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I just have a problem in general with the way all pro sports treat the manager/head coach position. The players are all professionals and have usually been playing the game since they were little kids. In other words, the players have to play well and there’s not a whole lot the manager can do about that. In my opinion, the difference between a great manager vs. an average one (Tram probably was a bit below average with the potential to be above average) is probably 5 games or so when you adjust for players, parks, etc. That said, it is too bad Trammell couldn’t just finish out his contract.

As for Leyland, even though I think he’ll be a good manager, the guy flat out said he’s unfamiliar with the American League, he’s unfamiliar with the Tigers, he stunk in Colorado because he was burnt out, and he made several references to being old (60 years old). So we have an old guy who is 6 years older than when he was burnt out at Colorado. He has averaged under 79 wins per season as a manager overall. Not that impressive on the face of it. Had Illich bought a team like Huizenga did in Florida, Tram would have looked great too.

Was he a great manager? No. Is Jim Leyland an improvement? Of course. But Trammell was the greatest Tiger ballplayer of my generation (I’m 36). As you said, he was always a thoroughly decent man of the highest order of professionalism and class.

The same can’t be said for the bulk of the “men” he managed.

Mike, I don’t disagree with the rest of your points, but I don’t think you’ll ever see a manager finish out his contract. If the team is doing well, the manager is going to get an extension. If the team’s doing poorly, can you imagine how much trouble he’d have rallying the troops if he was in the last couple months of his contract?

The manager needs ownership’s support, or the players of today will not respect him. There were already reports of that happening with the tigers 6-8 weeks ago. If they let Trammell have another year without a strong statement of support from management (i.e. 3+ year contract extension) he would have achieved lame duck status by mid june.

It really seems to be an all or nothing game.

Now here’s a guy we should all be worried about handling our staff–especially if we have the two young guys in the rotation next year. The Cubs have absolutely mangled all that talent they have.

In addition to the loss of Cluck, Leyland plans to bring in mainly former Pirate players. I don’t quite remember the Pirates of the late 80′s and early 90′s having the most strategic of ballplayers. Slaught and Van Slyke, two of the considerations, don’t have any coaching experience. I don’t see how this is an improvement. Of course, Joey already touched on the Rothschild issue. I hope this is not a sign of Leyland’s great wisdom.

If the ineptitude of Tigers organization has finally led readers of this blog to despair, the Tigers organization has something to be worried about.