JBE

September 22nd, 2017 at 4:56 PM ^

Why? Avila has done well acquiring a solid list of prospects this year, including a guy who's hitting .362, albeit in limited ABs, and showing a little pop. Not to mention finding a solid player in Mahtook.

 

I think this is the right move for the Tigers though. The manager really does matter. Look at what Black has done with the youngest rotation in baseball, and what Counsel has done with one of the youngest teams. Get the right guy in there. 

Robbie Moore

September 22nd, 2017 at 6:42 PM ^

A manager with strong pitching development skills. The key to the speed at which the rebuild occurs is the development of six to eight pitchers now in the system. They include Norris and Boyd at the major league level and guys like Burrows, Faedo, Manning, Funkhouser and Perez. One guy to take a hard look at is Mickey Callaway, the Cleveland pitching coach.

JBE

September 22nd, 2017 at 6:49 PM ^

Callaway is a good idea. Obviously he’s helped build the best rotation in baseball, which is also a fairly young roatation. And I agree. The Tigers have some very good arms, and the devopment of those arms should be the main focus. Norris and Boyd both took a huge step backwards this year. They still have high potential though under the right circumstances. Get a coach that knows pitching upside down.

JamieH

September 22nd, 2017 at 4:53 PM ^

With the way the team was spiraling to the finish this year and with the team in full rebuild mode,  I thought he was pretty much doomed, but that may have been more of a personal opinion than anything based in fact.  

darkstar

September 22nd, 2017 at 5:04 PM ^

baseball orgs don't bring back a manager in the year his contract runs out.  If they are going to keep him around they extend him before the final season on the contract begins.  It's taken as a sign of disrespect if they make him play out the final year so if there wasn't bad blood before there is then.

Always thought BA got somewhat of a bad rap. Not much he could do with the junk they gave him for bullpen arms and some of the contracts they gave out (e.g. Anibal).

Sione For Prez

September 22nd, 2017 at 4:37 PM ^

At the end of the day this rebuild is all about the GM. Obviously Brad was not the guy to take the Tigers to the World Series but who is going to want this job going into an obvious multi-year rebuild?

ckersh74

September 22nd, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^

He wasn't qualified for the job in the first place.

It's a rebuild. They need a guy who has experience with managing young players. The next guy is getting clipped inside 3 years anyway, and this team isn't contending until at least 2020. Get the next Ralph Houk, the guy who managed the Trammell-Whitaker-Parrish-Morris core through their first couple years, until Les Moss and then Sparky got them in 1979.

CoverZero

September 22nd, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^

The hiring of Ausmus to coach a veteran, star-loaded team was a huge mistake.  That was the beginning of the end of an era of good Tiger baseball.  A memorable era, that ended up being fruitless.

Leonhall

September 22nd, 2017 at 5:21 PM ^

Have been fired the day the Orioles embarrassed us in the playoffs. Management prohibited this team from winning a WS. I was in kindergarten in 84 so I don't remember a WS title. Could have had 2 in the last 10-12 years...instead nothing and now 3-4 of rebuilding. Sucks.

Everyone Murders

September 22nd, 2017 at 5:28 PM ^

I think Ausmus is underrated as a manager, and gets a lot of undeserved flak from Detroit fans.  However, the Tigers are going to be in rebuilding mode for the next 2-3 years, and putting a new face on the franchise is best for all concerned.

Like others have said above, I just hope the Tigers' management is capable of hiring the right guy.  The baseball equivalent of a Doug Collins would do nicely.