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Angels hire Brad Ausmus as manager
The Angels were one of the most intriguing openings for managers across the league, and they were taking this search very seriously. Having not hired a new manager since the turn of the century, this was something new for the organization. Of course, they also have some unique and talented players on their roster in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, When you’re dealing with generational talents, you want to make sure you’re getting the right guy while they’re in their prime. They had managers take actual tests to see if they were the right fit, and while that move was understandably criticized, you can also see why a team in the position of the Angels would think outside the box. Either way, they landed on Brad Ausmus, the former manager of the Tigers.
Ausmus was let go after the 2017 season after a tenure in Detroit filled with criticism. Because of that, many have criticized this move, which is understandable. However, not everyone is Alex Cora. Not everyone comes in and succeeds right off the bat. The most famous recent example of someone looking much better in their second job is A.J. Hinch with the Astros. People learn from their rookie mistakes. It also helps that Ausmus spent the year as a special assistant for the Angels, so he’s familiar with the organization. I have no idea if it will work, but I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the move as a poor one.
Reds hire David Bell as manager
The Angels weren’t the only team to hire a new manager on Sunday, with the Reds also coming to terms with David Bell as their new skipper. Bell is a former journeyman who spent time all around the league as a player, retiring in 2006. This is his first major-league managing job, but he did manage for a few years in the minors in the Reds organization. Since then, he’s left the organization and most recently served as a special assistant in the Giants front office. There’s no way of knowing what to expect from a first-year manager, but I’m intrigued by the combination of managerial and front office experience. It’s something we saw with both Alex Cora and Gabe Kapler this year. The Reds have been rebuilding for a few years now, but their talent is starting to develop and should be on the cusp of contention relatively soon.