When Brad Ausmus was a player, the mental aspect of the game always came pretty easy.

"I always enjoyed the cerebral part," Ausmus said. "It was much more difficult to hit -- that was the part of the game I didn't really enjoy."

The Tigers have hired the 44-year-old former catcher to replace Jim Leyland as manager of the three-time defending AL Central champions. Ausmus has little managerial experience, and the team will entrust him with a talented roster that is expected to keep on winning.