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Tigers contract extensions for Dombrowski and Leyland send wrong message about accountability
I understand why Tigers owner Mike Ilitch gave a long-term contract extension to general manager Dave Dombrowski, and another year for manager Jim Leyland.
Dombrowski has brought organization to the Tigers, who were decidedly dysfunctional before his arrival. Don't forget, he was hired as team president first. I would have given him an extension, too.
But I would have waited.
The longstanding professional sports theory is you don't want your manager or coach to be a lame duck. If that's the case, he loses his authority and the players don't tend to respect him when things go wrong. That's why Leyland got the year.
But I would have waited.
I did think Ilitch was doing something out of the box that was refreshing. He was holding his general manager and manager accountable for results. I mean, the Tigers should win the American League Central. They are the best team in the division, by a wide margin, and have a decent lead with not that much of the season remaining.
The Tigers have had numerous second-half collapses in recent years, though, the most notably in 2009 - after Leyland's contract was extended.
In that sense, I wish Ilitch had followed through and let the season play out before making any decisions. Sometimes a sense of urgency isn't a bad thing.
This was one of those times.
Dombrowski has brought organization to the Tigers, who were decidedly dysfunctional before his arrival. Don't forget, he was hired as team president first. I would have given him an extension, too.
But I would have waited.
The longstanding professional sports theory is you don't want your manager or coach to be a lame duck. If that's the case, he loses his authority and the players don't tend to respect him when things go wrong. That's why Leyland got the year.
But I would have waited.
I did think Ilitch was doing something out of the box that was refreshing. He was holding his general manager and manager accountable for results. I mean, the Tigers should win the American League Central. They are the best team in the division, by a wide margin, and have a decent lead with not that much of the season remaining.
The Tigers have had numerous second-half collapses in recent years, though, the most notably in 2009 - after Leyland's contract was extended.
In that sense, I wish Ilitch had followed through and let the season play out before making any decisions. Sometimes a sense of urgency isn't a bad thing.
This was one of those times.
posted by Pat Caputo at
1:56 PM
4 Comments:
I hear your point, but on the other hand what is pressure on Dombrowski going to do at this point? The trade deadline has already passed. I'd also be worried about losing him to another team, because I think he's a well above average GM.
I agree they should've waited until the end of the season on Leyland, but at least he only got one year. The pressure is still on if he wants a longer contract.
Pat, questioning the timing of Leyland's extension is fair game but I believe you are wrong to bring 2009 into the conversation.
The 2009 Tigers had a .530 winning percentage prior to the extension and a .526 winning percentage after the extension. The seven game lead was built AND lost following the extension, not just lost.
I agree Book. This is like De je vous all over again. This takes the pressure off way too early!!
And right before the first of 3 remaining Cleveland series? Was Leyland threatening to go elsewhere?
The Tigers lack winning confidence. They had it under Sparky with Gibson, Morris and Trammel, Herndon and Lemon - I don't see that type of leadership with any of these players. That lack of field leadership is Dumbrowski's fault.
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