TORONTO -- While reports emerge about what happened behind Chris Bosio's dismissal as pitching coach earlier this week, the Tigers took the field at Rogers Centre on Friday night and tried to move on.
They're an international border away from Detroit, which helps them stay in their world as they focus on a four-game series against the Blue Jays and a losing streak they'll try to end. At the same time, the Tigers realized that Bosio's dismissal for insensitive comments toward a clubhouse employee is the latest example of a world that's changing, including inside the clubhouse, and the need for everyone in baseball to be more aware of and sensitive to it.
"I think it's been there," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It's not just this situation. We see it outside the baseball world, and I think this has been a reality check for everybody that no, we're not going to stand for this anymore. We've got to get this out of our lives and our systems and treat each other with respect. This has been going on, and it's probably overdue. And it needs to be pushed even harder so we don't have to deal with these things anymore and reach an understanding we're all people here and we want to be treated that way. And I think this is why the Tigers did what they've had to do, which is very important."
Gardenhire said he has not talked with Bosio since their meeting with general manager Al Avila on Wednesday to announce the move, and he acknowledged personal and legal reasons behind that. But Gardenhire has talked with players about staying focused, as well as watching what they say about it.
"That's all we can do," Gardenhire said. "It's not easy. I know it's going to be tough for all those players. Everybody's talking about it. This is not going to just be an overnight thing, but we can't control any of that. All we control is the baseball game and how we prepare. We told them to be careful what you say, because you're not as detailed about it as any of the people that are really dealing with it."
Tigers pitchers were among the many players who arrived at Rogers Centre early Friday afternoon. While the hitters took early batting practice, pitchers got in throwing work amidst a ballpark so quiet that the sound of a phone ringing could echo around the stands.
Quiet was something the Tigers could appreciate at the moment.
"There's stuff that's out of your control," said Matthew Boyd, who is scheduled to start Saturday's game. "Truly buying into that and believing that is one thing, and not letting it affect you is another. You control what you can control. It doesn't have a bearing once you cross the white line. You leave it where it's supposed to be, and that's outside of the field. It's unfortunate, but that's how it goes."
Having bullpen coach Rick Anderson promoted to pitching coach has helped ease the transition in the dugout, not just for his familiarity with the team and Gardenhire, but with his calm personality.
"It's tough," reliever Joe Jimenez said, "but nobody's here against each other. Everybody's here helping each other. We don't think about that. That's not a topic in the clubhouse. We just come here as a team and help each other."
That camaraderie is why Gardenhire and his players believe the clubhouse will not splinter into groups based on its feelings about the matter.
"I think they're a group out there that understands we have to keep playing," Gardenhire said. "We can't help. We can't do anything about this other situation. All we can do is try to make ourselves win baseball games. I don't sense it, I don't feel it, but yes, there has been a distraction here just because of everything going around, and we try to keep it baseball. And obviously this is more than baseball.
"This is something that had to be addressed, and the organization has done that, and now there's still rhetoric coming back. We hear it and we have to push past it. That's what we talked about."
Quick hits
• Reliever Daniel Stumpf, who threw a scoreless inning Thursday as part of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo, was scheduled to throw another inning for the Mud Hens on Friday. Gardenhire said the Tigers will evaluate after that whether to call up the lefty or keep him there longer.
• Blaine Hardy is now a full-time reliever again, having moved back to the bullpen in the wake of the Tigers' transition back to a five-man rotation. Gardenhire said Detroit will use him in lefty-lefty situations but will likely look for him to face a few batters, possibly multiple innings, rather than one hitter.