By P.J. Harmer
Tom Brookens is headed back to the major leagues.
Former Oneonta Tigers manager Brookens, who spent the past two seasons managing Double-A Erie, was named Detroit's first base, outfield and baserunning coach Monday.
Brookens takes over for Andy Van Slyke, who left the team to pursue other opportunities, Detroit said in a media release Oct. 9.
"Originally, I talked about getting back into managing in the minors to see if I liked it or not," Brookens said Monday via cell phone. "I didn't get back into it to get to the major-league level. I never had that goal. I guess as time goes on and you manage a couple of years and move up the ladder and find out you enjoy it, you reformulate your goals a little bit."
Brookens, 56, could see some familiar faces in Detroit as several players that Brookens managed in Oneonta are on Detroit's 40-man roster, including Clete Thomas, Casey Fien, Jay Sborz, Jeff Larish and Casper Wells.
Brookens said he didn't know he was being considered for the position until Friday.
"I was unaware that I was really in the running," he said. "I knew that Andy had decided not to come back and the position was available, but I didn't think much about it as far as me getting it."
He said Detroit manager Jim Leyland called Friday to inquire Brookens' interest. After speaking about the position for a while, Leyland told Brookens that there were a couple of other people the organization was looking at for the spot.
On Sunday, Brookens said he was at a birthday party for his grandson and received a call from Leyland offering Brookens the job.
"Jim called me and said, the job is yours if you want it,'" Brookens said. "It kind of really came out of no where."
Detroit finished this past season 86-77, tying Minnesota for the American League Central Division title. However, the Twins won a one-game playoff, 6-5, to advance to the playoffs.
Leyland told the Associated Press on Monday that Brookens was "a perfect fit."
Brookens, who is 310-262 over five minor-league seasons, managed the Oneonta Tigers in 2005 and 2006. The O-Tigers won the Stedler Division title in 2005, but were swept in the first round of the playoffs by Auburn and finished 48-29. The Tigers went 40-34 the following season and missed the playoffs.
"I'm very happy for him," former Oneonta Tigers owner Sam Nader said. "There was no question that Tom would go as far as he wanted to go. I didn't know if he wanted to pursue it. He seemed to be happy at the minor-league level.
"He'll do a great job," Nader continued. "I think it's a great choice."
Brookens was promoted to West Michigan in 2007, leading the Whitecaps to the Midwest League championship. Brookens was named the league's Manager of the Year.
He then spent the next two seasons at Double-A Erie.
"It does seem like it played out pretty well for me," Brookens said. "I'd like to think it's because I've done a good job. I think I can relate to the players. It's important to me that I was managing in the minors. I think that prepares me more than anything to be a coach somewhere. If you manage in the minors, you've had to deal with just about any situation."
Mainly an infielder during his career, Brookens hit .246 over 12 major-league seasons with Detroit, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. He had 71 home runs and 431 RBIs in 1,336 games.
He was a member of the 1984 Tigers, who won the World Series, 4-1, over the San Diego Padres. He hit .246 that season with five homers in 113 games. He went 0-for-3 in three games during the World Series.
"I told somebody today that all the years I had trouble getting to first base, now I can get there every inning," Brookens said with a laugh. "Every inning I can make it out there. I can make up for lost time."
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P.J. Harmer can be reached at pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.
