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Brad Ausmus not trying to ‘reinvent the wheel’ in Detroit

By Matt Cowlishaw

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Oct 19, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter (48) and third baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) react after scoring runs during the sixth inning in game six of the American League Championship Series baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter (48) and third baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) react after scoring runs during the sixth inning in game six of the American League Championship Series baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

It was announced earlier that the Detroit Tigers have hired Brad Ausmus to replace Jim Leyland as manager.

Ausmus, 44, comes to a Tigers team that has won the AL Central three years in a row and that reached the World Series in 2012.

The former catcher discussed his new role with Detroit, and the stacked roster he will be inheriting.

“I’m well aware that you don’t generally get dropped into a situation like I will be this coming season,” Ausmus said, according to ESPN.com. “I understand I’m very fortunate. That being said, I’m not taking anything for granted. No details will be glossed over. I’m not assuming anything going into the job.”

“We’re not going to reinvent the wheel here. This is a pretty darn good team,” Ausmus said. “I think I would be foolish to come here and try to make sweeping changes.”

The team Ausmus is inheriting ranked 1st in batting average (.238), and 2nd in runs (796), on base percentage (.346) and slugging percentage (.434).  Detroit also ranked in the top 10 in MLB in WHIP, BAA, ERA and ranked 1st in quality starts.

The Tigers finished 2013 at 93-69 and won the AL Central by one game over the Cleveland Indians.  They made it to the ALCS for the second consecutive year after defeating Oakland in five games in the ALDS, before losing to Boston in six and failing to make it to consecutive World Series’.

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