The retiring Brad Ausmus has a future as manager

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Sunday won’t be just the final game for Manager Joe Torre.

Torre will get the attention, the acclaim, the farewell nods.

But veteran catcher Brad Ausmus will also start the final game of his 17-year career on that last day of the season.

Ausmus, 41, previously announced he would retire at the end of the season.

‘I’m ready to stop playing,’ he said. ‘I just don’t feel like I cant contribute every day.’

Ausmus was the Dodgers’ acting manager Friday, and he’s often mentioned as future managerial material. Ausmus said he wants to take some time off and is uncertain about his managerial aspirations.

‘I’m not going to say I don’t, but I don’t know that I 100% do,’ he said of managing. ‘We don’t know what the future holds. I might go home and decide that’s where I want to be all the time. I don’t know.

‘I wasn’t married when I got to the big leagues. I haven’t been at home with my family more than 3½, four months at a time. They may decide they don’t like me.’

Ausmus, however, screams potential manager. He’s bright (Ivy League educated at Dartmouth), personable, well liked by players and has a wealth of major league experience.

Of course, as a manager, he’s on a losing streak. The Dodgers lost 7-5 on Friday.

Being a manager, however, does bring certain benefits. Early in Friday’s game, he unexpectedly felt hungry.

‘I was starving,’ he said. ‘I sent (Clayton) Kershaw in to get me a tuna sandwich. He makes an excellent tuna sandwich.’

-- Steve Dilbeck