Management and Coaching Make a Difference

Who's Runnin' the Show

The Tigers are struggling this season, but they are so much more fun to watch than the General Manager Al Avila made it sound like they would be in 2018. They are a young team and play hard. It's like when Jim Leyland used to encourage them to play "nine hard innings." The Brad Ausmus years were a rough quartet. I'm still amazed that the brain trust let the experiment last as long as it did.

I believe that in August 2015 when Avila replaced Dave Dombrowski in the GM chair, Avila planned to axe Ausmus; however, the media spread the rumor that Ausmus was out, and Avila backtracked. Then, kept him two more seasons. Under Dombrowski, ne're a rumor made its way from the front office. Then, two hours into Avila's time in the head role, leaks emerged. Different leadership, different results.

The Old English D might have changed on the uniforms, but the pride remains. The Tigers will once again be relevant, but a .500 team doesn't do much to inspire the imagination. Remember, though. 10 seasons ago, the 2008 Detroit Tigers were going to score 1,000 runs — and ended up way below .500 This team in 2018 is expected to score 500 runs ... and will probably end up near .500.

I wonder if it makes sense to keep the band together and compete in the somewhat lousy American League Central, then get the gift of the Yankees or Astros in the postseason … or would it make more sense to trade of Nick Castellanos, Shane Greene, and other pieces to further build for the future?