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Detroit Sports 1051 @DSports1051 5m
Sources telling our @TomMazawey that Leyland informed team of his decision to retire on the flight home from Boston.
Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal:
Sources: Leyland stepping down as #Tigers manager. Told team after end of ALCS. Team has called news conference for 11:30 AM ET.
Happy trails, Skipper.
Ken Rosenthal also reporting.
Oddly, Doug Karsch is reporting that only Dave Dombrowski is scheduled to be at the presser, but that could be a smoke screen (PUN INTENDED!).
This sucks. There's not a better manager out there.
Karsch bringing up Gibson, but does he still hold ill-will over the Tram situation?
He might be a great guy but I don't think he is a very good manager at all.
Do you also think the Tigers should bunt more?
Leyland was a great manager. He might be a hall of famer. Ask anyone that actually is involved with baseball and they'll say the same.
I took the "he" to be a reference to Gibby, who is mentioned as a possible replacement not to Leyland. But it is not clear.
and get into the Hall of Fame. I appreciate his time in Detroit, but he handled the Cabrera injury situation terribly and butchered the eight inning of Game 2 of the LCS. And I'm mystified at how V-Mart was still hitting behind Prince despite his struggles. I still don't know how he held his job after managing the collapse of 2009. To me, his lack of WS titles despite having the Killer B's in Pittsburgh and the best hitter/pitcher on the planet the last three years are marks against him. Combining that with his mediocre win-loss record should keep him out of Cooperstown.
| Rank | Name | Wins | Losses | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Connie Mack |
3,731 | 3,948 | .486 |
| 2 |
John McGraw |
2,763 | 1,948 | .586 |
| 3 | Tony La Russa | 2,728 | 2,365 | .536 |
| 4 | Bobby Cox | 2,504 | 2,001 | .556 |
| 5 | Joe Torre | 2,326 | 1,997 | .538 |
| 6 |
Sparky Anderson |
2,194 | 1,834 | .545 |
| 7 |
Bucky Harris |
2,158 | 2,219 | .493 |
| 8 |
Joe McCarthy |
2,125 | 1,333 | .615 |
| 9 |
Walter Alston |
2,040 | 1,613 | .558 |
| 10 |
Leo Durocher |
2,008 | 1,709 | .540 |
| 11 |
Casey Stengel |
1,905 | 1,842 | .508 |
| 12 | Gene Mauch | 1,902 | 2,037 | .483 |
| 13 |
Bill McKechnie |
1,896 | 1,723 | .524 |
| 14 | Lou Piniella | 1,835 | 1,713 | .517 |
| 15 | Jim Leyland | 1,769 | 1,728 | .506 |
| 16 | Dusty Baker | 1,671 | 1,504 | .526 |
| 17 | Ralph Houk | 1,619 | 1,531 | .514 |
| 18 |
Fred Clarke |
1,602 | 1,181 | .576 |
| 19 |
Tommy Lasorda |
1,599 | 1,439 | .526 |
| 20 |
Dick Williams |
1,571 | 1,451 | .520 |
But apparently you can be 200 games under .500 and get into the hall.
Leyland is 15th all time in wins. His win % is not that huge of a deal - he's working on some historically low-achieving teams. I don't think a ton of people would argue Dusty Baker is a better manager than Leyland even though he has a significantly better win %.
I'm not saying he'll get in. He probably won't. However, two players do not make a baseball team, no matter how great they are. Using that as a mark against him is immensely stupid.
This year's starting rotation was stacked. It was great last year. Those teams he had in Pittsburgh were awesome. I don't need to run to a wikipedia page or be immensely smart to know that he had a running feud with Carlos Guillen in the media in 2008, mismanaged the collapse of 2009, destroyed Alex Avila's knees two years ago and poorly handled Miguel Cabrera this year.
He was good, but he was very fortunate to manage in the weakest division in baseball with one of the highest payrolls. IMO, considering the division the Tigers play in, they should make the playoffs. Just one WS win in eight years, with the teams he had, is disappointing.
isn't a good manager. Every great managers always have great players because both tends to go hand in hand.
But the Tigers played in the weakest division in the AL were always the division champ with the lowest winning percentage. They never had homefield advantage past the wild card round. If you want to ignore his missteps with Avila, Cabrera, the 2009 debacle, that's on you. Good, not great IMO.
ignoring the fact Tigers went to ALCS 3 straight years, took them to WS twice. Good but not great manager. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrright....
.
He's one of the winningest managers in baseball history, won a WS with Florida, a couple of AL pennants with Detroit, and helped to turn a team that host the most games in AL history a couple of years beffore into a consistent playoff winner. He's not the greatest strategist or anything, but to say he "isn't a good manager" feels completely unfounded.
would say otherwise. He probably will get voted into the MLB HOF. Several divsion championship and WS appearance. Won WS title.
If you think he's a terrible manager, I'd like to know your standard of great manager because I bet it's impossibly high like winning 162 games and sweep every playoff series every year.
Gibson would be awful, mostly because he's a horrible manager who still thinks grittiness wins.
Who is out there? Torre?
But that doesn't mean he can't leave that gig. If I remember he is close with Leyland and maybe Dombrowski as well.
Damn, I'm gonna miss Leyland.
The "fire Leyland " people were probably on the "fire Borge"s train as well. I hope they find a good replacement. Doesn't always go well. Ask the guy who managed the "chicken and beer" Redsox last year.
Francona was the chicken and beer. Bobby V was last year.
B Strong
Leyland has been one of the best things to happen to the Tigers. Before he got here, they were shit. He's taken them to two World Series, and three ALCS. And if you don't remember, before that they were losing 90-120 games a year.
So yeah...get out of here with that "Wooo!" bullshit. Give Leyland his due.
Also while the GM aquires talent this team is stacked how you don't win a championship is just mind boggling.
What about Boston's talent? With Miggy hurt, I don't think anyone can argue the Tigers had more talent than the Sox. Starting pitching had a slight edge, but Boston is a very, very, very good team. They even had a higher payroll than the Tigers.
The Tigers lost to the best team. C'est la vie.
Last year was weird and different and I don't really know what happened, but I know that the players loved Leyland. There was never any clubhouse issues with Leyland, he understood the team, their strengths, their weaknesses and he got them to exceed their talent level.
if Leyland would've shut him down for a couple weeks in September while most of the baseball world suggested. Leyland was so opposed to advanced metrics, but he should've considered the Tigers had a winning record with him out of the lineup. He played just as big of a role in Cabrera being limited as a manager who overuses certain pitchers. Leyland blew that decision.
There's also the 2009 collapse in September. The 2008 locker room was as toxic as anything seen this side of John Kuester coached team. The allegiance to Brandon Inge and now Don Kelly.
I appreciate his time here. And it's not his fault that Prince Fielder turned into a 300lb statue. But with the lineup Dombrowski put together over the years, they should have more to show than just two WS appearances with no title.
with a grade 2/3 groin injury that requires surgery. Rest does nothing for Miggy.
Well considering we won the division by only 1 game I'm glad Miggy didn't rest more, because we could have been in the wildcard game or worse, maybe not have made the playoffs.
It takes a whole lot more than talent to win championships. A good roster doesn't mean squat. You see that year in and year out in baseball. And the Tigers aren't THAT stacked. Good offense? Yes. Good starting pitching? Definitely. Good bullpen? Eh...not so much. Plus, they lost to the one team that was more talented than them.
It is way harder to develop a good rotation and assemble the hitters the Tigers have. A bullpen isn't that hard to put together. I just don't get how the Tigers have failed to do that over the last few years. And it is killing them.
TheDirtyD....who would you have replace him? Everyone acts like first ballot HOF managers grow on trees. Everyone is all "FIRE LEYLAND" until we get someone like Dusty Baker or Manny Acta. Do you even watch baseball?
That does not equal first ballot HOF. First ballot HOFs do more than win one WS title. First ballot HOFs get to at least one World Series with Barry Bonds. First ballot HOFs should be able to have their team prepared to do better than one WS win in two tries.
Since you mention Dusty Baker. His winning percentage is higher than Leyland's. And, like Leyland, he dislikes advanced stats and metrics. I'm glad he's gone. We have the best starting rotation and position player on the planet. I just wish Leyland would've done this last year so we could've grabbed Francona.
He did way more good here than bad, that's no doubt. The players love him, and he clearly loves them this had to be a hard decision for him
Worst logic ever?
A managers impact is minimal, Leyland gets no credit for the Tigers recent success.
He also gets no blame for their postseason failures.
Truth is, DD has built a very good, but not great team. The expectation should never have been WS or bust, the Tigers aren't close to being a good enough team for that to matter.
They have a lot going for them, a historically dominant starting rotation and the best hitter in the game. But they also have many flaws, aun unbalanced lineup, a bad defensive team, a poor bullpen, and horrid baserunning. All those flaws were exposed in the playoffs again, which is why they lost.
I'd rather see DD go then Leyland and I don't like Leyland because he's a poor in game strategist, but he has done a good job managing the clubhouse, and his impact on a game is mostly nonexistent, so whatever.
DD has been able to build a great foundation, but he's been absolutely horrible at filling out the back end of a roster, and his horrible drafting has left us a barren farm system.
If we're not a great team based on our roster, then who is? Have you seen Boston's roster? John Lackey? They were essentially in rebuilding mode after the offseason.
St. Louis's roster? Matt Holliday, Allen Craig. Not exactly Cabrera and Fielder.
We have the best offensive player in my lifetime, arguably the three best starters in the AL. We have as much reason to expect WS as anyone.
Really? Ellsbury, Victorino, Pedrioa, Ortiz, Napoli is clearly the best 1-5 in baseball. Hell, we had to drop our leadoff hitter to 8 in the middle of the ALCS, so yes the Red Sox have a TON of talent.
Lester, Buchholtz, Lackey, and Sale is not a terrible 1-4. And Uehara is the best closer in the game right now. Not to mention Saltalamacchia (I love Alex, but Saltalamacchia is significantly better).
I won't bother with the Cards, b/c I need to get a little work done today. But they have talent up and down the roster too, especially with their starting pitching staff.
if Jake Peavy transformed into Chris Sale...agree with your underlying point, however.
DD is known for trading away farm system talent, so I would also argue that some of our farm league depth has been depleted via trades. And mostly good ones, to boot. Cabrera for Miller, Maybin, and others? That was a criminal-level heist that involved two blue-chip prospects - both of which didn't pan out. Same with the Fister acquistion. Most other trades involving prospects haven't bitten us too hard (knock on wood for Avisail Garcia, but we got a blue-chip SS in that trade).
As far as drafting, do you recall the absolutely horrendous drafts from the early-90's to early 00's?! Absolutely no major league talent whatsoever (except maybe Inge?) from top picks. I'll take DD's drafting strategy any day over those years. Hell, drafting Verlander alone absolves DD of any perceived draft-day sins, especially compared to the previous empty decade of drafting. Porcello and Smyly are also big-league level pitchers drafted by DD.
isn't a good team. They overachieved that year. Look at the roster at the time. They had no business going to the WS yet they've made it this far.
Oh, you don't really have anyone? Surprising.
I'm with you. WOOOOO!!!
The roster advantages/payroll that he was given over the rest of a crappy division, and the fact that he won ONE World Series game, couldn't close the division in 06, blew it in 09, badly underachieved in 12 and now again in 13. It's just time for him to go
If you think they badly underachieved this year, you must be the most miserable sports fan in the world. Seriously, your fandom must be full of misery.
You must be awesome to know other people's feelings and fandom.
While he had his faults, that is just a stupid statement. He Won the Division and the ALCS but lost in the World Series. You should be following the Yankees if you think not winning the World Series every year is badly underachieving.
He forced Prince to hit .225 with no power, he personally injured Miggy like 11 times, and he made Austin Jackson forget how bats work. Plus he gave up all of those grand slams.
Although FWIW, the Red Sox had a larger payroll than the Tigers.
Stop looking at just the big picture and dig down a bit into managerial decisions that didn't work. He did keep hitting Fielder 3rd, a guy who couldn't drive in a run in the postseason, think about that. He kept using Smyly, a guy who has proven he can go long relief, as strictly a situational lefty. The powers that be feel that Smyly can be a starter, yet Leyland thinks he can only pitch to one lefty and then he's done. Constantly taking Peralta's (one of the few guys that were hitting in the postseason) bat out of the lineup before the 8th or 9th inning for Don Kelly. I'm not saying he was miserable or bad, I just feel its time for a change in manager.
When did the defensive replacements cost us?
In Game 6, Kelly made a great play running down an Ortiz fly to left that I doubt Peralta would have got to. That position in the batting order only came up once more the whole game, with 2 outs and nobody on in the top of the 8th.
Leyland has always been good with his defensive replacements late in games, in my opinion.
I do wish he'd stop going lefty-righty so much though. It should only be brought out when there's a GLARING difference in one particular batter's numbers, or if one of his pitchers particuarly performs poorly against righty/lefty.
Still, he handed a lead to his bullpen in four out of six games, and they blew two of them in rather grandiose fashion.
"badly underachieved" ???
Do you remember how bad the Tigers were prior to Jim's arrival? Who do you think should replace him?
Please no.
I'd like a manager that acknowledges the importance of OBP.
I think it's a little early to be drinking
For a second there, I was wondering what rational human being would want us to hire Lloyd McClendon when Bobby Valentine is still available.
For all the criticism he got, he was a great manager. Dombrowski and him turned the Tigers around from the dark days (2003), to a team that made it to two world series. I'm realy sad to see him go.
That is seriously one of my favorite videos of all time. From Leyland's classic emotion, to Hunter picking him up and carrying him like an awkward child, to Leyland smiling like it was Christmas morning, to Leyland moonwalking out of the locker, and topping it off by just blowing off the rest of the interview. Is there anything else that more encapsulates everything Jim Leyland is? I love it.
Going to miss that guy.
Jon Gruden
Lane Kiffin?
Sad to see him go. While far from perfect, there was something about his old school persona that was fun to see.
He helped turn the team around and actually made them interesting every October.
Hopefully they will be able to get someone who can keep them in the mix every year.
Boy 1984 seems like an eternity ago.....
That's what we all called him then, and what everybody who knows him from the old days still does. He was probably the best all around athlete the school ever had, and maybe the best leader as well.
He was a four year letterman in football, basketball, and baseball; and, in his senior year, he was elected captain for each of those teams.
Great guy. Great sense of humor. Great to be around. You can see that in how his teams react to him and love him. He has received a lot of unwarranted (IMO) criticism over the years. The Tigers are going to miss him.
I remember growing up the Tigers were the worst Detroit sports team.
Thank you for everything Skipper
I feel like the people complaining forget just how TERRIBLE the Tigers were before they hired Leyland. I mean, they were almost historically awful. It wasn't that long ago people.
could apply to Michigan as well. But some people are never happy. They want more and they want it yesterday.
Borges accomplishments mirror Leylands's. Talk about a false equivalency.
The people who are never happy don't apply that same pressure to their own lives. Most never reach high achievements and thus have to take it out on someone so they micromanage sports teams and put unrealistic pressures and expectations on those teams because they can't live up to that standard in their own life. Miserable motherfuckers. 95+% of the Leyland haters/Borges hater fall into this catergory.
I was referring to the mentality of "Fire everyone" after losing a game that should have been won or not reaching the World Series. I never said Borges and Leyland have achieved the same things.
I know you didn't. I just wanted to expound upon what you were referring to because it brought up the thoughts.
It's probably Lloyd Carr. A vocal subset always complained about him, and wanted him gone, because "anybody" could do better. Be careful what you wish for....
I appreciate everything Jim did (with the help of Dombrowski and the opening of Illitch's wallet), and he'll go down as a Tiger's great. Tiger's baseball would not be back on the map as a perennial contender without him.
That said, I welcome the change. The personnel on the offensive side is all there and hopefully will stay there after this offseason, but there was definitely something in his management style towards the end that was holding us back, especially with how handled his bullpen (or lack thereof). If only he had stepped down last year, we could've had Francona at the helm...
Not sure how anyone else would've handled the bullpen differently, except for pitching Verlander, Scherzer, and Sanchez 9 innings every start (somewhere Mickey Lolich is smiling at that proposition). Our bullpen wasn't spectacular (not Jim's fault), and Verlander and Scherzer both admitted how tiring playoff pitching is...you just can't ride them for 9 innings when they're completely outta gas. It's not Leyland's fault that Benoit floated Ortiz a meatball in Game 2 (or maybe you blame Leyland for going to Benoit in that situation?). Or Veras hung an 0-2 breaking ball to Victorino (who else would you pitch in that situation? Benoit? Maybe Albuquerque? It's a toss-up either way.)
No manager is perfect. Jim Leyland isn't immune to imperfections over a 162+ game season. But I just don't understand the vehement criticism he gets from so many people.
of things, it appears as though Leyland is sort of a lightning rod for fans of the Tigers. I think it will be very interesting to see who they pick to replace him. It would appear that based on the level of talent on the roster, the job will be highly regarded and desired. With the recent success of people like Mike Matheny, do you think a recently retired player takes over, or someone who is older with more of a track record?
Dusty Baker, Kirk Gibson, Larry Parrish, are a few names I am sure we will hear about, but it will certainly be interesting to see who they choose...
Brookens was mentioned as a guy that was possibly being groomed for the position. Personally, I'd like to see Joe Maddon come here. He can't possibly want to stay coaching in the miserable baseball town that is Tampa Bay.
That can go both ways though. Sure, Tampa is a miserable baseball town, but that just means expectations stay low. As long as he stays winning, and contends for a playoff spot every year, he'll never be fired
I'd love to steal Gibson away from the Dbacks, but after the way we treated Trammel, word on the street is that Gibson probably has zero interest in us. That left a sour taste in a lot of guys' mouths and vice versa.
How did we treat Trammel? Firing him? His teams were awful.
You mean the crap left behind by Randy Smith was awful.
We hired Trammell knowing we were asking him to manage shit teams, that's what we did to him. Dombrowski took Randy Smith's leftovers, made them worse the same way the Astros are doing now (and being praised for), handed Trammell Mike Maroth, Nate Cornejo, and Adam Bernero for a starting rotation, and said "good luck dude." That's how we treated Alan Trammell. Used him as a bridge between bad times and good times.
Now, do I really think he'd be the right choice for the Tigers now? Probably not. But blaming Tram for bad teams is ign'ant.
I've heard that Illitch and Gibson aren't necessarily the best of friends, I'm sure this can be changed but it's doubtful.
Shitty, shitty day for the Tigers as there aren't any better options for this team. Bob Melvin should be on the short list as he's a former Tiger but honestly I don't like the candidates that are out there. Someone said it above but if Dusty Baker is hired I might just move to Quebec and forget about baseball altogether, he's awful.
it clear that I am in no way saying that I think Baker should be hired or anything like that, I was just stating that his name will likely be tossed around for a minute. I do not want Baker in Detroit.
All that guys leaves is a trail of dead arms in his wake when he gets fired.
I'm glad he's retiring. Sure he's part of the reason why the Tigers are no longer awful. But, the goals have changed from reaching unawfulness to winning The World Series. He's not the manager to do that for this team. He cost the Tigers 2 games in the ALCS. The Tiger's greatest strength has been starting pitching yet he twice removed great pitchers who had the Red Sox baffled and relied on the Tiger's greatest weakness, the bullpen. I don't believe that Scherzer was done in Game 2 nor was he done in Game 6. "I told them I was done," Scherzer said. "They wanted me done. They had it all lined up how they wanted to approach the eighth inning." They wanted me done?
I don't hate Leyland and haven't complained about him at all until now. I trust that Dombrowski will find a suitable replacement.
That's nonsense. I was pissed when he pulled Scherzer in Game 2 but game 6 could go either way. He pulled Sanchez from a no hitter in game 1 and the bullpen kept it going until the 9th. He dropped Austin in the lineup an he got on base 4 times and we won. Had Iglesias not booted that double play before the grand slam and Prince not had a stroke on the third baseline when we were on a roll we would have won game 6. Had Miggy not gotten injured we probably win against Oakland sooner and get some rest and then win against Boston. Had the team not had their menstrual cycles synchronized and all slumped at the same time we would have won. There were bad decisions, but there were also good decisions an things out of his control. That's coaching.
What were the pitch counts like in those games? Really, how many pitches do you want the starter to throw? After 100 you're getting to a point where the pitcher is putting his arm in danger of injury. Those guys were over 100 at those points and they were taken out. They aren't robots.
I disagree (and I can do it without calling your opinion nonsense). The fact that it worked in game 1 does not suggest it will work again in game 6, expecially considering how well it worked in game 2. Dropping Jackson in the lineup was a good decision, pretty much a no brainer. Cabrera has been injured since the last 3rd or so of the regular season, not sure how his injury impacted anything as it was something the team was dealing with for quite a while. As Iglesias' error and Fielder's blunder are not his fault, all that can be placed on Leyland are his decisions. He made a gambler's decision in Game 1, which paid off. Got burned for the same decision in Game 2 and he should not have done the same in Game 6 with the season on the line. You do not go to your weakness in an elimination game unless you absolutely have to. The bullpen is the Tigers' greatest weakness. Also the big bats that Illitch pays so much for have disappeared in every postseason that the Tigers have participated in in this millenium. That should be expected. The starting pitching has been lights out ridiculously good. Also, psychologically every player in the Red Sox dugout was happy as shit to see Scherzer out of the game. Scherzer was at 110 pitches and was still throwing well and would have had (had the Tigers won Games 6 and 7) until the 23rd for the start of the WS and until the 26th (a week off) until his next likely start.
Understand that I don't dislike Leyland, he is a great manager that made costly mistakes. Not saying he made the only mistakes, but he hasn't gotten this franchise over the hump. Whether or not there is a manager out there who can, we shall see.
Tiger team does not hit well enough for postseason, not on Leyland, roster needs upgraded.
I appreciate the job he did. He was NOT the reason they didn't make the world series though. Piss poor bullpen and inconsistent hitting did them in.
This is a sad day. Jim has been one of the great institutions in MLB through recent decades.
What about Tony Larussa?
The Tiger's would be crazy not to hire him.
I folow the Tigers very very loosely but I know they used to be awful (100+ losses not long ago right?) and Leyland won them a few division titles, got to two world series and just made the ALCS this year. I don't understand the complaining
The psychology of sports fans has changed drastically over the last 10 years or so. People overcompensate for their lack of knowldege of the sport and strategies by being pessimistic and trying to faults in coaches and players to make themselves appear smarter about the topic. People just repeat what they hear on sports talk radio stations which promotes this kind of attitude to troll for callers. Thats not to say that some people don't have justified opinions of wanting a new manager, but 95% of Leyland haters don't fall in that category.
Don't forget to mention the sports fans that like to hold on to a manager/coach because he helped lead a team from the darkness while forgetting there was a significant upgrade in talent and that the goals have changed from not sucking to winning a world series.
So, if I am not mistaken, that makes the final line on Leyland just with the Tigers a not-too-shabby 700-597, three 90+ win seasons, three straight AL Central titles and three straight trips to the ALCS, two appearances in the World Series (I know, lost both *grumble*)....and I am sure this is not comprehensive. That's really not that bad in the grand scheme, I would think. Best of luck to him in retirement.
He's stepping down not retiring. Me thinks he takes the Cincy job.
Why would he take the Cincy job?
I can't think of a better open position and they're not in complete rebuilding mode.
Even before the press conference, what makes you think Leyland is looking for another managerial position?
He's stepping down -- not retiring. I take that to mean he's not done managing
you appear to be wrong, as Rod Beard from Detnews tweeted out 35 minutes ago that Leyland is taking an as-of-now unnamed position within the Tigers organization. He wants to retire a Tiger.
He's not done in Detroit, that was his message. His remarks were that he was out of gas for managerial work.
Did you even listen to anything he said today?
Grady little?
If Dusty Baker is hired I'll quit watching the tigers forever.
I don't know if this isn't the worst thing to ever happen, but I do know that the people calling for his head throughout the years aren't gonna be happy fifty games in next year when they realize that players win games, not managers...
jdon
Fuccccckkkkkk.
I have yet to see the Fire Leyland crowd come up with a better idea. I doubt there are very many.
won 1/4 of the AL pennants the Tigers have ever won.
Wish the man all the best in retirement and thank him for his contributions to the Tigers Organization.
Winning one of those 2 Series appearances would have shut up all the critics here, but hey, some sports fans just can't be satistied. I'll take the '13 Tigers over the '03 club any day of the week.
I hope whoever they hire has a secret illegitimate child hidden away with a 100 mph fastball and splitter to close for us. That would solve a lot of our "coaching" issues.
Tony Pena will get a long look.
Hello Gibson
hope not.
He's a Spartan. Nothing but trouble.
I'm not a huge fan either, but I have a feeling he'll get a good long look. I wish we would've snagged Francona last year when we had the chance.
That's not sending a good message to the rest of the baseball community that they would do it to a highly respected manager who took them to the WS that year.
Gibby would be the best choice. Spartan or not, he's a damn good baseball mind. He would light a fire under the team. If not him, I'd try to get Charlie Manuel.
His contract was on a year to year basis, so it wouldn't have been "kicking him to the curb". Just going in a different direction and not offering him another year. Francona is unique with his managing techniques and they work, and players absolutely love the guy.
Nothing against Leyland. I just thought it was his time to go last year because of age. His questionable moves with pitching and lack of bunting always pissed me off a little bit. A great manager nonetheless, who brought a winning attitude back to the Tigers.
Going after Francona would be sending the baseball community the wrong message.
Leyland was going to be the manager until he retires, he more than earned the right to do it especially when the Tigers went to the World Series last year. That would be the stupidest move by Dombrowski and the top baseball managers would not want to go to the Tigers if that were to happen. Thank god, you're not the GM of the Tigers.
that any smart coach would want...
Miguel Cabrera may need surgery to repair his groin injury.
— Chris Iott (@Chris_Iott) October 21, 2013
A quick google search says the recovery time for hernia surgies is about 3 weeks, so not too bad I guess.
It's supposably a torn groin, and not just a hernia injury.
He was really emotional (eventhough he said he would not be). Very touching. I have been critical of him at times, but his emotion and passion makes you feel proud to be a Tigers fan and hopeful for the future and that we are doing things the right way and have a great clubhouse
Honestly surprised he is stepping down. Even more surprised hes only 68.
Smoking and being outside 300 days a year will do a number on your looks
Sparky Anderson was actually four years younger than Chuck Daly, but looked like he could be his father.
What about Manny Acda? Guy did more with an Indians team who was unwilling to spend than any other coach
The ONLY positive Acta brings is his ability to speak Spanish. He did have some talent on the Indians when he took over. He appears to have no backbone, I doubt we hire someone with no WS rings. Although I would like to see Joe Maddon or GIbby if we can get one of them. Both are under contract but if we are willing to spend we could probably buy them out.
think they're gonna hire someone who has a WS ring? You're severely limiting your options there. Here is a list of managers to win a ring since 1995: Bobby Cox, JIM LEYLAND, Joe Torre, Bob Brenley, Mike Scioscia, Jack McKeon, Terry Francona, Ozzie Guillen, Tony LaRussa, Charlie Manuel, Joe Giradi, and Bruce Bochy.
Now, which of those would you think is reasonably likely to be hired if you think they wouldn't hire someone who didn't have a ring.
Jim Leyland was such a class act. He took so much bullshit from dumbass Tiger "fans" (Looking at you Simonson) yet he still poured his heart and soul into the team and the state. It always moved me to see how emotional he got about the support from the blue collar fans. He made a lot of money in his career but he never forgot his working class roots.
Leyland may be an example of a guy who may not be the greatest at in-game management but is really good at other things like keeping everyone in the clubhouse happy. He was voted one of the most popular managers in MLB in a player survey. He'll be hard to replace.
(hope that's not inappropriate on this site. I just pretend he never went There)
Class act, always loved how he stood up for his players. Going to be tough to replace.
Very thankful for what Leyland did for Detroit Tigers baseball. He helped make the team relevent in the baseball world agin. I loved his personality and he knew how to handle a clubhouse, something that is greatly underappreciated. He is an honest and loyal man.
As far as his replacement, I have not heard many names out there that excite me. I really don't think Gibson is a great manager for the Tigers roster (plus I don't see Arizona letting him go) and there aren't many experienced managers available that good. I think a hire like Brad Ausmus would be best.
He is such an old-fashioned personality that it feels like the end of an era. Not just in baseball, but all sports.
Not surprised that Miggy has a torn groin. That's pretty much what I had him pegged for based on how he was playing.
Leyland is a great clubhouse guy who made questionable game-time decisions. He was clearly an overall positive on the team. That doesn't mean that he late-inning strategy, that usually was awful, didn't drive you crazy. He was great at managing a team over the course of a season. But if you needed to win just one game--egads he could do some really stupid things.
In the end though, Leyland didn't cause Prince Fielder to turn into the crappiest player in MLB, and he didn't tear Cabrera's groin. If those two players can play even average baseball, the Tigers beat Boston 4-0.
Ozzie Guillen.
For comedic value Ozzie Guillen would be gold, but for baseball purposes no thanks.
