Jim Leyland will receive Tommy Lasorda Managerial Achievement Award – MLB Tigers update
Last season, Jim Leyland led Detroit Tigers to the AL Central division title. Although the Tigers were unable to win the World Series, they displayed some high quality baseball in the post season. Leyland will get standing ovations during the Tigers’ caravan this week but in addition to the applause, he will also be receiving the Tommy Lasorda Managerial Award on Saturday night.
Leyland will be one of the chief guests at the ninth annual Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation dinner in Los Angeles. The event is attended by more than fifteen hundred guests from different sporting bodies, media and entertainment groups each year. Tommy Lasorda Managerial Award is the most prestigious management level award in baseball. Other winners for this award include Whitey Herzog, Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa and Mike Scioscia.
Jim now has an excellent opportunity to register his name in the list of all time great managers for Tigers. Showing great determination and fighting spirit, he led the Tigers out of trouble on several occasions during the 2011 season. The hard work Leyland and other coaching staff put in certainly paid dividends as the Tigers achieved significant results during their regular season campaign.
The Scouts Foundation has done a remarkable job to raise more than $1.5 million in the past eight years. The organisation gives funds to the needy baseball scouts every year. Hall of Famers Frank Robinson and Johnny Bench will also be honoured for their services on Saturday.
The Tigers will be looking for a fifth starter to strengthen their pitching unit. Team manager, Leyland will be hoping to build a strong team for their 2012 regular season campaign. However, they have a few issues to address before they start dreaming of a World Series Championship. Leyland is looking to make costly and expensive changes in his team to get a more balanced and “all round” offence.
However, the Tigers will not be looking to trade younger and brighter prospects in exchange for more experienced and aging players for short term success. Considering his success over the last few years, Leyland is expected to come up with a decent plan to eliminate the problems.
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