Tigers name Ausmus as new manager

Brad Ausmus, who spent 18 seasons in Major League Baseball as a catcher, was given his first managerial job Sunday by the Detroit Tigers.The 44-year-old American has served as a special assistant for the San Diego Padres since retiring as a player in 2010."This guy was born to manage," Tigers general manger Dave Dombrowski said.

The Tigers, 93-69 this past season, won the American League Central division crown for the third year in a row but lost to eventual World Series champion Boston in the American League championship series.

Former Detroit manager Jim Leyland retired after the playoff loss to the Red Sox after eight seasons with the Tigers, guiding the club to four playoff appearances and two American League crowns. Detroit lost to St. Louis in the 2006 World Series and to San Francisco last year.

Ausmus played from 1993 through 2010 with Detroit, San Diego, Houston and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He batted .251 in 1,971 career games.

Ausmus also was a three-time Gold Glove winner for his fielding skills and made an appearance in the 1999 All-Star Game in 1999, when he hit .275 with career highs of nine home runs and 54 runs batted in.

Source: DSG

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