OT: Jim Leyland to Retire, Presser at 11:30 ET

Submitted by Bando Calrissian on

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.

jdon

October 21st, 2013 at 11:10 AM ^

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

 

NHWolverine

October 21st, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^

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.

denardogasm

October 21st, 2013 at 11:43 AM ^

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.

The Dirty Nil

October 21st, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^

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.

Michigan4Life

October 21st, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^

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.

samdrussBLUE

October 21st, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^

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

Simps

October 21st, 2013 at 3:00 PM ^

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. 

MichFan1997

October 21st, 2013 at 4:31 PM ^

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. 

bsand2053

October 21st, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^

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.  

jmblue

October 21st, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^

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.

hail2mich

October 21st, 2013 at 1:27 PM ^

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. 

French West Indian

October 21st, 2013 at 1:53 PM ^

He is such an old-fashioned personality that it feels like the end of an era.  Not just in baseball, but all sports.

JamieH

October 21st, 2013 at 4:55 PM ^

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.