For those who are waiting with bated breath for the ousting of their favorite team’s manager, Angels skipper Brad Ausmus would probably advise you to ignore unconfirmed rumors. Today, Ausmus reminded Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register that his time as Detroit’s manager was marked by unfounded rumors of his impending ouster (link). “It came out that I was being fired [in 2015]. I was there for two more years.” Indeed, several major outlets reported that season that Ausmus was as good as gone from the Tigers dugout, but intervention by GM Al Avila was later said to be instrumental in the former catcher maintaining his job in the Motor City.
Besides this helpful bit of historical perspective, it’s pertinent to note that Ausmus was relaying this experience in response to questions surrounding his own, current job security with Los Angeles. When asked about rumors that the club may be looking for a managerial change in the offseason–rumors that may have stemmed from a recent Ken Rosenthal blurb–Ausmus was nothing if not succinct. “I have a contract,” he told Fletcher. “That’s the only thing I know.” Ausmus is signed through the 2021 season under a three-year contract he agreed upon just last offseason.
More notes on the game’s most hard-to-quantify uniformed role…
- Former catcher David Ross is already a permanent figure in Cubs postseason lore–but could he become a regular fixture in their dugout in 2020? If Ross’ comments on ESPN this evening–as relayed by Jesse Rogers–are any indication, it sure sounds like he would have any interest in the now-vacant Chicago managerial position (Twitter link). “I think it’s one of the best jobs in baseball,” Ross said of the opening. “I’ve got a lot of close ties with those guys. I think the interest would be there. I think my heart is drawn to that dugout a little bit.” It’s worth noting that Ross also said his current role with ESPN does provide him with much-valued family time. At the same time, Ross’ quotes won’t do much to quell rumors tabbing him as the replacement for his former manager Joe Maddon.
- Clint Hurdle was only relieved of his post as Pirates manager this afternoon, but Rob Biertemfel of The Athletic is wasting no time in churning the gears of the managerial rumor mill (link). Although the club hasn’t yet confirmed its list of potential hires, Biertempfel has been asking “players, coaches, scouts, executives, and others in the industry” for several weeks about whom GM Neil Huntington might like to interview. Included among Biertempfel’s suggestions are former Rangers skipper Jeff Banister, Twins bench coach Derek Shelton, and White Sox minor league manager Omar Vizquel. Interestingly, Biertempfel summarily dispenses with any notion of Pittsburgh bringing in Joe Maddon, as the reporter believes that Maddon’s salary demands will be a non-starter for the small-market Pirates.
Vizquel should absolutely be managing in the Majors somewhere.
I think we could see him in SD or SF. My bet is SD.
Agreed, and with so many managerial openings, I also believe Omar will be offered one of them.
What are your reasons that Vizquel should absolutely be managing in the Majors somewhere?
My guess is cause a lot of FO people have talked very highly of him along with past teammates. I also believe I saw a thing on him one time on MLB network about his baseball IQ and the respect he gets around the league. He was compared a lot like a Francona and Washington type.
i cant say i have the up close and personal knowledge, but he comes off as the kind of guy who would be good for the job
I liked him as a player. I think he finished with just under 3,000 hits.
That;’s a great question, ty. Vizquel made a complete fool of himself when he interviewed for the Angels’ vacancy. he was completely clueless when asked about terms used in advanced metrics. Any rumors about his “IQ”, as it pertains to modern baseball, are complete fabricatins. He runs into outs, uses top prospects to bunt over players and forces hitters to go the other way, no matter the pitch type, location or game situation.
Hope he’s removed from the Sox system soon. They are just dumb enough to promote him, when renteria flames out.
The Pirates spend money on a manager!!??
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Clint hurdle made 3 million dollars this past season which made him the 5th highest paid manager in baseball. Going to say that insult doesn’t hold water.
Highly likely this manager will make less though. As we’ve seen the managers salary shift downward throughout baseball.
Nuttig to make Huntington manage, no extra money.
100% this manager will make less! They are already paying Hurdle $3 Million to NOT manager next year, do you really think they are going above $500,000 for a replacement? Any dollar spent on someone else will already be seen as breaking the bank by this ownership.
Hurdle making $3M a year made him the THIRD highest paid member of the clubhouse.
Marte $10.5M
Kela $3.125M
Hurdle $3M
Soooooo….. there’s that.
There’s plenty of cheap jokes to be made for Pitt. No arguments there. Managerial expenditure isn’t one of them though. I get your point in your comment but that’s definitely wrong. Off the top of my head I know , Dickerson, Cervelli, and Archer made more.
Don’t forget Polanco’s $6.1M
Ausmus should have been fired in 2015. The 2017 Tigers had the same record as the 2018 Tigers. Look at the rosters… one had Cabrera, Verlander Kinsler, JD, Upton, Justin Wilson… the other had Hicks, Machado, Jones, Martin, Liriano.
And how much pitching depth?
Asmus needs to be let go so he can manage the Padres and Maddon manage the Halos.
Ausmus…. It’s as simple as this. If you are 35 game out years end, it because you stop caring, you gave up, you don’t have it in you as an organization, team, player PERIOD
Injuries. Yes injuries are a large part of the game… understand EVER team, let me repeat that EVERY team had them. Especially the NYY and where are they Halo Clown? Exactly. Scoreboard! The scoreboard and standings do not lie.
35 games out means the Astros took the time to rebuild their farms system and created a powerhouse in doing so. The Yankees did too, which is why they overcame their injuries. If Ausmus was managing those teams they’d probably be in the same spot. The Yankees hired a manager with no managing experience before hand. Just like in Detroit, the Angels have no starting pitching depth coming out their farm system. They’ve rebuilt their farm system with mostly position player talent. Can’t pin that on Ausmus. That’s why all the talk is about the Angels attacking the starting pitching market. Until that happens, the Angels will be in the same position. You like to talk about no direction but that is false. The Angels have prioritized rebuilding the farm system and locking up Trout. Both of which they’ve done. Now it is a matter of finding pitching. Ausmus is just a media scapegoat for casual fans who have no idea how building a winning team actually works. Yankees, Red Sox, Astros, and Dodgers all had to go through recent droughts rebuilding their farm systems to get where they are now. I remember when AJ Hinch was scrutinized as manager of the D’Backs. Front offices run the game now and managers are just analytics puppets. If the Angels manage to fire him and hire Joe Madden it will be a total PR move on their part after their first 90 loss season in 20 years. Yeah, such a bad organization being able to avoid that over such a long period of time when the Astros were losing 100 games a year just 5 years ago! Lol
Vizquel’s name is the first name that popped into my head. Every time you hear the guy interviewed, he shows an almost Bucky-like appreciation for the nuances of the game….and he’s very pro analytics. And the players seem to like him.
He probably doesn’t want a whole lot of money; hey, that works in Pitt. And he’s got a personality a blue-collar city will love. The perfect choice.
Is it me or would Buck Showalter be the perfect guy in San Diego or Chicago but mostly San Diego. I think he would show them to handle the young guys how to handle growing in the majors. He doesn’t babysit but shows how it should be gets respect from everyone and definitely players work hard to make him happy and not to disappoint
Showalter would be awful for the Chicago unless it’s the white Sox
I like Brad Ausmus as a guy but as a tigers fan I was shocked he got this job to begin with
Brad Ausmus just seems like the most unlikable guy.
He’s a good dude. Bad coach.
I wonder if Ross is too recently a buddy to most of the Cubs roster that it could be difficult. I love what he did as a leader in Chicago. There’s also Mark Loretta who was brought in this year for a reason. He’s also highly regarded & doesn’t make sense to let him get away. Definitely think it’s gonna be an internal hire. Tommy Hottovy is another guy they love and he was fast-tracked to pitching coach. He could be in the conversation.
I did hear that as a player Ross was one to set a teammate straight if he felt it necessary. I also heard the Cubs offered the bench coach job to Mark DeRosa and after he turned it down they hired Loretta.
I like Omar Vizquel in Sand Diego. He would be perfect for all the young people coming up from the minors.
Omar Vizquel will be the White Sox’s bench coach for a few seasons then take over as the manager.
They are far too smart for that in SD.
And half the team is Hispanic so he can talk spanglish to the team
What about Sandy Alomar, Jr?
How many blowhards named Maddon does one Steel City need?
Most are forgetting about Girardi. Strong Cub ties. Wins everywhere.
Pirates will hire Jeff bannister in all likelihood
Even a retread like ausmus is too good for the job
Hire John Madden. I like his football game.