Following the Tigers win over the Giants in the finale of that series, Detroit fired pitching coach Rick Knapp. That's somewhat of a surprise since he's considered a good pitching coach.
But I guess with "headcase" performances ongoing with Phil Coke, Rick Porcello over the past month after it seemed like he'd found the secret to his success, Max Scherzer at times, Daniel Schlereth and alot of the bullpen, and the occasional control meltdown of the otherwise electric Al Alburquerque, something had to change given that something needs to spark with Detroit in the teeth of a pennant race.
Jim Leyland said it was the first time in his managing career that a coach has been fired in the season. I wonder if that is a sign that Jim Leyland himself could be in some trouble if this team underachieves with this talent and can't win a generally mediocre AL Central.
I like Leyland. Looking at his track record in Detroit though he has an AL Championship. But he also has a super underachieving sub-.500 season in Miguel Cabrera's first season. He's got an epic collapse that led to Detroit losing a one game playoff at Minnesota. He's got a .500 season last year that was underachievement even with Magglio Ordonez breaking his ankle and missing the last 2 and a half months of the season when he was having a big year.
I'm not in favor of a management change. But a case can be made, especially given that Detroit has spent money on payroll and developed some good young talent in their farm system on his watch, that they've underachieved and should have done more than 1 playoff appearance since 2006. Sure, 2006 was a bit of a magical surprise from a team that put all its talent together, but it can be argued that at least 2 teams since then, including this one, are as talented or more than the 2006 AL Champions.
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