In honor of the great Joe Falls, it's a Fish Fry Friday.
For some reason, people in this town don't think managing matters.
That's why many fans - and some Detroit media members - are cool with the fact that Tigers' manager Brad Ausmus is coming back for his fourth season.
Somehow, the Tigers were happy with not making the playoffs for a second straight season and rewarding Ausmus by picking up his club option on Wednesday.
Granted, all the Tigers' woes don't fall on Ausmus. The team is flawed and has some issues. Still, a manager can help a team. We saw it Thursday night in the AL Division Series against the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians.
Tribe manager Terry Francona actually managed in Game 1 of the best-of-five series.
Instead of just doing the same old thing, he looked at the situation and worked his magic. Francona brought in usually late-inning reliever Andrew Miller, the former Tiger, in the fifth inning.
The idea was brilliant. With the lead, Francona wanted to stop the Red Sox bats in their third time through the order. Miller pitched two shutout innings, recording four strikeouts in the process. It changed the game.
The bottom line remains that a smart manager can help you. Plus, he has to know how to use the bullpen effectively.
Often, it's the difference between winning and losing. Ausmus has struggled in this department big time.
The notion that the manager of a baseball team doesn't deserve any blame is simply dumb.
First, if a manager didn't matter, no team would have one. Players would just play and that would be it.
Managers matter. That's why most get fired during the season. Don't forget former Tigers' president Dave Dombrowski fired manager Phil Garner after the team started the season 0-6 in 2002.
At the time of his hiring, many questioned why Ausmus, who had no previous managerial experience, was given a veteran club ready to win as his first gig.
The bottom line remains that the Tigers haven't played up to their potential or their $200-million payroll this past season.
And if GM Al Avila was so sure on Ausmus, why didn't he give his manager a contract extension. Instead, Ausmus will enter the 2017 season as a lame duck manager, just like he did this past season. That says all you need to know.
Lions season on brink
The Lions are terrible. There's no other way to look at their 1-3 start and think anything else, especially coming off that embarrassing 17-14 loss in Chicago to the lowly Bears, who entered the game winless.
The Lions started the 2015 season with a 1-7 record. It appears as if the same thing could happen if they don't get it turned around, starting Sunday at Ford Field.
But it won't be easy, however. The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) come to town with rookie QB sensation Carson Wentz. He's taken the league by storm. He has yet to throw an interception.
The Lions will have their work cut out for themselves, especially with a defensive unit that still will be without DE Ziggy Ansah and LB DeAndre Levy.
QB Matthew Stafford also needs a huge bounce back game. He was bad in Chicago with two picks. The Lions were also unable to score an offensive TD against and injury-depleted Bears team.
The Lions have three straight home games. If they are going to save the season - and coach Jim Caldwell's job - they will need to win at least two of the three, if not all three.
But it won't be that easy. Before the season, on paper at least, it looked as if the next three games would all be winnable - Eagles, L.A. Rams and Washington.
Not so fast. All three are playing much better than the Lions. In fact, the Eagles and Rams are both leading their divisions.
This will come down to Caldwell. If the players really like him and respect him as coach, they will play for him. If we see another sad-like performance like last Sunday in Chicago, Caldwell will be on thin ice, possibly fired during the season.
You just can't blame the Lions poor play on injuries. All teams have injuries. It's just a part of the game. The Lions have to start winning. Period.
PARKER'S PRO PICK: Eagles win 30-21 over Lions.
