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Rotation bolstered, Ausmus has to sort CF, bullpen

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Baseball Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Brad Ausmus now has the luxury of managing the American League’s last three Cy Young Award winners.

Still, the trade that brought David Price to the Detroit Tigers leaves the first-year skipper with a few issues to sort through.

“It certainly makes our starting rotation better,” Ausmus said. “But we’ve still got to go out there and score runs, and we’ve got to hold leads. Nothing’s being handed to us. This is a great addition, but we’ve got to go out there and win.”

By acquiring Price from Tampa Bay on Thursday just before the trade deadline, the AL Central-leading Tigers bolstered a rotation that was already one of the team’s strengths — but to do so they had to give up starting center fielder Austin Jackson and left-handed starter Drew Smyly. Ausmus will have to decide how to divide playing time in center — and the bullpen remains a potential trouble spot as well.

Detroit has won three straight AL Central titles, so its starting pitching has usually been able to mask some of the team’s other problems. Justin Verlander won the Cy Young Award in 2011, with teammate Max Scherzer winning in 2013. Price took the award in 2012.

“You’re talking about a caliber of pitcher who has won a Cy Young, and I think that answers how he can fit in and help this team,” Verlander said. “He’s a power pitcher, which always plays well in the playoffs. We have to get there first.”

If the Tigers get there, Ausmus would have to decide whom to put in his postseason rotation. Rick Porcello was moved to the bullpen last year in the playoffs, but he’s 12-5 with a 3.24 ERA in 2014. Verlander, on the other hand, has struggled, taking a 4.79 ERA into Friday night’s start against Colorado. Would the Tigers consider using him in relief?

That’s one of the questions Ausmus may face if Detroit remains atop the AL Central. The Tigers also acquired reliever Joakim Soria recently in a trade from Texas — but the bullpen still hasn’t been all that reliable. Smyly could have provided some left-handed relief if he’d been moved to the bullpen for the postseason, but he went to Tampa Bay in the trade. That leaves Phil Coke, Blaine Hardy and Patrick McCoy as the left-handed options out of the bullpen for now.

General manager Dave Dombrowski said he doesn’t think he’ll be able to make any more significant moves, now that players have to go through the waiver process to be traded.

Detroit purchased the contract of outfielder Ezequiel Carrera before Friday’s game, and he’ll have a chance to contribute in center field, although Rajai Davis was starting there Friday.

The 27-year-old Carrera played in the majors for Cleveland and Philadelphia from 2011-13, although he hasn’t played more than 68 big league games in a season.

“He’s a very good defensive outfielder, he can run, he can certainly steal bases,” Ausmus said. “He’s got the ability to bunt, bunt for a hit. He’s more kind of an action player. He makes things happen and uses his feet to at times wreak havoc.”

The Tigers are hoping Price will wreak havoc on the mound — and that there’s enough talent on the rest of the roster for a long postseason run. Price wasn’t in the clubhouse before Friday’s game — he was expected to be in Detroit on Saturday — but his arrival leaves little doubt about the front office’s commitment to this push for a championship.

“As a manager, you’re appreciative. You want to win, and they’re trying to make you better,” Ausmus said. “I’ve been on teams where they’re dumping people as well. It’s a lot better feeling when you’re going after players to help you win.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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