Dombrowski: Leyland to return as Tigers' manager in 09

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Dombrowski: Leyland to return as Tigers' manager
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

Jim Leyland will return to the Tigers as manager in 2009.

Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers president and general manager, today squelched any speculation that Leyland might be fired after three seasons in Detroit. The Tigers are tied for last place in the American League Central Division with the Kansas City Royals entering tonight's game against the Royals at Comerica Park.

"Yes, oh yeah," Dombrowski said when asked if Leyland would absolutely return in 2009. "He's under contract next year."

Dombrowski has steadily refused to evaluate his team during any previous season. He declined this week to get into any particular analysis of Leyland, the coaching staff, or the team, saying such explanations would wait until after the regular season ends.

The Tigers are scheduled to complete their regular season Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. They could yet be required to travel to Chicago to play the White Sox in a makeup game Monday if it has any bearing on the Central Division's playoff representatives, which could be the White Sox or the Minnesota Twins.

Leyland had a dreamy start to his managerial tenure in Detroit in 2006. He was named American League Manager of the Year after directing the Tigers to a 95-67 record and to a surprise appearance in the World Series, which they lost to St. Louis in five games.

Last season, the team fell to 88-74. This season was viewed by most national baseball analysts as a likely playoff and World Series opportunity for the Tigers after they added big names during the 2007-08 off-season, including Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Edgar Renteria and Jacque Jones.

But the Tigers began the year with health issues in their bullpen, lost their first seven games, and only briefly have played above the .500 mark. They are 71-85 entering tonight's game with the Royals, despite having one of the top payrolls in all of baseball.

The Tigers pitching has been among the worst in baseball in 2008. Healthy bodies have been at a premium, due to season-ending ailments for Jeremy Bonderman, Joel Zumaya and Todd Jones, as well as a failure by Willis to remain in the Tigers rotation because of extreme control problems that sent him to the minor leagues for three months.

Beginning with Willis, the off-season's trades have been less than expected, with the exception of Cabrera, who could win the league's home-run championship.

Leyland turns 64 in December. He has made it known he would like an extension past the 2009 season. But there has been no indication from Dombrowski or from owner Mike Ilitch that Leyland will be extended.
You can reach Lynn Henning at lynn.henning@detnews.com

Dumbroski!

Just to make it official: We're fucked.

o-m-g

Even though I would totally love Jim as my bff, just not so much as the manager. Maybe next year will be better.

Well, maybe Illich will get rid of Dombrowski!

gdennis59 wrote:

Just to make it official: We're fucked.

I must add, I think I might actually be right this time.

Leyland will be manager until the Tigers break the record for consecutive non complete games


2009 Tigers will be the first Tigers team ever not to have a CG

There's always 2010.