Dave D out in Detroit

Submitted by cozy200 on
Being reported all over. Crazy time to change GM's no?

ckersh74

August 4th, 2015 at 6:11 PM ^

People worry about the dumbest shit. 2/5 of our rotation can't get out of the 5th inning, our bullpen leaks like a sieve, and no one in the farm system can beat out Neftali Freaking Feliz for a spot in that pen.

But let's worry about a backup catcher in the last year of his contract.

It's not just you guys.

BrotherMouzone

August 4th, 2015 at 6:28 PM ^

The only reason I mentioned him is because his Dad was mentioned. No shit we got bigger things to worry about. I was just responding to a comment in a relative manner. Calm down. Its no freaking secret that our bullpen has been the biggest issue for years now.

ckersh74

August 4th, 2015 at 6:32 PM ^

It wasn't necessarily directed at you. There's about 10,000 other people that I've heard that from, so the liftoff occured here. 

I know you went for the cheap 1-liner. I do it here all the time.

+1, BTW. 

Ronnie Kaye

August 4th, 2015 at 4:38 PM ^

The Tigers have had at least a $60 million payroll advantage over the rest of the division for years. Not a very hard job to get them to the playoffs when the owner is writing those kinds of checks.

Pinky

August 4th, 2015 at 4:54 PM ^

I guess I don't understand your logic.  The goal of a GM is to build a team that can compete for a World Series.  DD did that on a regular basis.  What more is there to say?

bronxblue

August 4th, 2015 at 4:58 PM ^

And he got them to 2 WS.  The fact Detroit then went 1-8 in those games isn't on DD.

This seems like a terrible move by an old man who wants to "win now" with little interest in the future.  I don't love every move Dombrowski made, but to say he mortgaged the future ignores the fact this team was turrible when he arrived and he turned them into a perrenial playoff-caliber team.  That's damn impressive.

Tater

August 4th, 2015 at 5:54 PM ^

DD did the same things that helped two teams he built in Florida to become World Series Champions.  It didn't work in Detroit because free agents choose to live somewhere else and Detroit is at the bottom of their "list" of possible destinations.  

DD was rebuilding for the future at this trade deadline.  I am guessing Ilitich feels he can find someone who can "reload" instead of rebuilding.  Too bad it didn't work out, but the only sport in which Detroit is actually a preferred destination for free agents is hockey.  What DD did in Detroit was one of the better jobs anyone in his position did.  They just never quite got the breaks they needed to win a World Series.

For those who are glad, I want to remind you that people were really glad when Sparky was forced out of town.  How did that work out?

wolverine1987

August 4th, 2015 at 4:16 PM ^

I can't understand any fan hate of DD like from the OP. Of course he's made a few bad mistakes, but he is inarguably one of of the best GM's in baseball, and everyone knows that. He will unemployed about 2 minutes.

Stringer Bell

August 4th, 2015 at 4:22 PM ^

The scouting, drafting, and player development have been bad under his tenure.  He did a good job of selling other GMs on his prospects, but at the end of the day he set the Tigers up for this dark period they're about to enter.  His inability to build anything resembling a competent bullpen doesn't help either

bronxblue

August 4th, 2015 at 5:10 PM ^

Well, he pulled Detroit out of a pretty dark period as well.  Before DD got there, they hadn't gone to the playoffs since 1988; since he's been there, they've been to the playoffs 5 times including to WS.  This team had a crap farm system when he got here, and while he's traded away some prospects show me the multitude of those guys who turned into legitimate stars.  I mean, he turned Miller and Maybin into a two-time MVP and one of the best hitters of his generation.  He got Max Scherzer for cheap and got a Cy Young out of him.  He nabbed Doug Fister from Seattle and got a good 2nd/3rd starter.  And this trade deadline he got rid of some rentals and helped provide some depth to the farm system.  Sure, Detroit isn't set up to dominate for the next decade, but I wouldn't say they are looking at the darkest of times.

The bullpen stuff drives me crazy.  A lot of it is luck; a guy you draft to be a decent starter falters and you throw him in the pen and all of a sudden he's lights-out.  For example, Eric Gagne was a sub-.500 pitcher before he wound up in the pen and dominated.  Detroit went after good closers and setup men, and for decent stretches they were fine.  I wouldn't say SF is particularly well-designed as a team, yet they've won a couple titles.  Lots of it is luck.

umchicago

August 4th, 2015 at 6:10 PM ^

how many different all stars has detroit had the past 10 years?  i bet they could field all 8 positions plus a few pitchers too.  is it really his fault that the pitchers couldn't field in 2006 or a solid benoit gives up the bomb against boston?

DD did his part and still leaves a team with a ton of talent for 2016.

OlafThe5Star

August 5th, 2015 at 7:43 AM ^

This response? From Stringer Bell? Nah. 

How about you get Wee-Bey and Stinkum out there to take back your corners? 

Man, makes me want to change my avatar to Avon Barksdale so I can straighten you out String. " Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearin' businessman like you. You know I'm just a gangsta, I suppose. And I want my corners. "

93Grad

August 4th, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^

DD wasn't perfect, no GM is, but he is far better than average and made some great, great deals.  Baseball is a funny game where the best team doesn't always win.  And his achillies heal, the bullpen, is one of the most fickle parts of the game from year to year. 

His Dudeness

August 4th, 2015 at 4:38 PM ^

EXACTLY

Nobody complained when Jones have 35+ saves and Potato and Rodney and Benoit.

 

DD TRIED to get a good bullpen. He brought in Percival, Soria, Natahan. What else was he supposed to do?!?!

I hate everything right now.

Stringer Bell

August 4th, 2015 at 4:42 PM ^

Sure he tried, doesn't mean his methods were correct.  All he had to do was look at how the Royals built their bullpen.  Took a couple of failed starters in Davis and Hochevar and turned them into ace relievers.  Throwing 10 million dollars a year at a 40 year old, no matter how much he's achieved in his career, is not smart thinking, nor is trading 2 of your top prospects for a setup guy.