The Tigers fired manager Phil Garner as well as GM Randy Smith after starting the season 0-6. Luis Pujols has been named interim manager while team President Dave Dombroski will take over the GM duties.

In two plus years with Detroit, the Tigers are 145-185. This was his 10th season as a manger in the big leagues and he has had only ONE winning season. Who keeps hiring this dude?

It is about freakin time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Tigers fans (yes we do exist) have been calling for Smiths' head for years and for Garners since shortly after he was hired -- hopefully the tigers will start to get this thing turned around with new direction.

Thank the lord, Illitch has finally got his head out of his a$$ and realizes that detroit doesn't revolve solely around the Red Wings!!!!!!!

[quote]Originally posted by George_vikingfan:
In two plus years with Detroit, the Tigers are 145-185. This was his 10th season as a manger in the big leagues and he has had only ONE winning season. Who keeps hiring this dude?

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Probably the same ones who keep hiring Jim Fregosi and Jeff Torborg, among others...

ESPN.com is now reporting Pujols will manage the Tiggers for the rest of the season for whatever that's worth!

Apparently one of the reasons Detroit gave Pujols the job for AT LEAST the rest of this season was to convince Pujols' mentor, Felipe Alou, to join the Tigers as "Bench Coach" (ala, Don Zimmer in the Bronx)....Pujols played for Alou and coached for him for MANY years in Montreal and has the utmost respect for Felipe....while I know little about Pujols (following his playing days in Houston) I can see how this plan could be successful IF the Tigers manage to acquire some badly needed talent....after reviewing Randy Smith's track record of making several atrocious trades (including the now infamous Luis Gonzalez for Karim Garcia) it's amazing Smith lasted as GM as long as he did.

Now maybe the Tigers can get back on track and start winning-and stop being the laughing stock of baseball. I grew up in Detroit in the glory days. I am now a Tigers fan(duh it's my handle) and always will be.

Now ESPN.com is reporting that the Tiggers have hired Felipe Alou as a bench coach! WTF!!! I guess they want to have him on board for when they inevitably fire Pujols.

Actually, Felipe Alou is close to Luis Pujols ... Pujols was on his staff in Montreal at one point. This is an indication that the Tigers are serious about wanting Pujols toi succeed as the regular manager (not just an interim). This is the first positive news of the season for the Tigers.

Boston tried to do this sort of thing last year. Duquette asked Felipe to serve as Kerrigan's bench coach, but Felipe wouldn't bite.

Felipe Alou has taken the job of bench coach to Luis Pujols.

I doubt Alou would have taken the managerial job with the Tigers if it had been offered to him....from all accounts Alou is accepting the job as bench coach in Detroit (not unlike Don Zimmer in the Bronx) to help his long-time protege Pujols "adjust" to becoming a successful big league manager....Pujols not only was an assistant coach in Montreal under Alou for nearly a decade but also played for Felipe during several seasons in winter ball....while NO manager could win with the present Tigers roster, if Dombrowski (acting GM) is able to upgrade the talent in Detroit, Alou's experience alone could make a considerable difference in the win column....keep in mind Alou only agreed to a one-year contract (not coincidentally covering the same time span as the Tigers front office has now given Pujols) and although Detroit is likely to battle Baltimore and Tampa Bay for the worst record in the AL this season, if they are patient and give both men the commitment they deserve, I can envision how the Tigers could reap the benefits long term.

IMO gamecock's analysis hits the bullseye, I'd just add one angle - I don't think Dombrowski wants to wear both the President's and GM's hats for very long. Although he had a good relationship with Carl Barger in Miami, I think he'd be careful of not tying his eventual GM's hands too much. That said, if the Pujols/Alou team performs well, I'm sure the incoming GM could work with that arrangement (maybe even give FA a similar role to what Tony Perez had with the Marlins.

Edited for typo

[ April 12, 2002: Message edited by: Wurm ]