Detroit Tigers: 4 Things a New Manager Must Bring

Sep 1, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Bruce Rondon (43) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Detroit won the game 6-5. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Stop the Clubhouse Turmoil

It should not be a surprise that the typically harmonious Detroit Tigers’ clubhouse turned into a toxic cesspool this season. Losing tends to make formerly winning clubhouses fracture.

Nonetheless, there were still too many incidents that happened this season inside the clubhouse and dugout. This does not even take into account the other myriad of issues on and off the field such as Dave Dombrowski’s in-season termination, Brad Ausmus’ firing rumors, fans booing players, players complaining about fans in the media, etc., etc.

It started in the middle of the season during a David Price start. While having an unusually tough start, Price headed to the clubhouse after throwing 99 pitches and didn’t come back. He got out of his uniform and began doing post-start arm exercises. Only problem is that Ausmus wanted him for the next inning. He didn’t come back.

Call it miscommunication at best; call it a player quitting on his team at worst, but it was a troubling sign of things to come.

Following Price’s departure, and the other trading deadline deals, tempers boiled over in front of cameras when Jose Iglesias took exception to something James McCann said and the two needed to be separated by teammates. The next day was interesting as Iglesias was unapologetic and doubled-down.

Say what you want about his managerial skills, but these types of issues didn’t happen under Jim Leyland–or at least not publicly.

More recently was the surprising dismissal of Bruce Rondon, sent home for the rest of the season. More surprising was the fact that Tigers’ players were not surprised and basically said “if you don’t want to be here then you won’t be here.”

Rondon appeared to be going through the motions, something that we as fans have lobbed at this team a lot in the second half. For one player, at least, it seems to have been true.

For the Tigers to be successful, they need to cut out the crap. Players, coaches, manager and the front office need to be on the same page on everything that happens in the clubhouse, in the dugout and on the field.

Which leads us to the next important thing the new manager must do…

Next: O Captain My Captain

Jul 29, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann (34) looks on in the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Name a Captain

The Detroit Tigers have never named a captain in their 115 year history, and this is something that does not happen much in baseball with a few notable exceptions like Derek Jeter and Jason Varitek. Even Mike Sweeney wore the “C” on his jersey for some really awful Kansas City Royals teams.

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I would not advocate a C be affixed to the Tigers’ iconic jersey (Jeter never wore a C but there was never a question about his leadership skills), but the new manager needs to name a captain or co-captains for this team.

The Tigers have not had a true leader in a long, long time. This is/was not just a Brad Ausmus issue, Jim Leyland‘s teams often lacked leadership in the player’s ranks. You might have to go back to the playing days of Alan Trammell to find a true Tigers’ leader/captain, although like the most famous captain in Detroit sports history, Steve Yzerman, Tram was more of a quiet leader and wanted his play on the field to be what players followed.

One could argue that Torii Hunter was a leader in the clubhouse in his two seasons with the Tigers, but his stint in Detroit was always going to be brief.

Something that has seemingly happened a lot this season is when the Tigers needed a leader, no one stepped up. Ausmus wanted a player to step up and be vocal and none did. When that didn’t happen, Ausmus was incapable or unwilling to hold players accountable.

During the Tigers’ just concluded run of divisional domination, they have had their share of superstars. Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Prince Fielder are all names of superstar plays of their generation, but none of these have ever risen to the ranks of being the team captain. Verlander has shown some leadership skills this season, but it’s hard to be a captain when you play once or twice per week.

Will it be James McCann, the player that David Price said will one day wear the C? Or will Miggy, Victor or someone not currently on the roster step up to claim the leadership reigns?

Next: Veterans Day

Aug 16, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Hold Veterans Accountable

One of my biggest complaints with Brad Ausmus, especially in his first year, was that he never seemed to be able to hold veterans accountable.

Motor City Bengals

Starters were able to talk him into leaving them in for one pitch too many and he was not really wanting to bench veterans who are slumping. Ausmus has been described as a “players manager,” but his hands-off approach was one step too far.

It is almost like Ausmus, who was just a few years older than some of the players and played with and against many in the clubhouse, was a little gun-shy at having to be the authoritative figure in the clubhouse.

For really the first time in his tenure, a message has been finally sent to a player. It was not a veteran, but the dismissal of Bruce Rondon is a step in the right direction, if indeed Ausmus was involved in the process to have him sent home rather than Al Avila making the call.

These are the things that have to happen with the next manager. If you don’t produce, you’re gone. If you are a veteran and you don’t produce, you get cut. If you are a superstar and don’t produce, you get benched.

Everything should be on the table if you are chasing a World Series title, which is something the Detroit Tigers have convinced us they will be doing in 2016. No one should be immune from repercussions of poor play and a bad attitude.

Next: Just Win, Baby

Sep 25, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers team poses for a photo during the post game celebration of winning the American League Central Division Championship at Target Field. The Tigers won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Winning is the Cure for Everything

For the next manager, it is really simple: Just win!

Knowing full well that the manager is the one that makes dinner, but can only do so much with the groceries purchased by the general manager, that means the ball is in Al Avila’s court.

If Tigers’ ownership is committed to continue the high level of spending as they have stated, Avila will have plenty of money to lure free agents and put this club in a position back into contention for 2016 and beyond.

That manager must make the magic happen. No more managing by the guidebook, no more letting problems fester, no more fright at challenging players.

A good manager can make an average team win and good teams go deep into October. But in the end–after all the money is spent, after all the managing moves have been made–it falls on the players to win games.

But putting them in the right position to win on and off the field goes a long way to victory.

Next: Rondon is a head case, best bullpen members will not be overworked, Gallardo