Dave Dombrowski's Tiger Years

You have to believe that his Tigers era is a highlight … even if the Motor City Nine didn't win it all  

If you remember, when Dave Dombrowski joined the Tigers, he retained both his GM, Randy Smith, and the manager, Phil Garner. That lasted until about a week into the season, when both were jettisoned. He arrived in November of 2001, and lasted a long time in Detroit. Dombrowski was an incredible team leader when they needed an incredible team leader with a plan. 

Dave Dombrowski on Opening Day 2004. The gentleman behind him in the tan suit would someday take over for him. That 2015 day is one clouded in mystery. 

In November of 2005, his plan started to come to fruition with the hiring of Jim Leyland, whom he had had success with in Florida previously. Leyland had retired a few years earlier after one year in Colorado, where he admits he didn't give it his all. Leyland also had a plan when he arrived back in Detroit in 2006. That season, things clicked. 

The kids who were brought up did well. The free agents who joined the team did really well. It seemed like if Leyland made a decision it worked out. It was a magical year. And, the bullpen was pretty darn good that year. Even if Todd "Rollercoaster" Jones made every ninth inning … fun … interesting … scary … It was a wild ride. If they had only worked on pitchers fielding practice prior to the World Series! Dombrowski built a perennial contender in Detroit. He did it his way. 

I won't go into great detail, but 10 things about Dave Dombrowski that made it click in the Motor City:

1. He had a plan. Draft well, get power arms, and trade those draft picks for the right pieces at the right time. See the future, not just the present. 
2. He was secretive. He never let on what he was thinking. He surprised people regularly, but you rarely heard any rumors about who the Tigers might be going after. For example, the whole world was blown away in the fall of 2007 when the Tigers traded for Miguel Cabrera. Everyone thought he was going to the Angels. 
3. He built a team of solid baseball folks who followed his lead. 
4. He brought in a manager he trusted and respected. That is, of course, in 2005. 
5. He mentored his assistant until his assistant was ready to take over …
6. He was shrewd, a throwback wheeler–dealer who built a team for his manager to manage. 
7. He was the trade deadline king. When he got David Price to answer the Athletics acquisition of Jon Lester (for Yoenis Cespedes, which I had forgot) Tiger fans were amazed. When he traded him a year later, we were aghast. 
8. When he made the deadline moves in 2015, then got axed … There's so much more about that whole situation that must be out there. There were rumors that he was already talking to the Red Sox, but heck he only lasted there a few years … What happened, and now, what will happen in Philadelphia ... He handled the firing in the Dave Dombrowski style. He packed his stuff, grabbed his son, and left. No rumors. Never have been any, and probably won't be any. 
9. He is respected. 
10. He builds winners. But there is always a cost. You know the cost, so you plan to pay it. 

I wouldn't change that incredible run the Tigers had, even if we had to make all the trades over and over again. It was a fun era of Tigers baseball. The last several years have been terrible. There is nothing like Comerica Park sold out and lit up during playoff baseball (except maybe for Tiger Stadium, but that's a topic for another day!) 

Dave Dombrowski was great for the Detroit Tigers!