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Detroit Tigers Changing Managers
Right now the biggest news for the Detroit Tigers is the stepping down of our skipper since 2006, Jim Leyland, and the introduction of a new and much more youthful coach in Brad Ausmus.
The new guy is a retired MLB veteran of 18 years, playing as a catcher
for five teams - including two non-consecutive years with the Tigers.
He has no managerial experience in the major leagues; however, he did
manage for a few months in 2012 the national baseball team of Israel.
When I first heard that Leyland would be stepping down I couldn't believe it. He brought the Tigers from the bottom to the top, leading them to two World Series in his time with the organization. Though there were years where the team fell short and didn't make it to the playoffs, the Tigers were always toward the top of the central division and a threat every game under his leadership. His stepping down after failing to lead the teams to a third World Series seems to me to have been more symbolic in nature.
It will be interesting to see how Brad Ausmus does as head of the team and how far he will be able to take us. He will have to gain the trust and respect of the players and prove to General Manager Dave Dombrowski and Owner Mike Ilitch that he is the one to lead the team for the foreseeable future. Since Ausmus doesn't really have any real managerial experience at the Major League level, it is tough for me to say whether or not he will have that big of an impact on the team. We do, however, still have a team bolstered by some of the best guys in baseball, making me not too worried about us going down the same path as the Minnesota Twins - going from the top to the bottom in a matter of a couple seasons.
When I first heard that Leyland would be stepping down I couldn't believe it. He brought the Tigers from the bottom to the top, leading them to two World Series in his time with the organization. Though there were years where the team fell short and didn't make it to the playoffs, the Tigers were always toward the top of the central division and a threat every game under his leadership. His stepping down after failing to lead the teams to a third World Series seems to me to have been more symbolic in nature.
| Outgoing manager Jim Leyland (left) and incoming manager Brad Ausmus (right) | |
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It will be interesting to see how Brad Ausmus does as head of the team and how far he will be able to take us. He will have to gain the trust and respect of the players and prove to General Manager Dave Dombrowski and Owner Mike Ilitch that he is the one to lead the team for the foreseeable future. Since Ausmus doesn't really have any real managerial experience at the Major League level, it is tough for me to say whether or not he will have that big of an impact on the team. We do, however, still have a team bolstered by some of the best guys in baseball, making me not too worried about us going down the same path as the Minnesota Twins - going from the top to the bottom in a matter of a couple seasons.
Prince Fielder Traded to Texas Rangers
Wednesday night was a big deal in Michigan and Texas, with a blockbuster trade between the Tigers and Rangers.
The details of the trade include sending Prince Fielder, the Tiger's
first baseman for two years, and $30 million to the Rangers, with Texas
in return dealing second baseman and three time All Star Ian Kinsler to
the Tigers. Words can not describe how happy I am with this trade.
Throughout the playoffs this year, Prince did not seem like he was interested in even going up to the plate every few innings. He grounded out to somebody in the infield just about every time he came up, and did not even seem to care in post game interviews that he was struggling, shrugging off his poor performance of the day and saying "that's just baseball."
I was sitting in my dorm room just wrapping up my homework and scrolling through Twitter on my phone when a friend of mine had retweeted some pathetic stats by Prince Fielder provided by ESPN SportCenter and followed it up with a tweet of excitement saying "Good bye Prince!" Now we have funds (over $100 million) to work with in locking up fan favorites Miguel Cabrera and Max Scherzer this off season.
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| Second Baseman Ian Kinsler played for the Texas Rangers in 2013. |
Throughout the playoffs this year, Prince did not seem like he was interested in even going up to the plate every few innings. He grounded out to somebody in the infield just about every time he came up, and did not even seem to care in post game interviews that he was struggling, shrugging off his poor performance of the day and saying "that's just baseball."
I was sitting in my dorm room just wrapping up my homework and scrolling through Twitter on my phone when a friend of mine had retweeted some pathetic stats by Prince Fielder provided by ESPN SportCenter and followed it up with a tweet of excitement saying "Good bye Prince!" Now we have funds (over $100 million) to work with in locking up fan favorites Miguel Cabrera and Max Scherzer this off season.
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| Prince Fielder struggled all season in 2013. |
The question now of how to arrange everybody is an
interesting one. Ian Kinsler certainly will not change positions,
staying put at second base. Miguel Cabrera will most likely be moved
back across the diamond to first, filling the hole that a departed
Fielder has left. This could be a great oppurtunity to decrease the
wear and tear on Miguel's body, with first base being a much less
active position than third base, the position Miguel has been playing
for the last two years. Cabrera was injured for the latter half of the
2013 season, so the move to first also provides a lower risk of return
of Cabrera's injury. For the position of third base, the idea has been
floated that Nick Castellanos could be plugged in or the Tigers could
go out and sign somebody. I trust Dave Dombrowski to make the right
decision.
At the end of the day, the Tigers really came out on top with this deal. I'm excited to see Kinsler out at second base come Opening Day 2014. Welcome to the team!
Back to TopAt the end of the day, the Tigers really came out on top with this deal. I'm excited to see Kinsler out at second base come Opening Day 2014. Welcome to the team!