Detroit skipper Brad Ausmus was asked after the Tigers’  2-1 home loss to the surging Royals how he’s coped during his club’s recent slide. The Detroit Free Press’ George Sipple carefully scribbled down the answers :

“Yeah, it’s not fun,” he said. “Like I said, once I get to the field, I’m always in a good mood, especially if I’m driving and it’s sunny out. Once I’m here, I’m ready to go, I feel like I’m the exact same person that you would have seen on Day 1 of spring training.”

And when he goes home, someone followed up.

“I beat my wife,” Ausmus said. “I’m just kidding. No, luckily my wife and kids are fantastic. I do get a little mopey at home, but my wife and kids are good. They’ve seen me be in a bad mood after a loss, so they’ve been great.”

His joke drew some hearty laughs and some nervous laughs from the media and, after answering another question, he came back to it.

“I didn’t want to make light of battered women,” Ausmus said. “I apologize for that if it offended anyone.”