Just two days after a grand slam by
Shane Victorino put the Tigers out of the World Series, it has been confirmed
that Jim Leyland is stepping down as manager of Detroit. The team has a new
conference scheduled for 10:30 AM CT today.
Leyland, 68, reportedly told his players that it was time for someone younger to step in and do the job at the end of the ALCS. He has been the manager of the Tigers since 2006, winning the pennant twice- one in 2006, and one last year. He’s advanced the Tigers into the ALCS for the last three years, a feat that he’s never accomplished before. 1990-1992, when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates, was the only other period where he finished in 1st place in the division.
Leyland also has one World Series ring, coming from 1997 when he was in his first of two years with the Florida Marlins. That team went 92-70, but the next year the Marlins finished a terrible 54-108, the worst record in baseball history after winning a World Series.
He has a career 1769-1728 (.506) managerial
record, going 851-863 in 11 years with the Pirates and 700-597 in 8 years with
the Tigers. He’s won three Manager of the Year awards (1990, 1992, 2006), and
finished in 2nd place three times.
He’s always had that one amazing
player on his teams, like having Barry Bonds when on the Pirates, Gary
Sheffield, Kevin Brown, and Moises Alou on the ’97 Marlins, Larry Walker and
Todd Helton on the ’99 Rockies, and now Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander on
the Tigers. Nevertheless, he has been one incredible coach.
Leyland was managing under a
one-year contract extension that he signed a year ago, right after Detroit was
swept by the San Francisco Giants in the World Series.
He should not be blamed for the
ALCS, in my opinion. Yes, though it seemed like he was outcoached by John
Farrell at points, lots of the mistakes that the Tigers made, Leyland could not
control. How could he expect two of his best relievers, especially against
Ortiz and Victorino, respectfully, to give up grand slams?
His pitching staff
almost threw a no-hitter in Game 1. Also remember that he had an unhealthy
Miguel Cabrera and a struggled Prince Fielder.
I think he’s stepping down mainly
for age. They do need a young guy in the Tigers staff right now, and now’s the
perfect chance to get someone. Detroit now joins the Cincinnati Reds and the
Washington Nationals among teams that need a win-now manager, with the Chicago
Cubs vacant of a managerial position as well. If the LA Angels fire Mike
Scioscia (which they should), then the Angels will have a vacant manager position
too.
We have yet to figure out if
Leyland is retiring or if he is willing to join another team, and I can get you
that info soon.
Will he be in the Hall of Fame? Yes
– at least he should be. Though he barely has a managerial record above .500,
he has been one of the faces of baseball since the 80’s, and has dominated the
game. He has been the face of not only the Tigers organization, but the face of
the Pirates organization when he coached there.
I will think that this will be a
beneficial move for both Leyland and the Tigers, but the question is: who will
take over?
They need a guy who is young, but
understands veterans. This is a veteran-dominated team, with few of their stars
homegrown (except Verlander). The Nationals are looking at guys like Matt
Williams and Brad Ausmus to manage, who are both respected veterans of the
game. I just recently heard that Cal Ripken might be in that mix. The Cubs were
looking at former manager Manny Acta, along with Rick Renteria and Mike Maddux.
Those guys aren’t too bad for the Tigers either.
Detroit now enters the managerial
search, and need a manager to enter a “win-now” mode. More on Leyland and the
Tigers’ status soon. Email me at statsbuddy42@gmail.com
for any questions/comments/concerns.
-Evan Boyd
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