05-06-08 Dave Dombrowski

Let's talk a little baseball right now with a frequent guests to the program he's the president CEO and general manager of the Detroit Tigers Dave Dombrowski is on the line with a state -- Michael again in Boston how aria. I -- I have much yourself -- And -- we appreciate taken the time as always we were just sand. I mean you get eight walks out of Daisuke Matsuzaka you're probably thinking if I told you that opponent of the game -- think we're gonna have ourselves pretty good night at the ballpark.

Well you it felt so when he. He took that type of both free passes to the first phase but -- swinging the bats very well we have a lot of clutch opportunities which just to come through so. You were -- before and we get that I would have been very pleased.

And I know the reporters in Detroit reporters and fans were getting pretty excited. Like like a mystery trying to figure out what Jim Leland was thought was talking about he says they're going to be dramatic changes to the lineup how how old. Frequently do you talk with the Leland about lineup changes changes in dramatic things like you mentioned the other day.

I talked -- Jim -- every day. Visit every single day I've always have that thought processes and general manager -- responsibility to supply the players and the manager. -- down that's his responsibility in and day out. However those responsibilities are supply players who work very closely which managers communicate with them all the time to talk about. Which I think is best but the ball club -- for the ballclub. And so we discussed all the time. If he's going to make a major move -- Usually -- it's not something that you. Read in the paper for the first time but I'm also not want to amend parents say okay we need to do this to do that because I think it's the manager's ability. Although -- always kicking things around -- time to be thank you have a thought process you do that coaching staff and or other but. They call -- all the when he decides that topic here Sheffield went so basic lineup that's his decision is outlined that is his decision and again I don't get caught by surprise but that is his decision.

You know Dave I was just going to ask you that you know you've known Jim Leland for a long time it and because you've known for a long time I'm sure to have conversations with them that. A first or second year general manager or president wouldn't be able to have so -- wondering does he. Askew he select god Dave I'm thinking about doing this what do you think or disease -- Dave I'm going to do this I just want to let you know how does that conversation go.

I don't know that there's anyone under percent situation I think sometimes. Jim has a strong feeling that is going to do something -- do it has taken some Seattle line -- two outs but that's that's his decision he's down there in the clubhouse with the guys -- that. He needs to make those decisions and have the freedom -- those decisions. There will be other times while we're just sit there kotsay out -- of this you know what are your thoughts I'm just -- in the surround they could do on this so. It really depends upon the situation and circumstances. I would have no difficulty at any time when he decides not to play a player for a particular reason or potential line up those it is again -- decisions. We have a good communication process so he's aware of what. Need to keep be advised that we communicate and everything -- it be the same thing from myself also and you're going to make a trade. Well you just don't walk into the manager's office and say HM we just made trade some people may do that from me in my bank has always been that you communicate with the and -- tournament all he wanted to see what his feelings are. Sometimes he'll know something about a particular player that you're not aware of because the champion down on the field they may have been stinks or had conversations with various types that think the communication process of working relationship and general manager and manager and.

Probably the most dramatic move that you guys made yesterday involved releasing Jacque Jones moving Gary Sheffield back out to left field. I Sheffield has said he doesn't feel as much a part of the game when he's DH -- Do you think this will help get him going offensively by -- mountain field more often are you worried about the physical -- that could take as well.

Well I have feelings for bowl but in reality -- situation where. -- to me he has a complete player he completely obvious but -- still a position to steal a base it is -- he he does have the abilities to be an everyday player. We have felt the best for Ross at the time which requires contract was DH two year old seven the outfield spots we also want to make sure that we keep -- bad. -- the Al fashion. Sometimes players -- Scotland and often perspective which curious right now he's at his own self. I think he will get there and vacancy signs of that but it's a situation where sometimes a DH you have too much time -- your hands. And huge respected and butter the dispatcher thinking about various -- that needed to get out there -- or -- the so you're not think about those so I can understand that situation for any player time. -- case sure I get concerned that. He gets hurt that's not what happened masters went right field at the time which he got hurt. It was -- afterwards but I think all all you take chances on those things day in and day out there's a chance any player get -- at a particular time Jerry wants to do this so he's committed to what he will DH sometimes too so. I think getting away -- that old line. DH situation will help them and help from offense perspective.

you mentioned that collision last July between Sheffield and possible Polanco. And in your right he wasn't the same hitter after that elation I might make the our committee hasn't been the same hitter this year either has that carried over at all.

Yes have been the -- yet surgery in the wintertime to season it took awhile for him to who. -- spring training he was at a position where. In which they have regulars rank your. Worked in his shoulder back to get some at bats. I don't he's not the same right now but he is -- and that's the difference -- cutters went off. I was at a position where they try to protect a shoulder he's -- apt to do that. But I think he's in a position where being healthy he still has the ability to be a good hitter so that's what we're look we we see the bat speed still there at the ball jump off the bat. We've seen that it various time so if he's healthy which he is I think look it's production out of pitcher.

In your position you can't afford to be a fantasy baseball executive hidden I think I'll make a trade today I'll go -- get the joke Cabrera. I'm wondering when did you. First dating yourself or first -- to your staff I think we need to target Cabrera for the 2008 season.

Well it was sort of an unusual situation because we made the acquisition of restaurant to -- that we -- Much of our our budget -- its depth we have thought we. And then at that time like to which our owner it was a tremendous current. We communicate well but he doesn't call me too often halt in Nepal I think it was a couple days before thanksgiving -- We Miguel Cabrera -- available as a good player. If they -- looked good the tigers are sort I've loved to drive I think response. Position in which we are. And he -- well. A player like that I think. We can go that we can push a little bit so. He gave the impetus to get started there was some serious conversation take place other clubs that I did not think we could match like to deal was going to be. Made a couple of organizations but that we got to winter meetings. There were no deals and had been made we have got there on Sunday and then basically am Monday. We had our original meeting between our own organization scouts discussing the ball club options on the out there we picked up all. Called Florida they start a -- very quickly so was very quick will be type deal. I think anybody would love to have the at a -- her life and I think for us a situation where. Get a player like Miguel Cabrera missed. -- Look at that type of bat. For years to competent to build erotica like Cabrera Curtis Granderson exhibited players some of your other players. A little older -- retires. Free agent you know you have those two key guys -- happen -- are which are starting points to the wind out.

He debut just spoiled me I'm waiting for that phone call from the lost this day. And we got more money to spend and I have to as -- got back.

It doesn't happen too often but I will say that -- that was interesting and that's why it's such a good businessmen with that our revenues increased a great deal because we did last year we sold. Basically right over 90000 or season ticket equivalence. And this year we sold 27003 better season but once. So we jumped over 8000 ticket sales that we'll -- tickets and that was all done after the trade was made so we just produce extra revenues that. The kind of match up with that.

Dave when you acquire a pitcher like Dontrelle Willis how much. The factory and The League change in how much different it is pitching in the American League and how much thicker lineups are how much did that play into your decision making process.

We discussed that of course should discuss I think you discuss Serbia issue becomes the place I think that's one which talked about. But I think that -- your good pitcher one week he can be a good pitcher and the other. Sometimes there was deeper lineups can have. Fact that a certain pitchers there's no question about it but I think about -- case our feelings worked. If he's healthy which we think he has been. Now he's down -- he probably very close to get back if he's thrown the ball he's capable and nineties with his break and stop. He can get any but he got to throw strikes so that's what our belief was last year it was not on the ball quite as well. Or types of which you had some injuries with -- or how many went out there it's his velocity was down as velocity back up get a -- topped off the ninth. I went on between us so. Did you discuss -- we think what's going to back under -- strikes in the position we are successful in our league or Mattingly.

What was your reaction when the best pitcher in your division was traded not only out of your division but out of the American League Ed and wound up with a New York Mets -- answer --

Well that would step please be a great deal actually pigeon never -- when you don't when you missed. On Santana -- played Minnesota you're always happy about it. But I also you know Minnesota well enough that they make their trades you know they're going to get some good young players and help them and they have a way of producing. Good teams and good players on yearly basis detector captain -- organization but still with that I had never. Bothered to see Santana trade partly in the two into the other ones we have to face -- the basis.

You're very active in the offseason so this might be a crazy question but when he became available. Did you get on the phone to a new general met -- new general manager bill Smith and say bill what is it going to take to get Santana and Detroit.

No we didn't and we can just didn't think it was a bit for us as much as elective at a source only certain markets that he was Mexico and also from the financial commitment to his contract for pitcher. We just weren't at that point based upon circumstances here's how -- we did after --

They've it's always fun to talk baseball with you we appreciate the time -- Thanks for me you know get so -- and I thank you Dave Dombrowski is the president CEO and general manager of the Detroit Tigers