Detroit Tigers Replace Retiring Manager Jim Leyland With Brad Ausmus

Chicago Cubs Expected To Name New Manager This Week

  • Sunday, November 3, 2013
Brad Ausmus with the 2008 Houston Astros.
Brad Ausmus with the 2008 Houston Astros.
photo by Tim Evearitt

DETROIT -- The Tigers acquired and traded away Brad Ausmus twice as a player. In their search for a manager, they've found him again.

Ausmus, a former Tigers catcher and most recently a Padres special assistant, accepted the club's vacant managerial job on Sunday. The Tigers held a news conference at Comerica Park on Sunday afternoon to introduce their new leader.

The Tigers had been expected to look toward a familiar face to follow Jim Leyland as manager. In Ausmus, they've still managed to create a surprise.

Ausmus interviewed for the job on Monday, saying afterward that he had a good discussion with club president/general manager Dave Dombrowski and his staff for the job. He was the third candidate to interview for the job, following Tim Wallach, the Dodgers' third-base coach, and Lloyd McClendon, longtime hitting coach on Leyland's staff in Detroit.

Padres bench coach Rick Renteria also interviewed for the job, on Thursday. The Tigers had been expected to interview Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, but the Boston Globe's Pete Abraham reported Saturday that they hadn't asked the Red Sox for permission to talk with him about the job.

Ausmus is taking the job with no managerial experience in the Major or Minor Leagues -- a first for Dombrowski. Those who have worked with Ausmus, however, rave about his ability to communicate with players, the products of a Dartmouth education and an 18-year career as a big league catcher.

Ausmus spent 2 1/2 of those seasons in Detroit, most recently in 1999-2000. The Tigers then traded him to Houston, where he spent the next eight seasons before finishing his playing career with the Dodgers in 2010.

"Great mind for the game," one American League official said, "and an ability to communicate in layman, Ph.D., management terms. ... Low-energy look, but a fierce competitor, humorous but tough, all lends to an ability to find everyone's button that needs to be pushed."

Former Tigers great Travis Fryman, who played with Ausmus during his first Tigers stop in 1996, described Ausmus as a "very bright guy.

"I've certainly heard his name the last couple of years in manager discussions. Certainly catching prepares you to a large extent. So I think Brad would do an excellent job for anybody interested in him.

"We seem to see a trend in baseball towards younger managers. A lot of it I think is your presence, how you impact people around you. A lot of the decision making today is a little more predictable with sabermetrics. ... Certainly, Brad is a very intelligent guy. He's a Dartmouth graduate. I think Brad would be a strong manager."

That's a trend the Tigers haven't necessarily been expected to follow with a team coming off a third consecutive AL Central title and a six-game battle in the AL Championship Series before falling to the eventual World Series champion Red Sox.

One factor that could mitigate the inexperience would be a veteran coaching staff, such as what the Tigers had with Leyland. Gene Lamont, Leyland's close confidant and bench coach this past season, is close with Ausmus and will remain in his role under the new skipper. Pitching coach Jeff Jones was a bullpen coach for a stint while Ausmus was a catcher here.

Chicago Cubs

Expect a new Cubs manager to be revealed this week. All that's known so far is that it won't be Brad Ausmus.

Ausmus was the sixth candidate to talk to Theo Epstein, Cubs president of baseball operations.

On Tuesday, former Indians and Mariners manager Eric Wedge, 45, met with Epstein and the front office to discuss the vacant manager's job. The Cubs also have interviewed Rick Renteria, A.J. Hinch, Dave Martinez and Manny Acta.

The Cubs also are expected to interview Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, 48, this week, according to FOX Sports and MLB Network's Ken Rosenthal. Epstein hired Lovullo to manage the Red Sox's Triple-A Pawtucket team in 2010.

--- Source: MLB.com

Jim Leyland announced his retirement at the end of the 2013 season.
Jim Leyland announced his retirement at the end of the 2013 season.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Sports
Mocs Houk Named SoCon Golfer Of The Week
  • 3/27/2024

Chattanooga Mocs senior John Houk claimed this week’s Southern Conference Golfer of the Week honor with an impressive runner-up performance at the General Hackler Championships. The Athens, Tenn., ... more

UTC Homecoming Set For October 26
  • 3/27/2024

The Chattanooga Mocs completed spring drills prior to Spring Break and are now deep into strength and conditioning work ahead of the summer in preparation for the fall season. One highlight to ... more

Chapman's 5 RBIs Lead Vols To Run-Rule Win Over Tennessee Tech
  • 3/27/2024

A five-RBI game from Reese Chapman and impressive group effort from the pitching staff highlighted No. 5/5 Tennessee's 11-1 run-rule victory over in-state foe Tennessee Tech on Tuesday night ... more