So earlier today, Detroit Tigers President/GM Dave Dombrowski and Manager Jim Leyland were given contract extensions from the club, Dombrowski through 2015, and Leyland through 2012. Like most fans, at least some of the fans I saw on Twitter today, were rather disgusted by the moves, myself included. After all, I did post some dribble on here not too long ago about how Dombrowski and Leyland's time is up, and we need a new direction.
After digesting the news over the course of the day, I will admit that can come to terms with what we have with the Tigers, based on some chatter with common fans, and a journalist or two. A few things come to mind though.
Leyland being extended is fine, mostly because you're not going to find an available manager out there who'll be a better replacement for this ball club. I can accept that. The problem is, most of the common fans don't see some of the successes but instead the errors in judgement, or just plain mismanagement. The players like him, and he likes the players. There's too much at stake to just swiftly make a change, though it wouldn't have happened until this offseason.
That said, same goes for Dombrowski. And it's not just DD, it's the rest of the front office too. There's a lot of potential still surrounding this team, along with a couple of expiring big contracts (Paging Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez). DD, Al Avila, and the rest of the front office has the right hold on this team, and turning that over to someone different might be a little dangerous. While it's not great to think of what happens IF the Tigers fail to make the postseason this year, the front office and its minions have a pitching rotation that is under club control through 2014, and the core of offensive threats are all around for at least that long too. So in theory, there's no reason to turn all that over to another group.
So the Manager and the President are signed. In the end, we don't have to like it, but that's what's out there. The timing is strange, being that this could have taken place earlier this season, or at the end. My theory is, take the stress and "lame duck" label away, and you're now focused for a stretch run. But the common ground with this group is, that no one has won anything yet. During the regime, the Tigers have won zero divisions, zero championships. Sure, the wild card and pennant in 2006 was a great run, but it still came up short, and now were coming up on 5 years since that October run. The common fan is impatient, and wants its winner now.
Showing posts with label Dave Dombrowski. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dave Dombrowski. Show all posts
Monday, August 8, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
David Purcey Should Seal Dombrowski's Fate
Okay, so one deal shouldn't define the work of Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski, but in the eyes of most Tigers fans, it probably should.
But I'm having trouble finding some middle ground when it comes to DD and his time with the Tigers. After picking what is left of my brain trying to find it, I gave up and came to the conclusion that he is super-aggressive, or ultra conservative. Problem is, one of those extremes is a result of the other. And it's spelling disaster for the Tigers.
In the past, his aggressive side has negotiated extensions in almost knee-jerk fashion (Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman, Gary Sheffield to name a few) and this past offseason and current regular season have been no different. Brandon Inge quickly resigned this past offseason at the tune of $5.5 million per year for the next 2 seasons. As the season has progressed, Inge's defense and his already horrible offense has regressed. Yet he was penciled into the lineup regularly, until he was finally designated for assignment last week. He and his contract are now playing in Toledo.
But the deal that will resonate fresh in the fans minds is the deal that sent underachieving infielder Scott Sizemore to Oakland for left-handed reliever David Purcey, with the Tigers being his THIRD team this season (traded to Oakland from Toronto earlier this year). The team saw promise in his first few appearances of his time with the Tigers, but has since forgotten how to throw a strike. His wildness and lack of command have fans calling for his removal from the roster. A player who is out of minor league options, it's not as easy as sending him to Toledo. It's either the Tigers roster, or some other franchise (or just some other *place*). Snakebitten fans may have to be resigned to the fact that Dombrowski may ultimately be stubborn enough to hold onto Purcey, thus telling fans that he just doesn't want to admit that he essentially gave away young Scott Sizemore for nothing. Except it may already be too late for that.
Despite Donbrowski's efforts to turn this franchise around after 2003, which I do appreciate, I would be at peace with my favorite team if Mike Ilitch let DD go after this season is over. He isn't under contract after this year, and even if the Tigers manage to make the playoffs, it's time to find someone else to steer us away from his vision, which has been very cloudy as of late. We've seen enough of his act... and at the risk of taking a few steps backwards in the name of progress, it's a necessary evil. I just hope Ilitch sees it the same way.
But I'm having trouble finding some middle ground when it comes to DD and his time with the Tigers. After picking what is left of my brain trying to find it, I gave up and came to the conclusion that he is super-aggressive, or ultra conservative. Problem is, one of those extremes is a result of the other. And it's spelling disaster for the Tigers.
In the past, his aggressive side has negotiated extensions in almost knee-jerk fashion (Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman, Gary Sheffield to name a few) and this past offseason and current regular season have been no different. Brandon Inge quickly resigned this past offseason at the tune of $5.5 million per year for the next 2 seasons. As the season has progressed, Inge's defense and his already horrible offense has regressed. Yet he was penciled into the lineup regularly, until he was finally designated for assignment last week. He and his contract are now playing in Toledo.
But the deal that will resonate fresh in the fans minds is the deal that sent underachieving infielder Scott Sizemore to Oakland for left-handed reliever David Purcey, with the Tigers being his THIRD team this season (traded to Oakland from Toronto earlier this year). The team saw promise in his first few appearances of his time with the Tigers, but has since forgotten how to throw a strike. His wildness and lack of command have fans calling for his removal from the roster. A player who is out of minor league options, it's not as easy as sending him to Toledo. It's either the Tigers roster, or some other franchise (or just some other *place*). Snakebitten fans may have to be resigned to the fact that Dombrowski may ultimately be stubborn enough to hold onto Purcey, thus telling fans that he just doesn't want to admit that he essentially gave away young Scott Sizemore for nothing. Except it may already be too late for that.
Despite Donbrowski's efforts to turn this franchise around after 2003, which I do appreciate, I would be at peace with my favorite team if Mike Ilitch let DD go after this season is over. He isn't under contract after this year, and even if the Tigers manage to make the playoffs, it's time to find someone else to steer us away from his vision, which has been very cloudy as of late. We've seen enough of his act... and at the risk of taking a few steps backwards in the name of progress, it's a necessary evil. I just hope Ilitch sees it the same way.
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