Detroit Tigers Links 10/28: Manager Speculation and Remembering Tiger Stadium

Oct 25, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager

(22) talks with the media during a press conference a day before game three of the World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

If Tigers follow Cardinals’ example, Lloyd McClendon could be next manager – John Lowe, Detroit Free Press

"Matheny had strong ties to the St. Louis organization. He had spent five seasons of his catching career with the Cardinals under La Russa. After his retirement as a player, he worked for the Cardinals as a spring training instructor and as a special assistant to Mozeliak. Matheny is from Ohio and distinguished himself at U-M, but by the time of his hiring as manager, he had settled in the St. Louis area.In their two seasons under Matheny, the Cardinals have continued the excellence achieved with La Russa. They missed the World Series by a game last year, and they made it this year."

Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo on Tigers’ managerial radar – Al Beaton, Bless You Boys

"The Boston Globe reports ex-Tigers infielder Torey Lovullo, now John Farrell‘s bench coach for the AL champion Boston Red Sox, is on the Detroit Tigers’ short list of managerial candidates.Lovullo told MLive’s James Schmehl he was interested in managerial opportunities, but he refuses to address his status until the World Series comes to an end."

Detroit Tigers final grades: Plenty of great performances, but not the expected results – George Sipple, Detroit Free Press

"The Tigers won a third straight American League Central Division title this season. They reached the AL Championship Series for the fourth time in eight years. They drew more than 3 million fans. It was, by almost any measure, a wildly successful season for the club.But then, these Tigers also failed to meet expectations. Anything short of winning the World Series was going to seem like a disappointment. Indeed, that’s how most people saw it after the Tigers lost in six games to the Red Sox in the ALCS."

Analysis: Of nine arbitration-eligible Detroit Tigers, Phil Coke is most likely to not be offered contract – Chris Iott, MLive

"The Tigers have nine players eligible for arbitration this offseason, including starting pitchers Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Doug Fister. If history is any indication, the Tigers will not actually go before an arbitrator with any of them.Coke went 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.670 WHIP for the Tigers in 2013. They might decide to let him walk away and seek a left-handed reliever elsewhere rather than pay more than $2 million to Coke next season. The Tigers declined to tender a contract to left-hander Daniel Schlereth a year ago.Scherzer will get a huge raise this offseason and will be a free agent following the 2014 season. The Tigers could trade him this offseason if they are concerned about losing him in a year. It seems more likely that they will keep him, though his increase will be sizable for a team that had a 2013 payroll of around $150 million."

Detroit Tiger Stadium, Navin Field shine in inspiring ‘Stealing Home’ film that profiles volunteers – Eric Lacy, MLive

"Glad I gave in and went to see “Stealing Home,” a film from University of Detroit professor Jason Roche, and got to see why the stadium and its existing Navin Field playing surface still draw so much passion.After editing more than 100 hours of footage, Roche captures in 90 minutes why a volunteer group called the Navin Field Grounds Crew does an invaluable service for the city."