It’s not entirely the manager’s fault. It’s not simply his general manager’s fault, either.
But it’s Brad Ausmus’ problem right now. And it’s Al Avila’s job to fix it, if he can. Or if he’s allowed.
There is no easy solution for the Tigers’ never-ending, late-inning issues. But blaming the manager for running Francisco Rodriguez out there for the ninth inning again Sunday in Oakland, precipitating another calamitous loss for a .500 team that can’t afford many of those, does seem like the easy way out.
Mostly because it ignores the offseason intransigence from the front office, and the dearth of reliable options available to Ausmus with the game on the line and his starting pitcher in the dugout.