Ausmus enjoying time near home in Del Mar

SAN DIEGO -- Brad Ausmus had been looking forward to his day off at home in nearby Del Mar for weeks, and he was openly hoping he could surf the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The Tigers manager's actual off-day was a little more mundane.

"When I was walking my dog, I looked at the surf," he said. "It was too small. It wasn't worth it."

He wasn't kidding. The 44-year-old still surfs, and he was hoping to get his first chance to hit the waves in months. While smaller waves might sound easier and safer, Ausmus argued it's the opposite.

"When the waves are small, it's a little more dangerous, because the water's more shallow," he said. "You can fall off and twist a knee or hit your head on the sandbar. When the waves are a little bit bigger, it's deeper water. Now, there is a bigger risk of death when the waves get bigger, but the risk of injury probably lower."

His off-day wasn't a waste, not by a long shot. He had a cookout at his house for much of the Tigers' traveling party.

"It wasn't just the coaching staff, but also the strength coaches, the trainers, Dave Dombrowski, the bullpen catchers, everybody," Ausmus said. "We probably had about 25 people, even some wives and some children that were out here."