Blame Christopher Ilitch, Scott Harris for Detroit Tigers’ collapse
On “Days of Roar,” Evan Petzold and Chris Brown evaluate who to blame for the Detroit Tigers’ collapse, highlighting Chris Ilitch and Scott Harris.
A.J. Hinch last signed a contract extension with the Detroit Tigers after the 2023 season.
It looks like he will be re-upping this winter.
Bob Nightengale, longtime USA TODAY Sports MLB expert, dropped a Tigers-Hinch nugget in his end-of-regular season column published Sunday, Sept. 28.
“The Tigers plan to give manager A.J. Hinch a contract extension. The deal was close to being finalized a few weeks ago, but with the Tigers’ collapse, the timing simply wasn’t right. The deal should be consummated after the postseason, but in the meantime, if the Astros indeed are looking for a manager, they could touch base for a possible reunion.”
The Tigers lost a 9½-game lead in the American League Central with 16 to play, finishing 3-13 to watch the Cleveland Guardians steal the division title and the 3-seed in the 2025 MLB playoffs.
The 6-seed Tigers (87-75) now play the Guardians (88-74) in the postseason, with Game 1 of the best-of-three wild-card series beginning Tuesday.
Hinch of course managed the Astros from 2015-19, winning the 2017 World Series and losing it in 2019 to the Washington Nationals.
But Hinch was fired after being given a one-year suspension from MLB for his inability to end his players’ sign stealing during the 2017 season.
After his suspension ended following the 2020 season, the Tigers immediately connected with him and he officially joined the Tigers on Oct. 30, 2020.
Hinch, 51, led the Tigers on a 31-11 run late in the 2024 season to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2014.
Hinch has a 394-416 record (.486 winning percentage) in five seasons as Tigers manager, and a 4-3 playoff record entering the 2025 postseason.
In 12 years as an MLB manager with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Astros and Tigers, Hinch owns a 964-868 regular-season record (.526 winning percentage) and 32-25 playoff mark.
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