Detroit Tigers Could Announce Manager Decision on Monday

Chalk this one up to speculation at this point, but the Lynn Henning of the Detroit News tweeted out his expectation that the Tigers would announce their decision on Monday.

"@ShaneGoBlue Shane: Guessing tomorrow on Lovullo. Would expect a new manager announcement Monday.— Lynn G. Henning (@Lynn_Henning) October 31, 2013"

That would seem to make Torey Lovullo, current bench coach of the Boston Red Sox, the final candidate on the list that also includes:

Lloyd McClendon – current Tigers hitting coach

Tim Wallach – current Dodgers third base coach

Brad Ausmus – current Padres special assistant

Rick Renteria – current Padres bench coach

(Torey Lovullo – current Red Sox bench coach)

Unless I’m missing someone, that’s the full list of names that have been connected with interviews with the club. There has been no indication whether the team has (or will) interview internal candidates Tom Brookens and Gene Lamont or experienced managers such as Charlie Manuel and Manny Acta.

And that’s the interesting thing. If this really is the full list of candidates, then the only one with actual big league experience is McClendon. Otherwise the collection is a group of high-ranking major league assistants (and you can include McClendon in that group as well). You could take that one of two ways: (1) it was always going to be McClendon’s job or (2) experience really has nothing to do with what they’re looking for.

I’m hoping it’s option two; that they’re looking for someone who’s not stuck in his managerial ways. Someone who would be willing to listen to (and work with) the front office without seeing it as an affront to his knowledge and/or managerial style.