I guess I’m in the minority around here in media circles. It appears most believe that the Tigers mistakenly rewarded general manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland contract extensions recently.
When the Tigers resigned Dombrowksi (through 2015) and manager Jim Leyland (through 2012) during the pivotal Cleveland series, I was glad to see it happen.
Naysayers wailed that Mike Ilitch should have waited to see if the Tigers make the playoffs. Others noted the Tigers have not won a division title since 1987, have been in the playoffs only once during Dombrowski and Leyland’s tenure and have had a nagging tendency to fade down the stretch since that faithful 2006 season. In particular, the monumental collapse in 2009 saw the Bengals blow a 7.5-game lead late in the season and a three-game lead with four to play. Making matters worse they lost the one-game playoff to Minnesota.
Before Dombrowski and Leyland the Tigers were a terrible franchise. Sure the wondrous run to the 2006 World Series has raised everyone’s expectations, or should I say hopes, towards getting back to the championship series. But the fact of the matter is almost no MLB franchises make regular visits to the World Series or playoffs.
Dombrowski and Leyland have helped turn the Tigers into a franchise that is in the playoff conversation every year, and on the field they are very competitive. Sure it is disappointing that they have not been able to close the deal since 2006, but baseball in the Motor City is relevant again and the excellent attendance over the past few years clearly demonstrate this fact.
Sure, Dombrowski has made some bad trades, but who hasn’t in every sport? Yeah, it was hard for me to swallow dealing Jair Jurrjens and Curtis Granderson. And he gave some bad long-term deals to pitchers Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis. Also, there is no way I would have let the consistent Placido Polanco get away, and yes, one of the better utility hitters in Tiger history, Marcus Thames. Both could have been invaluable during this stretch run.
And of course, every manger gets second guessed. Many say that Leyland does not know how to play small ball, bunt and move runners into scoring position, and he rests players unnecessarily. There is some truth to that assertion, but on the other hand there is only one player (Austin Jackson) with any speed on this team.
Dombrowski has secured the Tigers one of the best young hitters in baseball, Miguel Cabrera, got Justin Verlander to sign a three- year contract extension and he coralled Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez during the off-season.
The fact of the matter is the Tigers have only been to the World Series four times since 1945 — they won the American League Pennant in 1945, 1968, 1984 and 2006. So, Leyland not being able to get the Tigers back into the World Series does not mean he is a terrible manager. When I look at the talent and batting averages on this year’s team, it is a wonder that they are in first place. Third, second and two of the outfield positions have been adhered with duct tape.
I’m not making excuses, but I think Leyland has done a good job with the talent he has been given and the injuries that have hurt the team in previous years.
Ilitch is now 82 and he cannot be on the every 20-year-track to the World Series the Tigers are on, but he did tell reporters that he likes this team and he was not a “rookie” or “spring chicken” so he would be disappointed not to make it to the playoffs this year.