By Scott Barancik, editor
It looks like manager Brad Ausmus’s stay with the Detroit Tigers is coming to an end.
Citing an unnamed source with “knowledge of the front office’s plans,” the Detroit Free Press reported this morning that Tigers owner Mike Ilitch will fire Ausmus sometime after the the team’s final game of the regular season, on Oct. 4. The 46-year-old former catcher, who coached Team Israel in the 2012 World Baseball Classic qualifiers and is the sixth Jewish manager in MLB history, is in the second year of a 3-year contract.
Expectations were high when the rookie manager took the helm in 2014. Detroit had finished in first place in 2013 with a 93-69 record and made it to the American League Championship Series, which it lost to the Red Sox four games to two. Under Ausmus, the Tigers again finished in first, this time with a 90-72 record, but was swept by the Orioles in the division series.
The 2015 season, by contrast, has been a major disappointment. The last-place Tigers are 64-75 with 23 games to go and have lost 15 of their last 20. According to the Free Press, “many fans have blamed the Tigers’ disappointing season in large part on the manager.” But despite strong play from 2B Ian Kinsler and others, Ausmus has been working with a denuded roster.
After four straight division titles, the Tigers were expected to be serious contenders again this season. But Dombrowksi traded stars David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria at the July trade deadline after it was decided that the team was too far out of the playoff race. Injuries to Miguel Cabrera and the offensive struggles of Victor Martinez didn’t give the Tigers optimism they could earn a wild-card berth.
It’s not all bleak for Ausmus. Minutes ago, USA Today baseball columnist Bob Nightingale tweeted that the Connecticut native could end up in San Diego if the Padres let manager Pat Murphy go.
Want our daily updates sent free to your e-mailbox? Click here
