Detroit — It was his fault, even when it wasn’t. Brad Ausmus heard it all the time, as the Tigers plummeted to last place and the second-year manager couldn’t do much about it.
He doesn’t bunt enough! He bunts too much! He pulls his pitchers too soon! He leaves the starter in too long! Why won’t he kick dirt on the umpire?!
By late last season, Ausmus pretty much assumed he’d be fired. One TV outlet even reported it, and in a strange way, that might have helped him. Al Avila was miffed by the report and insisted no decision was made, and that became the first test of the new GM’s ability to evaluate without influence from popular (or media) opinion.