed to Pelfrey, broken Sanchez, and broken Zimmermann.
The talent on the Tigers when Leyland was here was much higher, and yet he still did incomprehensible things like bat Miguel Cabrera 4th behind a singles-hitting Magglio Ordonez, and batting Quintin Berry 2nd in the freaking World Series. His pitching changes were also no better.
October 3rd, 2016 at 12:43 PM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 1:14 PM ^
What about a starting rotation of (a rookie) Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers, Nate Robertson, and Jeremy Bonderman?
I know that team didn't win the WS, but I think you understand what I'm getting at.
October 3rd, 2016 at 5:53 PM ^
He has a ring and almost got a second. So if your argument is he had a good team, well no shit.
October 3rd, 2016 at 12:10 PM ^
Smokey would have them in the playoffs, not heading for golf season
October 3rd, 2016 at 2:05 PM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:50 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 12:27 PM ^
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October 3rd, 2016 at 3:16 PM ^
virtually all of his offseason moves stunk (KRod and Maybin were the only plus acquisitions.)
to go into this season with zero bench talent was criminal. you always have injuries and there was nothing to go to when JD and Nick went down.
he could have used that pelfrey money (everyone on the planet but avila knew that was dumb) to sign a solid bench player. he didn't and that alone cost the tigers several games.
most people knew that norris, boyd and fulmer were close to ready to provide pitching depth. now, the tigers are stuck with pelfrey and sanchez next year unless they eat a lot of $. illich has a right to be pissed after this year.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:59 AM ^
Question is where does management think the team is? Are they a team they think is WS capable? I'm not sure. But the young guys stepping up, especially Norris, down the stretch, does make me think they'll feel pretty good going into next year. Right now they'll have seven starter candidates (including Sanchez and Pelfrey) for five spots. Even assuming one of those guys gets bought out, they'll have decent depth in case there's an injury. Offensively, they need second half Justin Upton for the full year, and then figure out what they want to do at catcher.
I just don't know what managerial candidate that's out there would be an obvious upgrade over Ausmus. The only guy I can think of who isn't currently employed or retired who has actually won a WS is Ozzie Guillen.
October 3rd, 2016 at 12:07 PM ^
If I needed a manager I would throw everything I had at Torey Lovullo.
October 3rd, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^
Might be Dave Martinez, whose been Maddon's bench coach forever. Only trepidation is that he didn't get the Rays job when Maddon left, but then there's always weird interview choices in every sport (Hey there Pat Haden).
October 3rd, 2016 at 3:20 PM ^
go after another guy with zero experience? i would rather keep ausmus. maybe mike scioscia if he gets fired.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:59 AM ^
I'd argue that Ausmus hasn't deloped into an effective in-game manager. He seems confused and overwhelmed frequently, and a recent interview gives me the indication that he won't be back.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/10/tigers-to-meet-with-brad-ausmus-this-week.html
He didn't handle that very well and seems to be losing his cool in regards to the job in general. This team was good enough to make in into the playoffs. Everyone deals with injuries, but I don't think he's the guy to lead the franchise into what is sure to be nearing rebuild mode.
That being said, I don't see either lasting much longer.
October 3rd, 2016 at 12:35 PM ^
Can't remember how many times the Tigers had a chance to win the game and Ausmus used Tyler Collins or Salty as a pinch hitter. If the Tigers win half those games they make the playoffs easily.
October 3rd, 2016 at 3:18 PM ^
This year's Tigers had *48*(!) starts from Pelfrey and Sanchez. If you don't change a thing from this year's team except to replace those 48 starts with 48 from Boyd / Norris / Zimmerman, I'm pretty sure we don't lose the wild card position by a game.
The real question to me is could you package Norris or Boyd with V-Mart to get a inning eating vet starter and shed V-Mart's salary. Upton showed with his second half he'll be alright, JD Martinez for a full season and you need a platoon in CF better than Maybin & (cross fingers). Add in hopefully another step forward in development for Castellanos and you still have a contending team with a 1-2 year window before you need to really take things down / transition. Cabrera & Verlander deserve at least one more run from the ballclub before you start trading away veteran assets.
October 3rd, 2016 at 4:17 PM ^
no way i trade him. he could easily end up being better than fulmer. i like the idea of verlander, fulmer and norris next year. and i wouldn't give up on zimmerman (they can't). hopefully, he comes back healthy next year. he could be one of the best 3-4 starters in the AL. then you have a boyd at #5; pretty good #5 there too. farmer and sanchez will provide any spot starts.
pelfrey may just have to be cut and eat that $8 million salary. i doubt the tigers eat sanchez' $17 million.
October 3rd, 2016 at 4:21 PM ^
the tigers will make minimal changes going into 2017. hopefully, a better bench player. they will hope to be healthier next year and make a final run. if they aren't in a good position to win it come july, you will then see another sell off. JD or upton would be traded. Krod, Verlander, Kinsler, VMart would all likely be dealt.
October 3rd, 2016 at 5:09 PM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 3:21 PM ^
there was no one else on the bench, and that is on avila.
October 3rd, 2016 at 4:57 PM ^
You don't have to have anyone on the bench, leave the guy who you have in the game.
The problem was that when Ausmus saw a lefty on the mound he always went with his lefty pinch hitters and both of them spent most of the year hitting under .200.
October 3rd, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^
Never mind
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:35 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^
I don't know. I'm kind of hoping they keep Caldwell to see if he can replicate his Wayne Fontes job saving miracle finish of last season. Nothing is more Lions than watching a 2-6 team go 6-2 to save the coach's ass. Wayne Fontes made a mockery of the LIons organization by following this recipe. Or vice versa. Mockery was definitely involved.
October 3rd, 2016 at 3:20 PM ^
Wayne-o still has more playoff wins than the 14 or so HC's after him, combined.
October 3rd, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^
It's "Who gets fired first," not "Who get's fired first."
My answer: the Ford family. They should get fired first.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
Think Ford First!
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:38 AM ^
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October 3rd, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^
Cooter in charge? Souds like a rash decision.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:51 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:55 AM ^
Cooter In Charge was a 1980s sitcom where a kind-hearted southern college student enters into an arrangment with a southern family (the Southbrokes) in need of child care. So they hire "Cooter" to take care of their three children, sons Jimmy-Jason and Bobby-Douglas and daughter Lila-Sue. In exchange for his services, the Southbrokes provide Cooter with room and board and allow him to live in room downstairs.
Hilarity ensued, but ratings were poor on the UHF channels that ran it. It was cancelled after a few seasons of fumbling along.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
Teryl Austin is the better option.
October 3rd, 2016 at 12:23 PM ^
I'd have to disagree there. After watching the Lions (on the 2 yard line - 1st and goal) run the ball up the middle 3x in a row, I had flashbacks to DeBORD.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:46 AM ^
He got a Cleveland team a championship by losing so much they had several 1st overall draft picks. Lebron left. Cleveland lost more and got Kyrie. Then Lebron comes back when they get Wiggins, trade Wiggins for Love, and boom. Couple moves after that and they're a title team.
Unfortunately, the Lions are equally bad at losing when they need to in order to get a better draft position. So they doubly suck.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:40 AM ^
Ausmus should've been canned 2 years ago. I haven't been able to watch them since we blew the game after he pulled [I don't remember which starter is was because it's happened too many times but I'm fairly certain it was a playoff game] even though the pitch count wasn't that high and then whaddayaknow, BP blew the game.
Haven't watched the Tigers since that game and won't watch again until Ausmus is gone.
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:41 AM ^
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:42 AM ^
Who said they can't be fired at the same time?
October 3rd, 2016 at 11:43 AM ^
and I never understood how much true value a manager has in baseball? Can someone enlighten me on how many wins a good manager produces over an average one?