Dombrowski’s exit a stunner, but Tigers back Avila
Detroit — Alex Avila was as shocked as anyone.
The Tigers catcher had no idea his father, Al Avila, had been promoted from assistant general manager to GM after the Tigers and Dave Dombrowski announced Tuesday they had parted ways.
“Definitely shocked as everybody else,” Alex Avila said. “But I’m happy for my dad and very proud of him.”
Following Tuesday’s 5-1 loss to Kansas City, Tigers players were surprised by the front-office shakeup but insisted nothing changes in the clubhouse.
They still must win games, no matter who is running the front office.
“We still have a general manager and he’s going to do his best in the position he’s in,” second baseman Ian Kinsler said. “It doesn’t change anything in here.
“The Tigers are still going to be an organization that’s a winning organization. Dave did a lot of great things for this organization but I guess that’s the way it goes.”
Said third baseman Nick Castellanos: “Mr. Dombrowski has been so good to me from high school to now in the big leagues. It was tough seeing him go. In the end of the day, it’s an unfriendly reminder it’s a business.”
For Justin Verlander, and many longtime Tigers, Dombrowski was the only GM they knew.
“I’ve been with Dave since the beginning of my career,” Verlander said. “He’s done a fantastic job with this organization. Him and us who’ve been here since Day One are disappointed we weren’t able to win a championship.
“He’s definitely left a legacy with this organization. We had a chance every year year and had a great run many years in a row and a lot of that is because of him.”
Verlander was pleased to see Avila get an opportunity to land the GM position.
“He’s also been here since Day One and honestly, he deserves a shot,” Verlander said. “You don’t want to see these things happen but he’s been a great assistant GM for a long time and if anyone has earned it, he has.”
Alex Avila, too, was pleased to see his father get an opportunity to run a baseball team after a long career in the game.
The situation could turn more strange this off-season as Avila, the son, becomes a free agent.
But the younger Avila believes it won’t make a difference.
“It doesn’t change our relationship on or off the field,” Alex Avila said. “We’ll see what happens at the end of the year. It’s obviously a unique situation when you have a father and son like this. It’s happened in baseball but not that often.
“It’ll be a little strange but my dad has never been one to not be honest or tell me the truth. He’ll do what is best for the team and we’ll see what happens.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
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