OT: Jim Leyland to Retire, Presser at 11:30 ET
Per 105.1:
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.
October 22nd, 2013 at 12:05 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 2:53 PM ^
"badly underachieved" ???
Do you remember how bad the Tigers were prior to Jim's arrival? Who do you think should replace him?
October 21st, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
Please no.
I'd like a manager that acknowledges the importance of OBP.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
I think it's a little early to be drinking
October 21st, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
For a second there, I was wondering what rational human being would want us to hire Lloyd McClendon when Bobby Valentine is still available.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 12:32 PM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^
Jon Gruden
October 21st, 2013 at 10:23 AM ^
Lane Kiffin?
October 21st, 2013 at 10:18 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 10:23 AM ^
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.....
October 21st, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:26 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
could apply to Michigan as well. But some people are never happy. They want more and they want it yesterday.
October 21st, 2013 at 11:15 AM ^
Borges accomplishments mirror Leylands's. Talk about a false equivalency.
October 21st, 2013 at 11:47 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 1:00 PM ^
I know you didn't. I just wanted to expound upon what you were referring to because it brought up the thoughts.
October 21st, 2013 at 2:55 PM ^
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....
October 21st, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:41 AM ^
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...
October 21st, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 11:09 AM ^
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
October 21st, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 11:30 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:52 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 9:05 PM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 10:49 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
This is a sad day. Jim has been one of the great institutions in MLB through recent decades.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^
What about Tony Larussa?
October 21st, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^
October 21st, 2013 at 12:17 PM ^
He would be a great fit for sure, but he recently said a week or so ago that he's done managing.
October 21st, 2013 at 12:17 PM ^
think Tony is done coaching.
October 21st, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
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
October 21st, 2013 at 2:07 PM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 5:17 PM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 11:05 AM ^
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.
October 21st, 2013 at 11:27 AM ^