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The Tigers are comfortable enough in their plans to fire manager Brad Ausmus that the story has leaked to the media, but apparently not comfortable enough in that decision to actually fire Ausmus now. Instead, like with the Red Sox and longtime announcer Don Orsillo, Ausmus is just going to have to finish out the season with the uncomfortable knowledge that his job is not his any longer. This has not been a great season for baseball teams keeping secrets.
Ausmus isn’t entirely to blame for the Tigers’ downfall -- he didn’t make Victor Martinez rapidly age over one winter, or get Miguel Cabrera hurt, or ruin Justin Verlander’s first half, or fail to sign enough bullpen arms. However, he didn’t do a great job with what he did have, and what he did have was the makings of a competitive team. It’s possible he’s lost the clubhouse -- or wouldn’t know what to do with it if he had it -- but that’s just even more reason to let the guy go now.
The Tigers haven’t exactly been shy about hinting that Ausmus’ job was in jeopardy, with new general manager Al Avila saying that he had confidence in Ausmus through the end of the season -- rarely are those words used when they also include seasons beyond that. There have been whispers that this was it for Ausmus, and those whispers have now turned into full-fledged sourced reports, so it’s time to just set him loose and let him start to look for whatever it is he’ll be doing next.
- The Phillies announced on Thursday that they would not be extending general manager Ruben Amaro, so his time leading the Phils is coming to a close.
- Amaro did some good while in charge, but much of that came after he dug himself a very deep hole from which no successes could escape.
- We have a few weeks before the playoffs start, so let's yell at each other about awards!
- Hey, Mets fans. Relax. The Nationals are 7.5 games back, your team can hit and pitch, and Tom Glavine is nowhere in sight.
- It took five Rangers -- five! -- to throw out Mark Trumbo on this shallow pop-up.
- The Braves' path may have changed, but the goal remains the same as it always was.
- The Red Sox will likely go with some version of a Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo, and Jackie Bradley, Jr. outfield next season, but what do their other options look like? You know, in the unlikely event something goes awry in a baseball team's plans.
- Jung Ho Kang has a fan in Joon Lee.
- Marlon Byrd has the potential to mess up the Giants' offseason. He doesn't have to, though!
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