Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire has announced his retirement effective immediately citing health concerns.
Gardenhire reportedly dealt with a bout of food poisoning earlier in the month causing him to miss several games and dealt with some shaking due to the stress that comes with the rigors of an MLB season.
In the final year of his deal with the Tigers, Gardenhire was originally planning on calling it a career at the end of the season. However, after a conversation with Tigers GM Al Avila, the decision was ultimately made that he would step aside now and let Lloyd McClendon take over as manager for the final week of the year.
Gardenhire informed general manager Al Avila of his decision Saturday afternoon. He said he had planned to retire at the end of the season, but had been feeling unwell of late.
“I don’t want to feel like I’m running out on anybody but I know I have to take care of myself, because the way I’ve been feeling lately just isn’t right,” Gardenhire said.
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“As we went along, we talked about the way I’d been feeling since I had that bout of food poisoning in Minnesota and the stomach problems and then the tension, the stress that goes along with this job,” Gardenhire said. “I told Al, ‘I’ll step out right now.’ It’s been wonderful here, but I also know I have to take care of myself. When you come to the ballpark and you’re stressed out and your hands are shaking, that’s not fun. I’ve got grandbabies, I’ve got kids, and my wife. I’m going to step back and take care of myself and try to get healthy and get back to the norm.”
When it comes to Gardenhire, the majority of Tigers fans more than likely have an abundance of respect for the guy and his decision at this time. Likewise, Tigers fans I’m also sure still have nightmares about those Minnesota Twins teams managed by Gardenhire who would wreak havoc on the Tigers.
I still get my own shakes when thinking about Game 162… I mean why the fuck didn’t Brandon Inge lean into that pitch and take his fucking base?!
Not only that, I’m sure there’s also going to be a lot of questions and what if’s regarding Gardenhire’s tenure in Detroit.
The Tigers struggled in each of the three seasons Gardenhire was here, which wasn’t his fault, he just happened to catch the club in the midst of a rebuild.
But would things have turned out better for the team and for Gardenhire alike if he were hired in 2015 on the heels of his firing from the Twins after 27 years with that organization?
The writing was on the wall that Brad Ausmus wasn’t going to be the guy for the job after bowing out to the Baltimore Orioles in three games of the ALDS with a pitching staff that consisted of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, David Price, and Anibal Sanchez. And not to mention a lineup that featured Miguel Cabrera, Nick Castellanos, J.D. Martinez, and Victor Martinez but I digress.
Gardenhire wouldn’t have been my choice in 2014-15 — hell he wasn’t even my choice three years ago, but damn I don’t think there’s any question that Gardenhire would’ve been light years better than Ausmus. It was ultimately a decision that helped lead to the demise of Dave Dombrowski and will continue to keep Tigers fans wondering to this day.
If Gardenhire was the pick then — because the organization was always infatuated with him — would that team that consisted of all those stars get one more shot at the World Series?
I guess we’ll never know.