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Update: 'We Do Expect Things to Be Better in 2016' -- Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus

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September 26, 2015, 8:19 PM by  Alan Stamm

8 p.m. Saturday: The Tigers' general manager and ducked-a-bullet manager spoke to reporters before the season's second-to-last home game, and Catherine  of the Bless You Boys blog was there. 

"I believe Brad has the talent, the know-how, to lead and mentor the young players that are on this team," she quotes Al Avila as asying.

"Mr. Ilitch left it up to me, and I made the decision," Avila said. "I called him, I said, ‘Mr. Ilitch, I'm going to keep Brad Ausmus.' He said, ‘God bless you, move forward.' "

For his part, Brad Ausmus says: "We do expect things to be better in 2016."

Original article, Saturday afternoon:

Go figure, right? So much for widespread hopes predictions.

"Brad is the right manager for this team," Tigers general manager Al Avila announces Saturday. Here's more from his 4:12 p.m. statement at the team's site:

On Friday afternoon, I met with manager Brad Ausmus and during our discussion I told him I wanted him to continue as manager of the Tigers in 2016. Brad said he wanted to continue managing the Tigers.


Matt Pelc, a Sports Illustrated blogger at Motor City Bengals, tweets his blunt reaction.

As recently as Saturday morning, Katie Strang of ESPN posted from Detroit:

Ausmus, who played 18 years in the majors, is savvy enough to know this could be his final homestand at Comerica Park. And he remains aware that he could take the fall for what has been a hugely disappointing 2015 season for the team.

"There's an expectation to win," he said. "I'm the one person you can really point a finger at. So point it at me."

Reports surfaced earlier this month that Ausmus would be dismissed.

The Tigers'GM describes Ausmus as the best manager "for us to achieve our goals in 2016."

"Our goal is to bring a World Championship to Tigers fans who support this team night in and night out. We are working together every day to be the best we can today, and rest assured we will make the necessary adjustments needed along the way."

That last bit seems to leave the clubhouse door open for a mid-season change.

"The Tigers have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games," notes Sports Illustrated writer Matt Pelc at its Motor City Bengals blog. That's "their best stretch in a 10-game span since April, which might have been taken into consideration."

Pelc's personal viewpoint is crystal-clear in the tweets at right and atop the set below.

Deadline reader Eric C. Smith comments at our Facebook page: "I wonder how much they will regret this decision when season ticket sales drop 30%?"

These are among other reactions:


Read more:  Detroit Tigers

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