Detroit Tigers’ Manager Jim Leyland’s success – MLB Update
Tigers may have lost their way after the All Star Break but they ended the season strongly to ensure a spot in the playoffs. Five days ago, Tigers celebrated with champagne after clinching their second straight American League Central Division title.
A couple of days later, they celebrated again with Miguel Cabrera who became only the second Tigers’ hitter to win the Triple Crown Award. Third baseman Cabrera achieved a feat that no one had managed since 1960’s.
Credit should be given to the Manager Jim Leyland who has used his resources absolutely perfectly. After the Tigers wrapped up an impressive series victory at Kauffman Stadium to finish the season, this is what Leyland said in a news conference.
"I'm happy about one thing -- nobody can ever say I screwed (Cabrera) up."
Jim Leyland has faced some tough times this season. It has been a strange year for the skipper who has taken a lot of criticism from the fans. Never, in his seven years tenure with the Tigers he looked so frustrated and defensive.
It is easy to understand why Leyland was under so much pressure. Considering Tigers acquired the likes of Prince Fielder and Jacob Turner during the offseason, there were great expectations from them. Even before the season started, there were talks of winning
the World Series finals.
"Jim Leyland is the gold standard. Period," he said. "My generation of managers -- I'm 53 -- all got into this game wanting to be him."
"It bothers him," said Sean Casey, a former Tigers’ first baseman who played for Leyland and now an analyst for the MLB Network. "It would bother anybody. He's human."
"Detroit should be grateful for what they have," he said, "and be careful what they wish for. (Look) at Francona in Boston. They win 90 games (last year) and now they've got a whole mess."
Fans wanted him to resign when the Tigers were struggling to snap their losing streak but surely, majority of them will want owner Mike Ilitch to sign him for another season.
Baseball is a tough business and sometimes even the best Managers find it difficult to solve their problem but Leyland has shown that he has the ability to lead his way out of trouble.
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